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Ropeless Gear can Save Whales AND keep Fisheries Open
- Maris Balsom
- Aug 20
- 2 min read
Entanglements in fishing gear are one of the leading causes of death for North Atlantic right whales, a species on the brink of extinction. One of the most effective ways to protect them is by closing high-risk fishing areas — but these zones are often the most lucrative for fishers. That reality has created a conflict between the urgent need to save whales, the livelihoods of fishing communities, and Canada’s reputation as a supplier of sustainable seafood.
There is, however, a solution: ropeless, also known as “on-demand” or “pop-up,” fishing gear. These technologies allow fishing to continue in areas closed to traditional gear, as they eliminate the vertical ropes that pose deadly risks to whales. Oceana Canada is urging Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to release its long-promised Whalesafe Fishing Gear Strategy. The strategy should identify high-risk areas for permanent ropeless-only fishing by 2026 and set a pathway for widespread adoption.
“We have a chance to redefine what sustainable fishing looks like,” says Kim Elmslie, Senior Campaign Director at Oceana Canada. “Ropeless gear is more than a tool to prevent whale deaths — it’s an innovation that can future-proof our fisheries, keep markets open, and show the world that protecting whales and supporting fishers are not competing goals, but the foundation of our shared future.”
Ropeless gear has been tested on commercial vessels across Atlantic Canada for the last 6 years, with feedback provided by fishers helping to create improvements in performance and reliability. To date there has been approximately 422,000 kgs of snow crab landed in Canada using ropeless technology.
Starting in 2017, DFO has been closing prime fishing areas for a minimum of 15 days when a right whale is detected in order to prevent entanglements. If the whales are detected again between the 9th and 15th day of closure, then the area stays closed for the duration of the season. These measures, while vital for conservation, significantly impact Canada’s most valuable trap-based fisheries — snow crab and lobster — with ripple effects on coastal communities, the seafood industry, and international trade.
"Fishers have show they are ready to innovate - now the government must match that commitment, " says Elmslie. "With a clear strategy, we can protect right whales, keep fisheries thriving, and prove Canadian seafood is both responsible and world-class."
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