Seabird-Gillnet Interactions

The Seabird Gillnet Interaction Project was a partnership with Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF). The Skipper Science team co-created a survey form in the Skipper Science app to collect data on interactions between fishing gear and seabirds to inform AFDF's Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainability certification for the Alaska salmon fishery. Through the participation of skippers in the salmon gillnet fishery, the project contributed valuable data to help to satisfy the MSC condition regarding seabird and gillnet interactions, allowing for continued MSC certification of Alaska salmon. This pilot methodology resulted in a successful and scalable method for collecting fishery-dependent data to support sustainability certifications of Alaska's fisheries through direct collaboration with the fleet.