Appreciating the importance of a complete understanding of the fishery in order to ensure the proper management of the resource, CFL has employed a number of specialists to undertake scientific research on the fishery. CFL has periodically placed observers on each of its two vessels who are independent of the vessel crew. The observers' task is to observe and report on any incidence of seabird mortality and collect scientific data from catches to enable the company to better understand the fishery and protect the environment.

Internationally recognised Australian ornithologist Nigel Brothers was recruited to conduct a study into the causes and solutions of incidental seabird mortality associated with long lining activities. This study proved to be an enormous success and the Brothers Report was presented to the 1995 CCAMLR annual conference.

CFL arranged for the translation and distribution of the Brothers Report to Chilean and Argentine long lining companies and the Governments of Chile, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, France, UK, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, and naturally the Falkland Islands. CFL partly sponsored the publication of Nigel's book 'Longline Fishing - Dollars and Sense'. This book is available free of charge from CFL.

Bird scaring streamers deployed on CFL Pioneer

Paul Brickle was engaged by the company to carry out a parasite tagging study to enable a better understanding of toothfish stocks in Falkland waters. His work enabled us to discriminate between different populations, their diet, and to look at recruitment and adult migration. This information enabled CFL to identify areas to avoid or target at certain times of the year whilst achieving minimum impact on the on the fishery. Paul's' work has identified a number of previously unknown species of parasites.

CFL assisted Graham Robertson, an Australian ornithologist, in research for his book on albatrosses of the world.

Andy Black, a stock assessment specialist, was employed to undertake stock assessment work on the fishery. Up until this time there had been little work done in this area by the F.I. Fisheries Department. His preliminary report showed that it would be many years before the stock could be assessed with any degree of accuracy. One of Andy's major achievements was the production of an identification guide to the maturity stages of toothfish. There had been inconsistent data coming from the SGSSI fishery as a result of the lack of standardisation of measurement and this chart has gone a long way towards solving this problem. The chart was later presented to CCAMLR and other fishery management authorities.

CFL has undertaken a substantial amount of in-house R&D on various bird-scaring devices. The company has now devised an effective combination of counter-measures, which have resulted in the majority of our fishing trips, which will set over a million hooks over a three month period, recording a zero score of bird mortality.