A Whitianga-based snapper fisherman has received special recognition as part of the Seabird Smart awards.

Wayne Dreadon has set a high standard in seabird mitigation and used his engineering skills to explore potential new ideas.

Wayne Dreadon and Jamie Williamson, pictured here with Minister Maggie Barry, have been recognised as part of the Seabird Smart awards.

Wayne believes that accurate information on seabird captures helps everyone, and in his role as Vice President of the Whitianga/Coromandel Peninsular Fishermen's Association, he has encouraged locals to get behind the government's observer programme.

Wayne Dreadon.

Wayne is also encouraging local charter operators to get involved in Seabird Smart Fishing workshops.

Jamie Williamson, who is based near Whitianga, was awarded the Government Observer award.

Some fisheries observers have particular interests or specialist knowledge, and inevitably their interest rubs off on the skippers and crew.

This has most definitely been the case with Jamie, who is based on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Jamie is passionate about seabirds and has enthused scores of fishermen by sharing his knowledge. Jamie's email address is ‘thebirdman' – a nickname he has picked up from fishermen he has been to sea with.

Jamie Williamson.

Jamie was nominated for the award by several commercial fishermen.

'The winners of this year's Seabird Smart awards are the sustainable future of New Zealand fishing,” says Bill Mansfield, chair of the Southern Seabird Solutions Trust.

'As a fisher, Wayne Dreadon of Whitianga has championed fishers working collaboratively with government and environmental groups, and Jamie Williamson, a fisheries observer, has given fishers a new appreciation of the seabirds they see every day around their vessels.”

The awards were announced by the Minister of Conservation Maggie Barry during an event at Parliament last night.

'New Zealand is known as the seabird capital of the world,” says Bill. 'As the breeding grounds for a third of the world's seabird species, we have an international responsibility to ensure their long-term survival.

'Each of these four men is an environmental champion, and they are leading the way in reinforcing the importance of seabird smart fishing practices amongst the fishing industry.

'Their passion and actions have positively affected the attitudes and behaviour of others in their fleets. We want to recognise them and thank them for their vision and their work.”