Cleaning Up the Ocean and Keeping Whales Safe

#Whale
TNC Fisheries Project Director Jenn Humberstone and fishing industry partner Lisa Damrosch dive into a new lost gear recovery program that helps crab fishermen keep whales safe.

Crab pots can also get lost, especially during stormy weather. In some years, this means that thousands of pots are left in the ocean, putting whales at risk of entanglement. Working with partners at the McClintock Lab at UCSB and in the fishing industry, the Conservancy has developed a tool and an innovative business model helping fishermen retrieve lost crab gear for a payment before the ropes can snag a whale. Recovered gear is returned to its owner for a fee, providing revenue that allows each port to sustain operations year after year.