The activity, which took place last September 11 at the National Fishing School “Comandante Luis Piedra Buena” in Mar del Plata, is the result of a joint effort to implement better practices in fishing activities. Thirty-seven people participated in the workshop, including students of the first fishing pilot courses and the academic leveling course for fishing pilots.
The purpose of these trainings is to contribute to the training of on-board personnel to promote the adoption of best practices to reduce seabird bycatch. In addition, the Electronic Argentine Fishing Logbook (BEPA), a tool that facilitates captains to upload information on bycatch of species of special value, was presented.
This initiative is organized by the Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea and Areas of Influence together with the Observatory of Fisheries Education and Training of the National Fishing School, within the framework of the MaRes Project for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea.
Rafael Alberto Guiñazu, Secretary of Extension and Liaison at the National Fishing School, said: “The Observatory of Fisheries Education and Training of the National Fishing School works together with the Teaching Department to strengthen all the topics that are not included in the curriculum design, mainly those that promote the ecosystem approach to fisheries, such as the implementation of Bird-scaring lines and the Electronic Argentine Fishing Logbook. These workshops provide valuable information to future officers and captains, both men and women.”
Bycatch mitigation measures
Interaction with fishing vessels constitutes the main threat to the survival of seabirds such as albatrosses and petrels. Each year, thousands of these birds die from collisions or entanglements with fishing gear.
The use of bird-scaring lines (BSLs) or streamer lines is an effective, simple and inexpensive solution to mitigate this problem. These lines, composed of strings with brightly colored ribbons, create a visual barrier that deters birds from approaching wires or hooks.
Their use on longline fishing vessels and freezer trawlers is mandatory in Argentina according to Resolution 03/17 of the Federal Fisheries Council. However, and for different reasons, the actual implementation of BSLs is very low.
Through workshops and technical assistance led by Aves Argentinas, it is expected to strengthen the capacities of workers in the fisheries sector to contribute to compliance with regulations and achieve the preservation of seabird populations.
Leandro Tamini, Marine Program Coordinator of Aves Argentinas, said: “Having the National Fishing School as a strategic partner of the MaRes Project is of utmost importance given the fundamental role of this institution in the training of onboard personnel. For us, as organizations involved in marine conservation, it is a very rich environment for ideas, opinions and arguments to improve and expand our relationship with the fishing sector”.
Electronic Argentine Fishing Logbook, a tool to facilitate good fishing practices
In an effort to strengthen bycatch mitigation strategies, Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina, together with shipowners and captains of Argentine fisheries, have designed the Electronic Argentine Fishing Logbook (BEPA). This free and open access application allows captains to record and transmit catch and fishing effort data electronically through mobile devices, and shipowners to effectively monitor fishing through a website.
In addition, the application allows for the documentation of both retained and bycatch commercial species. By articulating with the requirements of enforcement authorities and the information needs of fishery improvement projects, it facilitates regulatory compliance and contributes to the certification of fishery products. The data generated are essential to understand the impact of bycatch, evaluate the performance of mitigation measures and promote an ecosystem approach to fisheries.
Verónica García, Sustainable Fisheries Specialist at Fundación Vida Silvestre, said about the implementation of BEPA: “Captains are the ones who define the way of fishing at sea, so it is essential that they are the ones who incorporate the concept of the ecosystem approach to fishing during their training. Having an electronic application makes it easier for the captain to upload information on his fishing trip and allows him to record information on other variables necessary to implement this approach”.
This activity is carried out within a framework of collaborative work to collectively address the most urgent challenges facing our oceans and coasts. Through the adoption of innovative technologies such as the use of bird-scaring lines, the installation of tracking cameras and the implementation of the Electronic Argentine Fishing Logbook, it is expected to contribute to the strengthening of good fishing practices that facilitate the coexistence between human activities and the conservation of marine biodiversity.