Science Stats Animals

Simple change to fishing nets could save endangered whales’ lives

Making ropes weaker would reduce humpback and right whale bycatch by almost three-quarters

whale

CAUGHT  Entangled whales could break free more easily if fishing ropes were weaker. This young right whale died in 2011 after two attempts to free it.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

By Natasha Gilbert

- More than 2 years ago

Entanglement in commercial fishing gear kills or seriously injures about 3 right whales and nearly 10 humpback whales every year off the U.S.