Few people know that the Hauraki Gulf is a global hotspot of seabird diversity. Of around 370 seabird species in the world, at least 70 breed within or visit the Hauraki Gulf, and five species breed nowhere else in the world (Department of Conservation July 2020). Not all fishers are aware of the risks their activity poses to seabirds, or know what to do if they encounter seabirds. Southern

Seabirds Solutions Trust (SSST) is a charitable trust, that works with commercial and recreational fishers, associated agencies and industry to reduce harm to New Zealand seabirds from fishing. In December 2017, SSST received GIFT funding to collaboratively develop a set of ‘seabird smart fishing standards’, against which charter fishers could be measured and recognised. There are up to 200 charter fishing operators in the Hauraki Gulf, who take paying guests out for fishing trips.

At an early meeting of the steering group for this project, members most closely connected with charter fishers felt strongly that those who were not already passionate advocates for seabirds would not be motivated by these standards. The group agreed instead to focus on providing educational information and support for charter fishers who were advocates. Permission to change the project focus was given by both project sponsors: GIFT and the Hauraki Gulf Forum.

The steering group agreed that the best way to engage these skippers was by providing them with useful knowledge and support by way of ‘Seabird Release Kits’, containing tools and resources. Fisheries NZ supported the project by having their Fisheries Officers distribute the kits, together with a few key messages, as part of their annual vessel visits in December 2018 - January 2019. ]

Each Seabird Release Kit contains a towel to wrap around a caught bird, leather gloves to minimise the risk of being bitten by birds, bolt cutters, braid cutters and nail clippers, an eye catching sticker and poster, a laminated A5 card outlining how to avoid and rescue seabirds, and a brochure in English and Chinese.

The www.catchfishnotbirds.nz website is promoted, and web content reinforces and adds to information contained within the kit. Charter fisher recipients were surveyed by phone about their response to the kits, with 34 responding.

• 32 said the kit had improved their confidence or ability to keep seabirds safe (two were confident already)

• 33 said the kit had improved their commitment to keep seabirds safe (one was committed already)

• 23 said the visitors on their charters have a positive or very positive attitude towards seabirds, while 10 indicated a neutral/mixed position and one said “Terrible. Guests think it’s funny when a seabird gets hooked or caught”

• 15 suggested educating recreational fishers, via a platform, courses and stickers, on information about seabirds, how to detract seabirds and how to rescue them if caught.

Based on this feedback the remaining funding was put towards educating recreational fishers. Given a highly successful pilot project to educate recreational fishers by distributing printed bait buckets in Waikato and the Coromandel, that initiative was expanded into the Hauraki Gulf.

In January 2020 Fisheries NZ were provided with 1200 buckets and 30 laminated A4 cards with key messages about the project and about seabird safe fishing generally. Fisheries Officers (FOs) distributed the buckets to fishers at boat ramps and on beaches. This approach gives an opportunity for the FOs to have an educational conversation with bucket recipients at the same time