Bycatch News

Presentation on Ropeless Fishing given by the Consortium at SMM 2024

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

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

Objective 1: Determine the at-sea distribution and abundance of small-cetaceans (with particular emphasis on Burmeister’s porpoises) in the coastal waters of one of the main ports for Peruvian coastal fisheries.

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…

2023 Grants awarded under the Global Fund for Maarine Mammal Bycatch Solutions

From a pool of applicants four projects were selected focused on bycatch assessment and mitigation.

Ropeless fishing gains traction in Massachusetts

Some fishermen are taking advantage of available federal funding and gear to try out ropeless gear in Massachusetts, and increasingly in Maine as well.