Date:  30 July 2008

On 30 July 2008 the winners of Southern Seabird Solutions Trust’s 2008 photo competition were announced.

A ‘poignant and extremely atmospheric’ photo of a seabird in flight has achieved Cameron Long from Wanganui the overall winner status as well as winner of the category “New Zealand seabirds”, which was open only to fishermen and their immediate families.  Cameron’s photo of a Salvin’s albatross was taken in the Southern Ocean in February 2008.

The winner of the New Zealand seabirds open category was Peter Langlands of Christchurch.  His photo of two Gibson’s wandering albatrosses was taken five km offshore of Kaikoura.

The young person’s New Zealand seabird category was won by Steven Hirst of Christchurch.  In his photo he captured a black-backed gull in flight at a Christchurch estuary.

The seabirds and fishing practices category was won by Greg Tinney of Hokitika.  Taken in the Hokitika Canyon off of the West Coast, his photo captures a vessel using a mitigation device to reduce the accidental capture of seabirds while fishing.

New Zealand Geographic editor and competition judge James Frankham said, “Photographing fast-moving seabirds from unstable fishing boats in often severe weather offers one of the most difficult challenges a photographer can face. Anyone with a shot in focus is to be congratulated. But the shots that stood out were those of exceptional beauty, behaviour or insight. Some presented birds in a way we’ve never seen them before, others played with light, water and reflected birds on the wing.  They are powerful images, some of which may greatly contribute to the preservation of seabirds under threat.”

Over 50 people attended the announcement of the winners at Te Papa’s Nature Space on 30 July 2008 from 1.00 to 2.00 pm.  The winner’s images can be seen in Nature Space until mid-August.

Southern Seabird Solutions Trustee Chair Bill Mansfield said at the announcement event, “The photo competition is a way to remind fishermen and the broader public that New Zealand is a very important place for seabirds.  More albatross and petrel species breed in New Zealand than in any other country.”   

Leading ornithologist Chris Robertson, along with renowned wildlife photographers Kim Westerskov and Rod Morris, and New Zealand Geographic’s editor, James Frankham, served as judges for the competition. 

The photograph competition was sponsored by Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd, New Zealand Geographic, Te Ohu Kaimoana, and WWF-New Zealand.  Special thanks to Te Papa for hosting the announcement ceremony.

–release ends–

Background notes

Southern Seabird Solutions was established to promote fishing practices that avoid seabird deaths in southern hemisphere fisheries. It is an alliance of New Zealand and international interest groups working together to solve the incidental capture of seabirds during longline and trawl fishing.

The organisation includes representatives from government departments, fishing industry, environmental groups, eco-tourism operators, fisheries trainers, indigenous fisheries interests and others.

A core premise of Southern Seabird Solutions is that fishermen hold the key to finding solutions to stopping seabird mortalities. Southern Seabird Solutions works with fishermen to pass on their knowledge, technology and skills to promote good practices in the longline and trawl fisheries.

The organisation’s scope extends beyond New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone because seabirds that breed in New Zealand territory are global travellers, roaming the oceans as far afield as southern Africa, Australia, Japan, and North and South America.

The Southern Seabird Solutions Trust is supported financially by the New Zealand government through the Department of Conservation, and the fishing industry through the New Zealand Seafood Industry Council and the Deepwater Group Ltd.  The Trust is also supported by WWF-New Zealand.  Funding for the Trust’s projects comes from a variety of sources, both within and outside New Zealand, and includes financial contributions from supporters, grants, sponsorship and services in kind.