Project will Help Keep Whales from Depredating Longline Gear

By on    Fishermen's News Online, Southeast Alaska  

Project will Help Keep Whales from Depredating Longline Gear

Longline harvesters in Southeast Alaska are embarked on the development of a new user-friendly tool to detect sperm whales and avoid depredation on longline gear. The Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA) was awarded a one-year, $245,000 grant from the NOAA Bycatch Reduction and Engineering Program to adapt towed array hydrophone systems that can spot whales […]

Disentangling a Whale of a Problem

By on    At Sea, Featured, Science/Education  

Disentangling a Whale of a Problem

The hotline rings. A whale is in danger. Fishermen report the location of a humpback tangled in tightly twisted fishing lines. An entanglement response team speeds to the coordinates to evaluate the situation. They must make a critical decision—act quickly to remove as much fishing gear as possible, or monitor closely and allow the whale […]