The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) is deliberating the integration of new regulations regarding the adoption of ropeless gear in the black sea bass fishery, aiming to mitigate adverse impacts on whale populations.
Traditionally, the black sea bass pot fishery employs pot traps equipped with vertical lines attached to buoys for retrieval, akin to other pot fisheries such as lobster or crab. Since 2021, the fishery has been exploring various forms of on-demand gear, including pots that release vertical lines upon receiving a signal or utilizing inflatables to ascend to the surface for easy retrieval.
On February 13th, SAFMC convened a scoping meeting to discuss the potential inclusion of on-demand pots as an allowable gear for the commercial harvest of black sea bass, presently conducted under an exempted fishing permit.
The adoption of on-demand gear is a pivotal concern within the broader fishing industry, particularly due to the threat posed to whale species, such as the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, by vertical lines used in pot and trap fisheries. A recent incident involving the entanglement of a right whale off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, linked to gear from the lobster-fishing industry, underscores the urgency of addressing this issue.
The jurisdiction of SAFMC spans waters along the East Coast of the U.S. from the northern coast of North Carolina to southern Florida, encompassing regions where North Atlantic right whales migrate during winter, including the warm coastal waters of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida’s east coast.
Presently, the black sea bass fishery observes closures during the winter months, coinciding with whale migrations. However, fishermen utilizing on-demand gear can obtain exemptions from these closures to continue fishing.
Expanding the use of such gear across the commercial fishery will necessitate additional rulemaking by SAFMC. Amendments to regulations established by the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team and SAFMC would be required to permit the use of on-demand gear.
The selection of gear type poses another consideration, as outlined in a presentation by SAFMC Fishery Scientist Mike Schmidtke. Opting for solely on-demand gear that releases vertical lines would entail fewer regulatory changes. Conversely, approving multiple types of on-demand gear may necessitate a broader scope of policy adjustments.
Source: Chris Chase (Feb 20, 2024). South Atlantic council mulling use of ropeless gear in black sea bass fishery. Seafood Source. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/premium/supply-trade/south-atlantic-council-mulling-use-of-ropeless-gear-in-black-sea-bass-fishery
Photo courtesy of Bryan Fluech/SAFMC
