On June 16, 2016, Massachusetts Secretary for the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Matthew Beaton, announced a grant to NEAq researchers for developing and testing ropes of reduced breaking strength that are practical for fishing but can also help reduce whale entanglements. Here is the full story as featured in the Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/06/16/development-whale-friendly-fishing-ropes-gets-boost-from-state/AsybA0iaMQtgdE3JnFc0aK/story.html
Featured Bycatch Species
The principal threat to the Irrawaddy dolphin throughout much of its range is accidental entanglement in gillnets (Smith et al 2007).