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title: "Saving seabirds: the South African hake trawl fishery achieves re-certification with Marine Stewardship Council"
---

# Saving seabirds: the South African hake trawl fishery achieves re-certification with Marine Stewardship Council

The South African trawl fishery for hake *Merluccius* spp. has been re-certified after an initial five-year certification period by the [Marine Stewardship Council](http://www.msc.org/).  Since initial MSC certification in 2004 significant progress has been made in addressing many of the impacts of the fishery as a consequence of certification requirements.

  

 A significant reduction in the impact of trawling on seabirds has been achieved by making the deployment of bird-scaring (*tori*) lines) a part of permit conditions - reported to have reduced seabird mortality by some 90% since 2004.  MSC certification has also led to more observers being deployed on trips out to sea.  [Click here](http://www.msc.org/newsroom/news/south-african-hake-trawl-achieves-re-certification?fromsearch=1&isnewssearch=1) for more news of the re-certification.

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Meetings/AC4/AC4_Cruise_Trawler_ by_Luke_Finley.jpg "Black-browed Albatrosses gather behind a South African hake trawler off Cape Town.  Photograph by Luke Finley")

ACAP-listed species most at risk in South African waters from trawl fishery activities are Shy *Thalassarche cauta* and Black-browed *T. melanophris* Albatrosses and White-chinned Petrels *Procellaria aequinoctialis*.  Entanglement with trawl warps and subsequent drowning was the major cause of mortality in a 2004/05 study (Watkins *et al*. 2008).

  

 For an assessment of the risks to seabirds in South African waters from both trawl and longline fisheries [click here](http://assets.panda.org/downloads/53_understanding_and_mitigating_vulnerable_bycatch_in_southern_african_trawl_and_longlin.pdf).

  

 **Reference:**

  

 Watkins, B.P. Petersen, S.L. & Ryan, P.G. 2008.  Interactions between seabirds and deep-water hake trawl gear: an assessment of impacts in South African waters.  [*Animal Conservation* 11: 247-254](http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121356192/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0).

  

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 2 April 2010*