Bycatch News

Whale entanglement risk prevents start of California dungeness crab fishery

Documented whale entanglements and the abundance of whales in the fishing zone prompted State officials to delay the start of the season.

A new pubication is available for fishing inustry members to establish digital traceability of their catch

This publication is intended to improve how fisheries can build and maintain digitable traceability into their operations.

Progress Report: December 20th 2023 by Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction

The Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
Progress report – December 20th 2023

Presentation on Ropeless Fishing given by the Consortium at SMM 2024

New bycatch report out by US GAO

Please see this report documenting shortcomings of US management of bycatch in US fisheries:

https://www.nationalfisherman.com/agency-critics-slam-federal-oversight-of-bycatch?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_content=newsletter&mkt_tok=NzU2LUZXSi0wNjEAAAGUpBizCN08RJua4NeqEe-OGtQnQwRk-G5LfouY8N1L61BJHL5X7t9tfGUoEvKDAkj5QjcpoiCX2uL3bNCTLlsNI8aW1IxwHTx7YGLnLPj2UMsc2Bu8vg

Fishermen-NGO partership to reduce seabird bycatch

A Taiwanese tuna trader announces plan to implement seabird bycatch mitigation in its longline fleet. See: https://www.atuna.com/news/fcf-kick-starts-program-to-mitigate-seabird-bycatch-in-longline-fishery/

U.S. Government sued for allegedly failing to implement rule requiring foreign fisheries to show that their bycatch prevention measures meet U.S. standards

The lawsuit, filed by the Center for Biological Diversity is summarized on the organization's website:

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/lawsuit-seeks-to-protect-marine-mammals-from-foreign-fishing-gear-enforce-seafood-import-bans-2024-08-08/email_view/

Summer and long-term job oppotunities

The Boston office of the Fund for the Public Interest, in conjunction with Environment Massachusetts, has job openings available.

Gillnet ban

California seeks to implement more restrictions on gillnet fishing in its State and adjacent Federal waters. See: https://www.seafoodsource.com/california-bill-would-further-limit-gilln….

If you follow what is happening globally with gillnets, which some people call "curtains of death," this new but not original call for a ban using them off California noteworthy.

NOAA Right Whale discovered dead off of Martha's Vineyard appears to have been caused by lobster line from Maine State waters

For more information, please see the reports directly from NOAA. Here is the link: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/examination-continues-caus…