It’s estimated there are just over 400 North Atlantic right whales remaining, and that number has been declining in recent years. The two main causes of death are both related to human activities – ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. In particular, the lines that connect lobster and crab traps to buoys at the water’s surface are major culprits in entanglements.
Now, a federal advisory group consisting of scientists, fishermen, environmental advocates and others has recommended new rules that would dramatically reduce the amount of rope in New England’s waters. Scott Landy, the Director of Marine Animal Entanglement Response at the Center for Coastal Studies joined Heather to discuss the significance of this step.
