International Mitigation Mentor Programme
The International Mitigation Mentor Programme provides feedback and advice to fishers, scientists, researchers and other inventors who have innovative ideas or early prototypes that could potentially reduce the risk of seabirds being caught by commercial or recreational fishers.
If you have a new idea to keep seabirds away from fishing vessels that you would like help to develop we'd like to hear from you.
"We can help you turn a great idea into a tip, technique or technology that's good for trawl or line fishing, and good for seabirds," says Southern Seabird Solutions Convenor Janice Molloy.
How do I get involved?
The main obstacle inventors face is knowing who to talk to about their ideas, what the various developmental and testing phases are, and how to fund this work.
That's where we come in.
We're keen to round up bright ideas to keep seabirds away from hooks, trawl cables and nets. We want to support inventors to get their ideas past concepts and early prototypes.
Please download the Participation Form and complete it. Although the programme is open to ideas all year round, we are making a special call for ideas to be submitted by 29 February 2012.
If you have any questions contact Amie Sinden, Trust Manager at info@southernseabirds.org or call on +64 4 815 8527.
We are grateful to our sponsors WWF, Sealord, Sanford, Encounter Foundation and Maersk Line for making the International Mitigation Mentoring Programme possible. If you are interested in joining them by supporting us, please get in touch with our Trust Manager, Amie Sinden via info@southernseabirds.org.
Mitigation Mentor Barry Baker - fishing for solutions to save seabirds
Barry Baker
Mitigation Mentor, Barry Baker is coordinating the delivery of the International Mitigation Mentor Programme.
Based in Tasmania, Australia, Barry, in his role as Mitigation Mentor is available to provide feedback and advice to fishers and other inventors. The scope of advice includes feedback on design, guidance on development and testing, and advice on potential collaborators or funders.
He brings vast experience to the role, including 35 years' studying seabirds and other vertebrates. Over the last 20 years, Barry's work has included developing and implementing wildlife management plans to resolve wildlife/human interactions, including fisheries bycatch of non-target species - such as albatrosses, marine turtles, dugongs and seals. Of this, 12 years were involved in developing, testing and proving the effectiveness of bycatch mitigation measures. Barry is also involved in international seabird work including roles with the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS or Bonn Convention).
Referral Group
The International Mitigation Mentor Programme Referral Group are a team of seabird and fishing experts to help the Mitigation Mentor identify and road-test mitigation ideas with potential. The group includes:
- Phill Ashworth - Amerro Engineering, Australia
- John Cleal - Deepwater Group, New Zealand
- Marco Favero - Chair, ACAP Advisory Committee; Head of Vertebrate Research Group at the National University of Mar del Plata (Argentina)
- Eric Gilman - Fisheries Research Scientist, Hawaii Pacific University
- Dave Kellian - Fisherman and Inventor, New Zealand
- Dave Kreutz - Oceanwatch, Australia
- Svein Lokkeborg - Institute of Marine Research, Norway
- Ed Melvin - Washington Sea Grant, University of Washington, USA
- Graham Robertson - Australian Antarctic Division, Australia
- Barrie Rose - Bycatch Mitigation Consultant, South Africa
For more information on each member visit our Referral Group page.
Mitigation Mentor Barry Baker draws on the expertise of this group to help bring good ideas to fruition. Every member of the Referral Group has expertise relevant to developing and testing new mitigation techniques and practices.
This brings access to a wide range of expertise, on topics such as fishing methods and practices, seabird behaviour, marine engineering, at-sea research, product development, fundraising expertise and ways to introduce new practices into fisheries.
"We're aiming to capture the good ideas that are out there in the fishing industry and other places, and turn them into workable solutions that get tested, refined and adopted," says Barry Baker.
"I'm delighted to have the Referral Group's expertise available as we develop this work."
Funding for mitigation measure
Looking for inspiration?
Our Mitigation Development Pathway includes lots of case studies, telling the stories of other seabird mitigation ideas and devices.
The International Mitigation Mentoring Programme also builds on WWF's International Smart Gear competition, which has been great in flushing out innovations. In 2009, the top prize of $30,000 was won by an Australian team of engineers who credited their invention - the underwater baited hook - as the brainchild of New Zealand fisher, Dave Kellian.