Lobster fishing will face restrictions to try to save whales

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By PATRICK WHITTLE

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — America’s lobster fishing industry will face a host of new harvesting restrictions amid a new push from the federal government to try to save a vanishing species of whale.

The new rules, which have loomed over the profitable lobster industry for years and were announced Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are designed to protect the North Atlantic right whale. The whales number only about 360 and are vulnerable to lethal entanglement in fishing gear.

NOAA said it expects the new rules will result in a reduction in nearly 70% of the risk of death and serious injuries the whales can suffer from entanglement. The rules had long been expected to focus on reducing the number of vertical ropes in the water, and they will.

The rules reduce the number of rope lines that link buoys to lobster and crab traps, NOAA said. The rules will also require the use of weaker ropes so whales can more easily break free if they do become entangled, the agency said. NOAA said the rules also expand the areas of ocean where fishing with trap rope is prohibited or limited.



FILE - In this March 28, 2018, file photo, a North Atlantic right whale feeds on the surface of Cape Cod bay off the coast of Plymouth, Mass. America's lobster fishing industry will face a host of new restrictions in harvesting the valuable crustaceans due to a new push from the federal government to try to save a vanishing species of whale. The whales number only about 360 and they are vulnerable to lethal entanglement in fishing gear. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/business-lobsters-348659c4e8f4d4ac28334adf46231c3e

[cstanleytech]

1. They actually could get rid of all the ropes these days.

All they would have to do is modify the traps and add a small canister of compressed air along with an inflatable buoy like that brings it to the surface and to trigger it they could send down a mini drone submarine that either manually activates it or transmits a signal to the trap to cause it to inflate.
That way they do not risk losing many if any traps and the ropes will no longer be a problem.
That or use a mini sub to take a line down and attach it to the traps and then haul them up.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Lobster Tech

Does this stuff exist, or are we waiting on the IPO?

[cstanleytech]

6. All the tech mentioned already exists in one form or another.

[The Jungle 1]

8. Or a timer releases the buoy which already floats.

The buoy could also be released remotely. Drive up and all the buoys pop up.

5th annual International Marine Conservation Congress came up with a device they dubbed the Lobster Lift.

I would think the fishermen would love this because it will stop pot raiding and no one knows where you are fishing.

Lobster licensing in Maine is a big fat scam.

[cstanleytech]

9. Another thing is with GPS these days they can mark where they put the traps much easier

so using thus doing away with a floating buoy with a rope to find the spot.

[Auggie]

2. Wonderful news

[Bayard]

4. Excellent!

But I'm sure a lot of lobster harvesters will be pissed off. There will be much illegal trapping.

I love lobster. Can't afford it.

[cstanleytech]

7. "I love lobster. Can't afford it." Can't eat or touch it or any shellfish :(

[calimary]

5. GOOD!!!

Glad to hear this. Hope it's not too late.