Tag Archives: pop up gear

California delays commercial Dungeness crab season

October 26, 2024   Pacific

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife on Friday cited a large number of humpback whales and recent entanglements as the reason for the postponing the state’s commercial Dungeness crab season. The affected area ranges from the Sonoma-Mendocino county line in Northern California to the U.S.-Mexico border. Originally set to open Nov. 15, a new start date is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 1. However, that’s dependent on a November risk assessment and the fish and wildlife director’s determination of risk for Dungeness crab fisheries. The northernmost fishing zones, from the Oregon-California border to the Sonoma-Mendocino county line, can’t open until Dec. 1 and weren’t included in Friday’s decision. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:43

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NOAA Seeks Public Comments on Exempted Fishing Permit Application for an On-Demand Trap/Pot/Gillnet Gear Study

May 22, 2024   New England

NOAA Fisheries is requesting public comment on an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application submitted by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC).  The EFP would provide an exemption from federal lobster, red crab, and gillnet gear marking requirements and allow up to 180 lobster vessels and up to 20 total gillnet, red crab, and black sea bass vessels to test alternatives to static vertical lines (also referred to as on-demand or ropeless gear), including lobster trap vessels fishing up to 300 total trawls in Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Restricted Areas with no static vertical lines. more, Full details on the proposal can be found in the Federal Register Notice inside. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:31

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California – Crabbers likely to use new gear next season

April 10, 2024   National, Pacific

Typically, the Commercial crab season starts Nov. 15, but the 2023-24 season was delayed for a fifth year in a row and eventually postponed to start in January 2024. The short season could spell change to come for fishermen since Salmon season might be on the chopping block next. David Lowe, a captain of the Jacqueline L. fishing vessel in Pillar Point Harbor, said it wasn’t the best season but his team will be experimenting with netless pop-up gear for the next season. “There’s 14 boats here that are [experimenting with pop-up gear],” said Lowe. “They’re going to see how it goes this year, because of all the whale and turtle entanglements.” more, >>click to read<< 10:49

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Maine lobstermen signal opposition to participating in ropeless testing program

November 29, 2023   New England

Maine lobstermen are signaling their hesitation to participate in a multimillion-dollar program the state is launching to test new ropeless technology that the federal government soon may require to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Lobstermen have been largely unhappy with the regulations, fearing that the regulations will destroy the lobstering industry as they know it. Maine’s congressional delegation succeeded in securing legislative approval for a reprieve that stalls the regulations from going into effect until Jan. 1, 2029. Industry groups also have succeeded in taking NOAA to court, where the regulations are still tied up. Even so, the clock is ticking and the Department of Marine Resources wants to be prepared for what it expects is an inevitable regulation. more, >>click to read<< 06:31

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NFWF grants support Maine lobster industry participation in alternative fishing gear testing

November 28, 2023   International, National, New England

“Alternative gear, also known as “on demand” gear is a long way from being viable for fishermen or for whales,” said DMR Commissioner Patrick Keliher.  “It is my goal to make sure we know what gear works, and more importantly what doesn’t work, so when future draft federal regulations come forward, we can draw on the real-world experience of fishermen when determining what the next steps should be.” One award of $1,999,992 will support the evaluation of acoustic geolocation systems that locate gear on the bottom without the benefit of surface buoys which are part of traditional gear configurations.  Regional partners will include the Island Institute, Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, the Sunrise County Economic Council, and the Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation.  more, >>click to read<< 06:09

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Resqunit and Sig Hansen with a successful product demo in Norway – launching the product globally

April 21, 2023   Canada, International, International News, National, North Pacific, Pacific

We are very proud and satisfied to have carried out this exclusive product demo of our new product which is now being launched in several countries. The fight against ghost fishing has been going on for a long time, but with this product we can now begin to see the end. Our solution helps reduce a huge global environmental problem that costs society and the fishing industry billions every year. Now we will go full throttle globally, says CEO of Resqunit, Helge Trettø Olsen. Major shareholder and TV star Sig Hansen, known from “Deadliest Catch”, conducted the actual demo. I don’t have figures on how many traps I have lost at sea. Resqunit’s solution is something the fishing industry is clamoring for and is a big step in the right direction. We have to reduce the number of fishing equipment lost, and work for more sustainable solutions. >click to read< 13:03

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