Keeping observers in the loop: a training capacity workshop is held in Chile

A training capacity workshop for observers from the Instituto de Fomento Pesquero (Fisheries Development Institute) in Chile was held in Talcahuano in the Institute’s facilities over 23-28 September.

The three-day course was led by Jorge Azócar (Instituto de Fomento Pesquero) with the participation of Valentina Colodro (Oikonos) and Luis Cabezas, Cristian Suazo and Juan Carlos González (BirdLife's ATF Chile). Observers were trained in the identification of marine birds regularly attending trawlers, in following sampling protocols for birds interacting with the fleet, and in the construction and use of bird-scaring lines.

The main goal of the workshop was to improve data collection on seabird interactions and mortality in trawl fisheries operating in central-southern Chile. Observers participating in the course were to end it with a field trip aboard a vessel.

Chile is one of the several South American countries that are Parties to ACAP and which hold a great diversity and abundance of procellariiform seabirds within their waters.  Chile adopted its National Plan of Action-Seabirds (NPOA-S) in 2006.

The NPOA-S is framed within the FAO's IPOA-S and follows the objectives of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels.

 

Chilean observers being trained aboard a vessel, photograph by Jorge Azócar

With thanks to Jorge Azócar for the information and picture provided.

Juan Pablo Seco Pon, ACAP South American News Correspondent, 30 September 2013

The Agreement on the
Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

ACAP is a multilateral agreement which seeks to conserve listed albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters by coordinating international activity to mitigate known threats to their populations.

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