Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai
https://www.doc.govt.nz/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/
Introduction
The presence of seabird safe practices (except night setting) can be checked when a vessel is in port and able to be boarded.Port access, health and safety
There will be a range of necessary permissions and procedures to gain access to the vessel. These may vary by port.
Useful equipment
Measuring tape, scales, camera.
What to check
Bird scaring lines
- The presence of an adjustable tori pole that allows the streamers of the bird scaring line to hang above where baited hooks land in the water. Hooks usually land to the side of the vessel outboard of the stern quarter.
- Height of the bird scaring line attachment point above the waterline.
- Length of the bird scaring line.
- Number of streamers, length of longest streamer, spacing, and streamer material.
- Presence of an in water drag section, including materials.
- Presence of spare bird-scaring line materials on board.
The materials and design specifications of line weights and bird scaring lines can be checked. However, it is not possible to check whether the practices are used or not during fishing, or whether they are being used correctly.
Some indication of whether the bird scaring lines is used can be checked from its condition and where it is stored.
More about bird scaring lines.
Line weighting
- Type of weight (lead swivel, weighted hook, sliding weight, double weight).
- Mass of weight closest to hook.
- Distance between the hook and the weight.
- Proportion of branchlines with weights.
- Presence of spare weights on board.
Hook shielding device (hookpod)
- Name of manufacturer.
- Presence of hook shielding devices on all branchlines.
- Spare hook shielding devices on board.
More about hook shielding devices.
Underwater bait setter
- Name of manufacturer.
- Maintenance record.
- Data collected by control unit for use and depth settings.
More about underwater bait setters.