VIMS to lead national program for managing derelict fishing gear
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recommended William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science as home base for a new national program focused on protecting U.S. coastal waters from derelict fishing gear. The $8 million provided by NOAA to implement the four-year program is the largest single grant award in VIMS’ 83-year history. Many of these dollars will be passed on to program partners through an annual grant competition. Formally known as the Nationwide Fishing TRAP Program — “TRAP” for Trap Removal, Assessment & Prevention — the effort includes funding for commercial and tribal fishers to remove derelict pots from Virginia’s waters. >click to read< 17:46
For some years now I have advocated for a change in the regulations which prevent Fishing Vessels (F/V) from retaining recovered ghost gear & returning such debris to a shore side disposal point.
I assume the intention of the regulation (which I assume is still in effect) was to prevent someone from removing, damaging or pilfering another fisherman’s gear. The CG has previously told me it would be difficult to show the true intent of having the recovered gear onboard.
That may have been a legitimate problem or concern in the past, but with today’s communications, it is no longer applicable. A Captain could communicate his intentions (in any number of ways) of keeping the gear onboard, & placing it ashore for disposal.
By removing or updating one problematic & outdated regulation, we could remove a lot of derelict gear with little to no extra effort!
Cant. Jim Kendall
New Bedford Seafood Consulting
[email protected]
April 21, 2023