“Last month, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new budget, which included the funds needed – $1.3 million – to get deadly drift gillnets out of the water. For years, the nets used off the coast of California have killed more dolphins than all other observed U.S. West Coast and Alaska fisheries combined,” reports Oceana.org.
The program is part of a partnership between the state of California and Oceana.org. “While meant to catch swordfish, drift gillnets also catch, injure, and kill sperm whales, bottlenose dolphins, leatherback sea turtles, and other non-targeted marine life.”
“The transition program provides California fishermen the opportunity to catch swordfish with more selective, cleaner methods like deep-set buoy gear. This innovative gear catches swordfish selectively using vertical lines with baited hooks at depths specific to swordfish. According to Oceana and based on 2019 NOAA estimates, transitioning this California fishery from drift gillnets to more sustainable methods of fishing will save at least 548 dolphins, 333 seals and sea lions, 70 seabirds, 27 whales, and 24 sea turtles over ten years.”