Forest and Bird has declared 2020 the year of the seabird.
As part of this, its Dunedin chapter and the Kiwi Conservation Club will be helping to build seabird sandcastles on St Kilda Beach today from 11.30am.
For the family event people are encouraged to picnic at the beach and build sandcastles in the shape of their favourite seabirds while learning about the threats they face and what they can do to help protect them.
Forest and Bird southern regional manager Sue Maturin said it dedicated the year to the seabird to encourage people to submit on the Government’s draft National Plan of Action for Seabirds, which could be done until January 27.
"It’s pretty wishy-washy. It relies too heavily on voluntary methods."
She recommended people submit on the document, requesting "binding and meaningful" rules and regulations.
"We really need our fishing industry to be the best in the world. Even where we do have some regulations for the long liners and trawlers they are not in line with world best practices.
"Dunedin is world famous for our albatross and our penguins, and our seas are the foraging grounds for the world’s most diverse range of seabirds, but too many of them are on the brink of extinction. Already it is getting hard to spot a hoiho."
Unfortunately Dunedin’s sand was not great for building seabird sandcastles, she said.
"Outlines of birds might be more likely, or birds sitting on nests, that should be OK."
