Hello Albatross supporters!
A lot has happened since my last diary entry. As I mentioned in some of my previous entries the highest priority of the South African longline team for 2010 is to determine the effect using extra weight on fishing gear has on the catch rate of tuna and swordfish. We hope to submit the results of the study to next years ACAP (Agreement on the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels) meeting. By adding weight to the line we can limit the time that baited hooks are accessible to seabirds during the fishing operation. This is one of the most effective ways of reducing seabird mortality in longline fishing.
I started with the project last year onboard a South African longline vessel. It wasn’t an easy experiment to handle at-sea but when we eventually we got it right the owners, for financial reasons, decided not to continue using the vessel for this fishery… I was suddenly in a real jam! Luckily, a fishing captain and good friend, Jaques, has offered to use his vessel instead. The only problem was that he lives and operates off Richards Bay – 2000 km away from Cape Town!
In order to do the research I will need to conduct a series of trips which means staying there and so leaving my home in Cape Town. We decided to go for it. The logistics of such a move are not that simple but we managed it. So, I found myself leaving home, packing my little car and driving through the famous ‘Garden Route’, the road which crosses South Africa from west to east via the beautiful southern coast. I took my time and enjoyed the ride while also visiting some important conversation projects.
The first stop was at Napier, a little town in the Overberg. My friend Odette works with farmers in order to try and save the endangered Renosterveld; an endemic habitat and home for many endemic and rare plant species. In a way we are doing similar jobs; trying to save species through working with the farmers/fishermen to ensure conservation practices are carried out correctly. From there I drove to Port Elizabeth, the ‘friendly city’ to visit Lorien and Lloyd, who are studying the effect of closing fishing grounds on the foraging behaviour of the African Penguin. This species is in a serious problem, suffering dramatic population declines over the last few years.
Arriving in Richard’s Bay, Jacques and his family generously offered me a room at their place until I find my own accommodation. We immediately started the preparations for the first trip. As I write these lines I’m at sea, out on my first research trip off Richards Bay. The crew is amazingly helpful and skilful which makes my life much easier. If all goes well I will spend most of my time here at sea, which is great. The bird life here is not as rich as in Cape Town but since we are much closer to the tropics different birds appear which for me is very exciting. A Greater Frigatebird escorted us for the last 3 days and even a Light-mantled Sooty albatross stayed around for a few minutes.
I’ll keep you posted on the progress, Meidad