Seminar Series: On-Demand Gear for the South Atlantic Black Sea Bass Pot Fishery

The Council will host a presentation from the National Marine Fisheries Service on the value and benefits of on-demand fishing gear for the U.S. South Atlantic Black Sea Bass pot fishery and North Atlantic Right Whales. The presentation will discuss the history of the current area closure for pot fishing during North Atlantic Right Whales calving season to reduce entanglement risk. Since 2020, experimental on-demand gear has been authorized and trialed by commercial fishermen in the black sea bass pot fishery. The researchers will discuss the potential benefits of the new gear for fishermen and discuss how the new gear presents minimal entanglement risk to endangered North Atlantic Right Whales. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.