Preventing seabird by-catch in commercial fishing

It's estimated  thousands of seabirds are killed in the waters around New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone every year due to commercial fishing. One of the biggest culprits is longline fishing... as albatrosses and petrels dive beneath the surface and take baited hooks while the lines are being set, which can lead to them drowning. One fishing company that has gone to great lengths to reduce seabird by catch is Leigh Fisheries, and its Operations Manager, Tom Searle was last night recognized for his efforts by the Southern Seabird Solutions Trust at an event in Wellington