Active Forum Topics

California seeks to implement more restrictions on gillnet fishing in its State and adjacent Federal waters. See: https://www.seafoodsource.com/california-bill-would-further-limit-gilln….

If you follow what is happening globally with gillnets, which some people call "curtains of death," this new but not original call for a ban using them off California noteworthy.

The Boston office of the Fund for the Public Interest, in conjunction with Environment Massachusetts, has job openings available.

Please see this report documenting shortcomings of US management of bycatch in US fisheries: 

https://www.nationalfisherman.com/agency-critics-slam-federal-oversight-of-bycatch?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_content=newsletter&mkt_tok=NzU2LUZXSi0wNjEAAAGUpBizCN08RJua4NeqEe-OGtQnQwRk-G5LfouY8N1L61BJHL5X7t9tfGUoEvKDAkj5QjcpoiCX2uL3bNCTLlsNI8aW1IxwHTx7YGLnLPj2UMsc2Bu8vg

The lawsuit, filed by the Center for Biological Diversity is summarized on the organization's website:

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/lawsuit-seeks-to-protect-marine-mammals-from-foreign-fishing-gear-enforce-seafood-import-bans-2024-08-08/email_view/

A Taiwanese tuna trader announces plan to implement seabird bycatch mitigation in its longline fleet. See: https://www.atuna.com/news/fcf-kick-starts-program-to-mitigate-seabird-bycatch-in-longline-fishery/

The Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
Progress report – December 20th 2023

This publication is intended to improve how fisheries can build and maintain digitable traceability into their operations.

Documented whale entanglements and the abundance of whales in the fishing zone prompted State officials to delay the start of the season.

Peruvian NGO Pro-delphinus has completed its report on Burrmeister's porpoise and other small cetaceans, supported under the NOAA Fisheries Grant to the Bycatch Consortium "Global Fund for Marine Mammal Bycatch Solutions."

Please see the sad news of the passing of friend and colleague, Finn Larsen, Finn was an imporant collaborator on the Bycatch Consortium's work on gillnet catch.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.13227 

We are sad to belatedly report on the death of one of the founding members of the Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction: Professor Kenneth Baldwin of the University of New Hampshire.

A one month cessation of fishing, including the provision of 80% ib lost revenues to fishermen, resulted in keeping the industry alive while reducing thousands of dolphin deaths.

See this press coverage of the story: https://www.thecooldown.com/outdoors/dolphin-bycatch-ban-france-fishing/

Several environmental groups are calling for the use of bycatch reduction devices to reduce diamondback terrapin bycatch in Virginia crab pot fisheries.

Here is the Press Release: https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/virginia-petition-seeks-to-protect-diamondback-terrapins-from-drowning-in-crab-traps-2025-02-12/

The European Cetacean Society has released the proceedings of a workshop entitled:  "Use of pathology to better inform the welfare impact assessment of bycatch and entanglements". Click on this link to read and download the report: https://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/63

China, the country with the world's greatest number of consumers idwntifies promise of seafood certification. Information from their report : https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/chinese-consumer-preferences-report-shows-opportunity-for-certification-schemes-to-make-inroads?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_content=newsletter&mkt_tok=NzU2LUZXSi0wNjEAAAGZdiEEGYQBHrJ03v0GqqWDCYsKwsM8VcoFPWeKKr7zYDO6qhGa-Xxxm0SLdRr2Q_vBgYvOzx4h0MmgRFOSQOvtlDRI2n64HKFd8PuJBaB1iKslV_GItQ

Mexican authorities physically removed gillnets used in the illegal fishery for critically endangered totoaba. These nets are also responsible for causing the bycatch of the critically endangered vaquita porpoise, of which only an estimated 10 individuals remain.

See https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/environment-sustainability/mexico-law-enforcement-remove-illegal-gillnets-rescue-surviving-totoaba?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_content=newsletter&mkt_tok=NzU2LUZXSi0wNjEAAAGZlqd24s_tjC32w0yoGEFGQ9c8osaDC-uQWeeHoc7R2rQ4_TkKb5NArexd5YspznuTJc4hRwxFUswfOdOWkDeHxeN9nm3wzQ7TISGztLXL2qYb_lYqMw

A journalist summarizes the status of legislation in Europe and North America intended to reduce bycatch.

See: https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/07/us/harriet-tubman-underground-railroad-national-parks-service/index.html

Sharks among the most endangered groups of animals from bycatch. A new study examined the impacts of retention bans on shark populations. It concluded that in some cases they can be beneficial, but avoiding bycatch in the first place is of paramount importance such as making modifications to fishing gear and practices.

Article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/faf.12892

In recent years, whale entanglements have grown in number in the southern portion of the Dungeness crab fishery, and earlier in the season. The Government of California plans to implement closures as a way to mitigate the problem.

See: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Inseason