California Brown Box Crab 2022-2025
Marine Innovation Gear Alliance (MIGA) has been partnering since 2019 to bring ropeless, or “pop-up” gear to California fishers who feel they would benefit from its use.
Click below to watch the June 15, 2023 California Fish & Game Commission approve our EFP for Brown Box Crab and California King Crab!
Canada On Demand On the Road 2021-2023
On Demand On the Road Travel Scheduled Summer 2022
À LA DEMANDE SUR LA ROUTE DÉPLACEMENTS PRÉVUS ÉTÉ 2022
California Dungeness Crab 2021-2024
RMW Interoperable virtual gear marking 2021-2023
Scotland 2019-2021
A highlight from Ropeless Fishing : Scotland. SST, 2020.
South Atlantic Black sea Bass 2018-2025
SE US ROPELESS FISHING Aug 2022- APR 2025
South Atlantic council opens door to ‘ropeless’ fish trap gear
Developing on-demand or ‘ropeless’ fish trap gear could allow more fishermen to keep working in the black sea bass fishery from the Carolinas to Florida, even with seasonal closures to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales from gear entanglement.
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has begun moving toward making pop-up fish pot gear allowable at all times, after three years of testing under an experimental fishery permit from the council.
In 2017 the fishery was tasked with two seasonal closures from December to March and November to April to protect migrating right whales. Adapting the pot fishery to use on-demand gear – without vertical lines, and buoys that can be summoned by signal from fishermen to pop up for retrieval – underwent testing under the council’s EFP.
That permit expires in April 2025. During a Sept. 14 meeting in Charleston, S.C., the council agreed start a process to make on-demand gear permitted during seasonal closures, said Gib Brogan, a campaign director for the environmental group Oceana that has long advocated for adopting ropeless gear.
“They want to get this done as quickly as possible so there’s no lag between the EFP and having this permitted…2025 is the timeline they’re looking at,” said Brogan, who spoke in favor of the proposal in Charleston.
With a population now estimated at only around 340 animals, North Atlantic right whales are some of the most endangered marine mammals. Female right whales head for the Southeast U.S. waters to deliver their calves, and with intense legal and regulatory pressure to reduce the risk of fishing gear entanglements the South Atlantic council in 2017 introduced two seasonal winter-spring closures to reduce risk in the black sea bass fishery.
Research into on-demand gear has been ongoing since 2020 under an experimental fishery permit from the council, allowing on-demand gear testing outside the closures by a limited number of fishermen off Georgia and North Carolina.
Successful results led to second EFP from the council to allow on-demand gear testing within the closure areas, with participation from fishermen working with several varieties of the gear in waters from Sneads Ferry, N.C., south to Ormond Beach, Fla. Continuing that research requires new action by the council, according to a summary report from the August workshop.
The council’s snapper-grouper committee approved including black sea bass on-demand gear in the black and gag grouper framework amendment, which was then approved by the full council.
There was overall support for moving forward with options for the on-demand gear through the framework amendment process to help expedite any management measures, said Kim Iverson, the council’s public information officer.
Kim Sawicki, founder of Sustainable Seas Technology, works with deckhands on the F/V Capt Lynn out of Townsend, Ga., to test a new pot configuration for black sea bass. Sustainable Seas Technology photo
“On-demand gear has many benefits for the fishermen. It allows fishermen access to areas currently closed in times in which the fish are more readily available closer to shore and market prices are generally higher,” the report notes. “As a result, more economically feasible because more profit and less direct costs (fuel), in addition to safer because fishing closer to shore.
“Making on-demand gear a reality consists of two parts: making on-demand gear an allowable gear under SAFMC regulations, and allowing that gear to be used in the closed areas,” according to the report. “This would not remove the closures, it would just allow fishermen who wish to fish in the closures to do so if they use on-demand gear. Fishermen who wish to use traditional gear would still be able to do so outside of the closures.”
The workshop report includes an estimate that equipping 32 permitted black sea bass boats in the region with the new gear might cost almost $500,000 with the possibility of obtaining finanical aid from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Those whale migration closures affect black sea bass fishing inside of 90-foot depths during the winter months, effectively closing 15,000 square miles of prime fishing ground. Kim Sawicki, founder and president of Sustainable Seas Technology, talked to National Fisherman in 2022 about how testing on-demand gear equipment in Southeast waters can show fishermen and designers how to make the systems work better.
“What we learn from our work here could benefit other pot fisheries facing entanglement issues,” said Sawicki, who also tests ropeless gear with Dungeness crab and spiny lobster fishermen in California, and Maine lobster fishermen in the Northeast. “But every fishery is different, what works for one might not work for another.”
Brogan said it’s evident the concept has broad acceptance among fishermen and the South Atlantic council.
“That’s one of the reasons we’re so enthusiastic about this,” said Brogan. “We’re seeing this, in a lot of ways, as being a model for other regions.”
If Southeast fishermen and fisheries agencies make a success of on-demand gear, their experience can help shape its use in other regions, he said: “Hearing from managers who have done it will make it easier for the next (fishery management) council, and the next one after that.”
-National Fisherman Staff, Sept 2023
Ropeless Fishing just got real-er
CHARLESTON, S.C. — The future of sustainable fishing took a significant step forward as the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) initiated the process to endorse ropeless, or on-demand fishing gear, for the black sea bass fishery spanning from North Carolina to Florida. This move is not just about modernizing fishing techniques but also about safeguarding the critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.
The Threat to North Atlantic Right Whales
Entanglement in fishing gear, especially the lines and ropes used in fixed gear, stands as one of the most significant threats to the North Atlantic right whales. These majestic creatures often get caught in these lines, leading to injuries or even death. The black sea bass fishery, which employs various fishing gear including hook-and-line and fish traps, has been particularly problematic. To mitigate this, the fishery observes two seasonal closures annually off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. These closures aim to eliminate the gear and lines from the water during the whales’ calving season, a critical period for the species.
The Promise of Ropeless Fishing
The SAFMC’s recent decision could revolutionize the way fishing is done in these regions. By allowing ropeless or on-demand fishing gear, fishermen can continue their operations during seasonal closures without needing exemptions. This ensures that while the fishing industry thrives, the marine ecosystem, especially the North Atlantic right whales, remains protected. Traditional gear can still be used, but only outside of these closures.
In 2022, the black sea bass fishery in North Carolina alone saw a catch of about 172,000 pounds, valued at approximately $590,000. The potential economic impact of ropeless fishing could be significant.
Oceana, a renowned international ocean conservation organization, has lauded this move. Gib Brogan, Oceana Campaign Director, emphasized the importance of this decision, stating, “If adopted, this first-of-its-kind action will build on years of at-sea trials and set the precedent that fishermen and whales can coexist.” He further urged other fishery managers to take inspiration from SAFMC and modernize their fisheries.
Benefits of On-Demand Gear
On-demand gear isn’t just about conservation; it offers tangible benefits for fishermen. It provides access to areas that are typically closed, especially during times when fish are more abundant closer to the shore. This could mean increased profits, reduced direct costs, and access to new markets for fishermen. While the preliminary cost to equip the South Atlantic black sea bass pot fishery with on-demand gear is estimated at around $500,000, this might be offset by grants and federal funds dedicated to gear modification.
A Model for Sustainable Fishing
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, one of the eight regional fishery management councils in the U.S., has showcased a commitment to sustainable fishing practices. By regulating fisheries from North Carolina through Florida, from three to 200 miles offshore in the ocean, the SAFMC is setting a precedent for other regions to follow.
In conclusion, the move towards ropeless fishing is not just an innovation in fishing techniques but a significant stride towards even more sustainable harvest in pot fisheries. As technology and conservation efforts merge, the future looks promising for both the fishing industry and marine life.
-KS, October 2023
Press can email admin@sustainableseastechnology.org for more information.
Knowledge Exchange September 2022
NC BSB ROPELESS FISHING WINTER 2021-2022
FL BSB ROPELESS FISHING WINTER 2021-2022
GA BSB Ropeless Trials Fall 2020
GEORGIA BSB Spring- 2020
Check out our blog post on the Georgia Black Sea Bass project by clicking the link below!
https://sustainableseastechnology.org/2020/06/02/georgia-black-sea-bass-demonstrations/
Our demonstration of the gears is available for viewing below.
North Carolina BSB Ropeless Trials Fall 2020
California Spiny Lobster 2021-2023
New England American Lobster 2020-2025
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