Dr Samantha Peterson has done wide research into the impact of commercial fishing on migratory seabirds, sea turtles and sharks. And it is this research that won her the prestigious WWF-South Africa award. She is the WWF-SA Responsible Fisheries Programme Manager. Her entry to the 2008 UNEP/CMS Thesis Award on Migratory Species Conservation was judged the winner among those submitted by 32 candidates from 18 countries.
The third place award was won by another South African, Dr Ross Wanless, with his research on “Impacts of the introduced house mouse on the seabirds of Gough Island”. Dr Lin Xia’s thesis on “Traffic Disturbance to the Migration of Tibetan Antelopes (Pantholops hodgsoni) in Hoh-xil National Nature Reserve” took second place.
It is said that the award is sponsored annually by National Geographic Deutschland, Deutsche Lufthansa, Zoological Research Museum Koenig and CMS. According to the judges Dr Peterson’s thesis on “Understanding and Mitigating Vulnerable Bycatch in southern African Trawl and Longline Fisheries” has made a significant contribution to improving the affected species’ conservation status. The document urges a holistic approach toward sustainable use of marine resources.
Dr Petersen said that this award is very gratifying as the exposure will help drive further research and action to help save these vulnerable species from extinction. She pointed out that in the last decade concern globally has grown over the impact of bycatch on these species, especially in longline and trawl fishing, which decimated their populations.
Dr Morne du Plessis, CEO of WWF in SA, told that this award demonstrates not only the scientific expertise in WWF and in SA’s scientific community, but also highlights the growing concern over the impact of human activity on marine resources.
