Working with Northeastern United States lobster harvesters to develop acoustic trap retrieval in place of buoys and persistent vertical lines to reduce whale entanglements

Authors
Matzen, E.A., Fuller, E.A., Asmutis-Silvia, R., Milliken, H., Amico, M.L., Galvez, B.A., Sharp, W.B., Baumgartner, M.F., and Moore, M.J.
Year
Journal/Publisher Name
ICES Journal of Marine Science
Volume (Issue #)
28(2)
Page #s
11
Contact information
Michael J. Moore, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA:
mmoore@whoi.edu
Summary

This study trialed the use of  on-demand, acoustic recovery systems/ on-demand gear (ODGs) as an alternative to vertical buoy lines (VBLs) to reduce North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) entanglement risk in commercial lobster and crap trap fisheries in offshore New England (United States). Trials occurred between 2020 and 2023, and 5,798 hauls were completed using 10 different ODG prototypes. Recovery success of hauls increased throughout the trials as participants gained more experience with the gear, and fishers were able to use the gear to successfully access areas that prohibit VBLs. 

Link
https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article-pdf/82/2/fsaf015/61930040/fsaf015.pdf

Field Studies

Working with Northeastern United States lobster harvesters to develop acoustic trap retrieval in place of buoys and persistent vertical lines to reduce whale entanglements

Study Type
Field study in the wild
Location
New England, United States
Target catch
Lobster, crab
Effect on bycatch species
Not reported
Effect on target catch
Hauling/recovery of traps increased (83%-88%), but specifics of target catch were not reported
Bycatch species
Large Cetaceans (maximum length > 7.5 meters)
Eubalaena glacialis (North Atlantic right whale)
Reduction technique
Quick-release gear
Fishing Gear
Traps