Feds announce funding push for ropeless fishing gear that spares rare whales

Date:

Share post:


PORTLAND, Maine — New efforts to convert some types of commercial fishing to ropeless gear that is safer for rare whales will be supported by millions of dollars in funding, federal authorities said.

Federal fishing managers are promoting the use of ropeless gear in the lobster and crab fishing industries because of the plight of North Atlantic right whales. The whales number less than 360, and they face existential threats from entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with large ships.

The federal government is committing nearly $10 million to saving right whales, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on Tuesday. Nearly $7 million of that will support the development of ropeless gear by providing funds to fishing industry members to assess and provide feedback on the technology, the agency said.

Lobster fishing is typically performed with traps on the ocean bottom that are connected to the surface via a vertical line. In ropeless fishing methods, fishermen use systems such an inflatable lift bag that brings the trap to the surface.

“It’s imperative we advance our collective actions to help recover this species, and these partnerships will help the science and conservation community do just that,” said Janet Coit, the assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries.

The funding also includes a little less than $3 million to support efforts to improve modeling and monitoring efforts about right whales. Duke University’s Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab will receive more than $1.3 million to build a nearly real-time modeling system to try to help predict the distribution of right whales along the East Coast, NOAA officials said.

Several right whales have died this year, and some have shown evidence of entanglement in fishing rope. Coit described the species as “approaching extinction” and said there are fewer than 70 reproductively active females.

The whales migrate every year from calving grounds off Florida and Georgia to feeding grounds off New England and Canada. Scientists have said warming ocean waters have put the whales at risk because they have strayed from protected areas of ocean in search of food.

Commercial fishermen are subject to numerous laws designed to protect the whales and conserve the lobster population, and more rules are on the way. Some fishermen have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of ropeless gear while others have worked with government agencies to test it.



Source link

Lisa Holden
Lisa Holden
Lisa Holden is a news writer for LinkDaddy News. She writes health, sport, tech, and more. Some of her favorite topics include the latest trends in fitness and wellness, the best ways to use technology to improve your life, and the latest developments in medical research.

Recent posts

Related articles

A study says the global luxury goods market will shrink in 2025. Trump tariffs could make it worse

MILAN -- Global sales of personal luxury goods are forecast to shrink in 2025 for the first...

Federal judge denies request to block measure revoking Arkansas casino license

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- A federal judge has denied an effort to temporarily block enforcement of a...

Danish palace scraps system dating to the 1800s that grants royal labels for products

COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Denmark’s royal court said Wednesday it will phase out a labeling system dating to...

NYC bans forcing tenants to pay real estate brokers hired by landlords

NEW YORK -- Mandatory broker fees, an unusual feature of New York City apartment hunting long reviled...

FanDuel Sports Network regional channels will be available as add-on subscription on Prime Video

LOS ANGELES -- LOS ANGELES (AP) — Diamond Sports Group announced Wednesday it reached a multi-year agreement...

Nigeria signs $1.2 billion deal with Chinese state-owned company to revamp key gas plant

Nigeria has inked a $1.2 billion deal with a Chinese firm to revitalize a gas processing facility,...

Insurance magnate pleads guilty as government describes $2B scheme

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- An insurance magnate who was once a big political donor in North Carolina is...

Italy's president sharply rebukes Elon Musk over comments on X about migration court rulings

ROME -- Italian President Sergio Mattarella sharply rebuked Elon Musk on Wednesday for weighing in on Italian...