For first time in nearly a decade, South Atlantic pot fishermen will be able to harvest black sea bass in winter months, bringing life back to an artisanal, yet economically important, fishery for Southern ports. NMFS recently granted an Exempted Fishing Permit — the first of its kind — that allows fishermen to deploy ropeless gear to catch the species.
The threat of entanglement with endangered North Atlantic right whales caused fisheries managers to close the fishery inside 90 feet of water during winter months, effectively closing 15,000 square miles of prime habitat to fishermen. North Atlantic right whales calve off the Florida and Georgia coasts in winter months.
Now fishermen from four states — North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida — will be able to harvest black sea bass with ropeless gear when whales are present under the EFT issued to Sustainable Seas Technology, a nonprofit that works with commercial fishermen to test and deploy whale-safe fishing gear in North America and Europe.
Ropeless fishing technology is not without contention and controversy, with some stakeholders questioning its effectiveness, cost, and risks like ghost fishing on lost traps. There’s also concern that success with ropeless technology will lead to mandates in state and federally managed fisheries without consideration of the effects on fishing businesses, families and communities.
“From my standpoint, the fishery is either open or closed — open is a lot better,” says Scott Buff, owner of Sea Peddler Seafood in Supply, N.C. Buff has tested ropeless gear on his 34-foot vessel the F/V Reel-M-N.
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