There's a Better Way than Drift Gillnets

Updated:   June 22, 2023 Read time:
There's a Better Way than Drift Gillnets

West Coast residents take pride in managing natural resources sustainably. However, many would be surprised to learn that off the California coast, thousands of animals are unnecessarily entangled and killed by an indiscriminate form of fishing gear targeting swordfish and thresher sharks. Nets as long as a mile, submerged at night for hours at a time, catch many animals the fishermen never intended to catch – including whales, leatherback sea turtles, blue sharks, dolphins, and many species of fish.

Bigeye thresher sharks
Bigeye thresher sharks
Article September 10, 2019

Historic Opportunity to Dramatically Reduce Bycatch in Swordfish Fleet

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Bigeye thresher sharks
Article September 10, 2019

After more than eight years of research and testing, a method of catching swordfish that largely spares whales, dolphins, turtles, and other marine wildlife could win federal approval this month. The Pacific Fishery Management Council is slated to vote on final authorization of deep-set buoy gear at its meeting in Boise, Idaho, on Sept. 16.

Bycatch
Bycatch
Data Visualization June 7, 2017

A Better Way to Catch Swordfish

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Bycatch
Data Visualization June 7, 2017

Innovative fishing gear minimizes injury and death for whales, sea turtles, and other ocean life.

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A Better Way to Catch Swordfish
bycatch
bycatch
Video January 27, 2016

What Is Bycatch?

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bycatch
Video January 27, 2016

"Bycatch" refers to all the fish and other marine creatures incidentally caught or killed by fishing gear. In commercial fishing, this happens on a huge scale: Nets and fishing lines often stretch for miles, indiscriminately snaring all manner of life—including whales, porpoises, sea turtles, and even birds.

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