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BIRD MITIGATION MEASURES Table 1: Mitigation Measures Column A Column B Side setting with a bird curtain and weighted branch lines Tori line Night setting with minimum deck lighting Blue-dyed bait Tori line Deep setting line shooter Weighted branch lines Management of offal discharge Hook-shielding devices Specifications

1. Tori lines (South of 25° South) (a) For vessels ≥ 35 m total length (i) Deploy at least one tori line. Where practical, vessels are encouraged to use a second tori line at times of high bird abundance or activity; both tori lines shall be deployed simultaneously, one on each side of the line being set. If two tori lines are used, baited hooks shall be deployed within the area bounded by the two tori lines.

(ii) A tori line using long and short streamers shall be used. Streamers shall be: brightly coloured, a mix of long and short streamers.

(1) Long streamers shall be placed at intervals of no more than 5 m, and long streamers must be attached to the line with swivels that prevent streamers from wrapping around the line. Long streamers of sufficient length to reach the sea surface in calm conditions must be used.

(2) Short streamers (greater than 1 m in length) shall be placed no more than 1 m apart.

(iii) Vessels shall deploy the tori line to achieve a desired aerial extent greater than or equal to 100 m. To achieve this aerial extent the tori line shall have a minimum length of 200 m, and shall be attached to a tori pole > 7 m above the sea surface located as close to the stern as practical.

(iv) If vessels use only one tori line, the tori line shall be deployed windward of sinking baits.

(b) For vessels < 35 m total length (i) A single tori line using either long and short streamers, or short streamers only shall be used.

(ii) Streamers shall be: brightly coloured long and/or short (but greater than 1 m in length); streamers must be used and placed at intervals as follows:

(1) Long streamers placed at intervals of no more than 5 m for the first 75 m of tori line.

(2) Short streamers placed at intervals of no more than 1 m.

(iii) Long streamers should be attached to the line in a way that prevent streamers from wrapping around the line. All long streamers shall reach the sea-surface in calm conditions. Streamers may be modified over the first 15 m to avoid tangling.

(iv) Vessels shall deploy the tori line to achieve a minimum aerial extent of 75 m. To achieve this aerial extent the tori line shall be attached to a tori pole > 6 m above the sea surface located as close to the stern as practical. Sufficient drag must be created to maximise aerial extent and maintain the line directly behind the vessel during crosswinds. To avoid tangling, this is best achieved using a long in-water section of rope or monofilament.

(v) If two tori lines are used, the two lines must be deployed on opposing sides of the main line.

2. Tori lines (North of 23° North) (a) Long Streamer (i) Minimum length: 100 m (ii) Must be attached to the vessel such that it is suspended from a point a minimum of 5 m above the water at the stern on the windward side of the point where the hookline enters the water.

(iii) Must be attached so that the aerial extent is maintained over the sinking baited hooks.

(iv) Streamers must be less than 5 m apart, be using swivels and long enough so that they are as close to the water as possible.

(v) If two (i.e. paired) tori lines are used, the two lines must be deployed on opposing sides of the main line.

(b) Short Streamer (For vessels ≥ 24 m total length) (i) Must be attached to the vessel such that it is suspended from a point a minimum of 5 m above the water at the stern on the windward side of a point where the hookline enters the water.

(ii) Must be attached so that the aerial extent is maintained over the sinking baited hooks.

(iii) Streamers must be less than 1 m apart and be 30 cm minimum length.

(iv) If two (i.e. paired) tori lines are used, the two lines must be deployed on opposing sides of the main line.

(c) Short Streamer (For vessels < 24 m total length) This design shall be reviewed no later than three years from the implementation date based on scientific data.

(i) Must be attached to the vessel such that it is suspended from a point a minimum of 5 m above the water at the stern on the windward side of a point where the hookline enters the water.

(ii) Must be attached so that the aerial extent is maintained over the sinking baited hooks.

(iii) If streamers are used, it is encouraged to use the streamers designed to be less than 1 m apart and be 30 cm minimum length.

(iv) If two (i.e. paired) tori lines are used, the two lines must be deployed on opposing sides of the mainline.

3. Side setting with bird curtain and weighted branch lines (a) Mainline deployed from port or starboard side as far from stern as practicable (at least 1 m), and if mainline shooter is used, must be mounted at least 1m forward of the stern.

(b) When seabirds are present the gear must ensure mainline is deployed slack so that baited hooks remain submerged.

(c) Bird curtain must be employed:

(i) pole aft of line shooter at least 3 m long;

(ii) minimum of three main streamers attached to upper 2 m of pole;

(iii) main streamer diameter minimum 20 mm;

(iv) branch streamers attached to end of each main streamer long enough to drag on water (no wind) – minimum diameter 10 mm.

4. Night setting (a) No setting between nautical dawn and before nautical dusk.

(b) Nautical dusk and nautical dawn are defined as set out in the Nautical Almanac tables for relevant latitude, local time and date.

(c) Deck lighting to be kept to a minimum. Minimum deck lighting should not breach minimum standards for safety and navigation.

5. Weighted branch lines Following minimum weight specifications are required:

(a) one weight greater than or equal to 40 g within 50 cm of the hook;

(b) greater than or equal to a total of 45 g attached to within 1 m of the hook;

(c) greater than or equal to a total of 60 g attached to within 3,5 m of the hook; or (d) greater than or equal to a total of 98 g weight attached to within 4 m of the hook.

6. Hook-shielding devices Hook-shielding devices encase the point and barb of baited hooks to prevent seabird attacks during line setting. The following devices have been approved for use in WCPFC fisheries: Hookpods, which comply with the following performance characteristics:

(a) the device encases the point and barb of the hook until it reaches a depth of at least 10 metres or has been immersed for at least 10 minutes;

(b) the device meets current minimum standards for branch line weighting as specified in this Annex; and (c) the device is designed to be retained on the fishing gear rather than being lost.

7. Management of offal discharge (a) either no offal discharge during setting or hauling;

(b) or strategic offal discharge from the opposite side of the boat to setting/hauling to actively encourage birds away from baited hooks.

8. Blue-dyed bait (a) If using blue-dyed bait it must be fully thawed when dyed.

(b) The WCPFC Secretariat shall distribute a standardised colour placard.

(c) All bait must be dyed to the shade shown in the placard.

9. Deep setting line shooter (a) Line shooters must be deployed in a manner such that the hooks are set substantially deeper than they would be lacking the use of the line shooter, and such that the majority of hooks reach depths of at least 100 m.