Rope-less fishing technology development

This article describes the design and fabrication of a prototype rope-less fishing system that might be used in the Gulf of Maine lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery. Rope-less fishing gear, which secures vertical fishing lines to the bottom until they are released for hauling, is a potential mitigation measure to reduce vertical line entanglements of marine mammals including North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), along with leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea). The prototypes consists of a flotation line spool capable of holding up to 900 m of 1/2 in line. The spool is secured to a lobster trawl by a mechanical release that can be triggered for hauling either using a digital timer or acoustic transponder. In addition to the rope-less prototype, the study conducted a preliminary investigation on the passive acoustic detectability of rope-less gear.