ENVIRONMENT AMERICA • February 15, 2023
With fewer than 340 North Atlantic right whales left, the species is rapidly swimming toward extinction. Deaths outnumber births. If we don’t act now, this species will soon disappear forever. The leading cause of death and serious injury is fishing-gear entanglements. There is a solution to the entanglement problem. “Ropeless” fishing gear, sometimes called “on-demand” gear, consists of lobster traps on the ocean floor that can be called up when needed. The government can and should chip in to help pay for the transition. Also, wouldn’t it be great if major restaurant chains and grocery store chains purchased lobster caught with whale-safe, ropeless gear? A coalition is working to make this happen, starting with outreach to two big players in the market for lobsters: Red Lobster and Whole Foods.