29/11/2005
- Washington, DC – WWF-US has launched the second WWF
International Smart Gear Competition. The contest seeks
innovative fishing gear that reduces marine bycatch —
the accidental catch and related deaths of marine mammals,
birds, sea turtles and non-target fish species in fishing
gear such as nets and longlines.
“WWF is looking for real-world fishing
solutions that allow fishermen to fish ‘smarter’ by better
targeting their intended catch while safeguarding the
dolphins, sea turtles and other marine life often caught
unintentionally,” said Ginette Hemley, Vice-President
for species conservation at WWF-US.
“This unique collaboration among conservationists,
fishermen and scientists is designed to inspire new technologies
for more sustainable fishing.”
The international competition will
award a US$25,000 grand prize and two US$5,000 runner-up
prizes to the designs judged to be the most practical,
cost-effective methods for reducing bycatch of any species.
The competition is open to eligible entrants from any
background, including fishermen, professional gear manufacturers,
teachers, students, engineers, scientists and backyard
inventors.
Conventional fishing gear does often
not allow users to selectively target their catch. As
a result, non-target fish species, marine mammals, birds,
sea turtles and non-target fish species are caught and
sometimes killed. More than 25 per cent of what is caught
in the course of fishing — as much as 20 million metric
tons annually — is thrown over the sides of fishing boats
dead or dying. This bycatch is the leading threat to many
endangered marine mammals, sea turtles and sea birds around
the world.
“The WWF International Smart Gear
Competition aims to stop one of the biggest threats to
healthy marine ecosystems and related economic losses
to fishermen,” Hemley added. “We hope this competition
harnesses the creativity and ingenuity of fishermen, scientists
and the public to reduce the waste caused by inefficient
gear.”
Last year, WWF awarded three new practical
solutions to marine bycatch: a system for keeping longlines
away from sea turtles by a former high-school biology
teacher and commercial fisherman; changes to the chemical
properties of fishing ropes and nets by a North American
team; and modified trawls to reduce bycatch of undersized
shrimp and fish by a team of Indian scientists.
The winner of the WWF International
Smart Gear Competition will be decided by a diverse set
of judges, including fishermen, researchers, engineers
and fisheries managers from all over the world. Instructions
for entry along with the competition rules are available
at www.smartgear.org. Completed entries must be submitted
by March 15, 2006. |