November 23, 2020 — There has been a recent spray of positive news for the beleaguered right whale.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in the United States announced nearly $500,000 in investments to help reduce threats to the North Atlantic right whales and other marine life off the coast of New England.
NFWF said in a release that it is working in partnership with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Shell to provide funding to support gear advancement and to improve the region’s ability to transition to on-call gear that does not require a buoy-line.
Marine animals such as right whales often become entangled in lines used to mark the location of fishing nets or traps in the ocean.
Innovative technology can offer a viable alternative to track gear while reducing risks to whales.