Enter the Smart Gear Competition
The WWF Responsible Fisheries Programme calls on all fishermen, industry members and marine scientists to get creative and design practical innovative fishing gear that reduces the accidental capture of non target species.Because fishing is not 100% selective, many species such as seabirds, turtles and sharks get caught up in the nets or hooks and die unnecessarily. In an attempt to improve the selectivity of fishing gear, WWF International holds an annual Smart Gear Competition to reward and inspire people to come up with cost effective, practical solutions to bycatch. The competition was first held in 2005, and since then has awarded 3 grand prizes, and 4 runner-up prizes. The next competition is in February 2009, with a grand prize of $30 000, and a runner-up prize of $10 000.
South Africa has yet to win a Smart Gear competition, so we encourage you to start thinking, designing and testing! For more information, and to enter the competition, see their website www.smartgear.org.
