fishing gear

Fishery Management Council delays action on use of alternative fishing gear in restricted waters

Nora Saks

The New England Fishery Management Council voted unanimously Thursday to postpone action on a proposed regulatory framework that could allow fishermen to use alternative kinds of gear to fish in federal coastal waters that are otherwise seasonally restricted to protect whales.

The trap shown on the left uses an acoustic signal to

Environment and Outdoors

Most Maine lobstermen have resisted alternative fishing gear. A new initiative hopes to change that

Nicole Ogrysko

In a bid to protect North Atlantic right whales from extinction, many scientists are promoting alternative lobster fishing gear that minimizes the risk of entanglement.

Bev Pigeon shows off a landlocked salmon she caught on a recent Outcast Camp fly fishing trip arranged by Confluence Collective.

Environment and Outdoors

New rule change says anglers can only use artificial lures or flies on rivers, streams, and brooks

Carol Bousquet

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife says the seasonal rule change is to protect landlocked salmon and brook trout as they prepare to spawn.

Environment and Outdoors

Maine gets $5M to support testing of alternative lobster fishing gear

Nicole Ogrysko

State officials see the work as a way to get more Maine feedback into the hands of federal regulators, who are looking for ways to further reduce the risk of entanglement and injury to critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.

Maine

Entangled Whale Freed

Associated Press

BAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) _ The head of a whale-watching boat says a 40-foot-long humpback whale that got caught up in fishing gear off Mount Desert Island…