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title: "The South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation adopts a measure to mitigate seabird bycatch in longline and trawl fisheries"
---

# The South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation adopts a measure to mitigate seabird bycatch in longline and trawl fisheries

The Second Commission Meeting of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation ([SPRFMO](http://www.southpacificrfmo.org/)) was held last month in Manta, Ecuador ([click here](http://www.acap.aq/index.php/en/news/latest-news/1640-the-south-pacific-regional-fisheries-management-organisation-will-consider-a-seabird-bycatch-mitigation-measure-at-its-2nd-commission-meeting-this-week)).  ACAP was represented at the meeting by its Executive Secretary, Warren Papworth.

 A conservation and management measure ([COMM-02-08](http://www.southpacificrfmo.org/assets/Commission-Meeting-2nd/Comm-02-Papers/COMM-02-08-Proposed-Conservation-and-Management-Measure-for-minimising-bycatch-of-seabirds-in-the-SPRFMO-Convention-Area-New-Zealand.pdf)) for minimising the bycatch of seabirds in the SPRFMO convention area was proposed for consideration at the meeting by the Government of New Zealand.

 The Commission subsequently adopted a conservation and management measure (CMM 2.04) based on the New Zealand proposal ([click here](http://www.southpacificrfmo.org/assets/Commission-Meeting-2nd/SPRFMO-Commission-REPORT-31Jan2014-20.03pm.pdf) for the meeting’s report).  CMM 2.04 substantially reflects ACAP’s best-practice advice for minimising seabird bycatch in demersal longline and trawl fisheries and the adoption of this CMM by the SPRFMO Commission is warmly welcomed.

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Mitigation/Fact_Sheet_01_Fig1.jpg)

 The Commission also requested its Secretariat to explore the possibility of a memorandum of understanding on data exchange with ACAP.

 The South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation is an intergovernmentalorganisation committed to the long-term conservation and sustainable use of the fishery resources of the South Pacific Ocean and in so doing safeguarding the marine ecosystems in which the resources occur.

 *Warren Papworth, ACAP Executive Secretary, 10 February 2014*