The issue of marine animals entangling in fishing gear has gained significant attention in recent years.
Non-tended, fixed-gear lobster and Snow Crab fisheries in Atlantic Canada pose a considerable threat to North Atlantic Right Whales migrating through the area to feed, mainly between April and October. Following a mortality crisis in 2017, where 17 North Atlantic Right Whales were found dead—12 of them in the Gulf of St. Lawrence—the Government of Canada introduced management measures throughout Atlantic Canada to protect the species. One such measure involves fishery closures when a Right Whale is detected in an area, halting all fishing activities that pose an entanglement risk.
To mitigate entanglement risks for North Atlantic Right Whales and minimize economic losses for the fishing industry, the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) marine team collaborates closely with fish harvesters, government, and manufacturers to test various on-demand fishing systems at sea.
(Picture from NOAA)
On-demand fishing systems eliminate the persistent vertical buoyline in the water column, replacing it with a lift bag or storing the line in a cage connected to traps on the seafloor. Fish harvesters can then use acoustic technology from their vessel to call for and raise their traps when ready to haul their catch. These systems are especially useful when a North Atlantic Right Whale is present in a fishery and a closure occurs, as they pose minimal entanglement risk to whales and allow harvesters to continue fishing.
(Ashored's ROC Seasonal Leasing Program. Contact us today for pricing)
To support fish harvesters affected by closures, the CanFISH Gear Lending Program was established in 2022. This program purchases and lends on-demand systems from a gear library free of charge. A team of skilled technologists delivers the gear directly to the wharf, conducts at-sea training, and leaves the gear with the harvester for the rest of their season. The program serves as a gateway to whale-safe gear for those who may need it, while also collecting data on its use and suitability in commercial fisheries. To date, the CanFISH program has supported 14 fish harvesters affected by closures throughout Nova Scotia and PEI, successfully removing 537 buoylines from the water column and allowing for 343,850 pounds of Snow Crab to be commercially caught using on-demand gear.
Alden Gaudet's Experience with On-Demand Gear
Alden Gaudet, a commercial fisherman from Tignish, PEI, started using on-demand gear after facing closures in 2017 due to the Right Whale mortality crisis. Initially hesitant about the new technology, Alden found that learning the techniques took time, and early trips had low catch rates. However, with experience, his catch improved, and he recognized the advantage of being able to fish in closed areas.
Alden believes that on-demand gear is essential in closed fishing areas when Right Whales are present. It allows harvesters to adapt to frustrating situations and continue their livelihoods. Before the CanFISH Gear Lending Program, options for fishing during closures were very limited. Despite initial skepticism and distrust among his peers, Alden noticed a shift in attitudes as more people saw the benefits of on-demand gear.
The biggest challenge Alden faced was locating his trawl on the seafloor without a surface buoy and avoiding overlaying traps with other harvesters. However, the reward of continuing to fish while preventing whale entanglements made it worthwhile. His positive experience has helped pave the way for greater acceptance of this technology among other fish harvesters.
Additionally, the CWF marine team has been running an extensive on-demand gear trial program since 2019, trialing over nine systems with 16 fish harvester partners and completing more than 1000 deployments across three provinces. Recently, the team has been testing various gear location marking systems to accurately mark gear on the seafloor. Data collected from these ongoing trials directly supports the gear lending program by providing harvesters with the most suitable gear for their fishery conditions. The takeaway is a win-win situation: no loss in livelihood to the fish harvester and a reduced risk of entanglement to endangered whales.
Source: Hanna Vatcher (June 19, 2024). Q&A With a Fish Harvester: On-Demand Fishing as a Solution to Mitigate North Atlantic Right Whale Entanglements. Canadian Wildlife Federation Blog. https://blog.cwf-fcf.org/index.php/en/qa-with-a-fish-harvester-on-demand-fishing-as-a-solution-to-mitigate-north-atlantic-right-whale-entanglements/
