Kiwi fishers honoured for seabird conservation

Wayne Dreadon, a snapper fisherman based out of Whitianga, has won the Special Recognition Award for setting a high standard in seabird mitigation. Photo / Bruce Foster

Four Kiwi fishermen have been singled out for their efforts to stop seabirds being killed as bycatch while out on the water.

Tom Searle, Mike Black, Jamie Williamson and Wayne Dreadon were honoured at the Southern Seabird Solutions Trust's Seabird Smart awards, presented by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry and hosted at Parliament this evening.

Mr Searle, the operations manager for Leigh Fisheries, and Mr Black, depot supervisor for Talleys in Bluff, were named joint winners of the main award.

At Leigh Fisheries, Mr Searle has ensured almost every longline skipper they do business with has attended a Seabird Smart Training workshop, which teaches fishing practices that reduces risk to sebirds.

Mr Searle has also helped liaison officers jointly funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Department of Conservation prepare Seabird Risk management Plans for each vessel.

Mr Black, who manages 20 vessels from Moeraki to Jackson Bay, helped the Southern Inshore Fisheries Management Company roll out Seabird Risk Management Plans for inshore trawlers within just two months.

Mr Dreadon, a snapper fisherman based out of Whitianga, meanwhile won the Special Recognition Award for setting a high standard in seabird mitigation and used his engineering skills to explore potential new ideas.

As vice president of the Whitianga/Coromandel Peninsular Fishermen's Association, was also encouraging local fishers to get behind the Government's observer programme and local charter operators to get involved in Seabird Smart Fishing workshops.

Mr Williamson won the Government Observer Award for enthusing scores of fishermen by sharing his knowledge about seabirds.

Southern Seabird Solutions Trust chair Bill Mansfield said New Zealand was regarded as the seabird capital of the world, and, as the breeding ground for a third of the world's seabirds species, carried an international responsibility to ensure their long-term survival.

"Each of these four men is an environmental champion, and they are leading the way in reinforcing the importance of seabird smart fishing practices amongst the fishing industry," he said.

"Their passion and actions have positively affected the attitudes and behaviour of others in their fleets."