People who catch ocean creatures for a living always want to keep their equipment intact, but the ocean can change those plans. Storms and tides and currents can pull things like crab traps out to sea, where they can snare unintended victims, like whales.
The state of California is moving toward a program that would send non-fishing boats out to retrieve gear that crabbers lose. The retrievers would be paid, and the crabbers who owned the retrieved gear would be fined if they didn't pay.
The state Fish and Wildlife Department is still working on the rules, with public input. Morgan Ivens-Duran of Fish and Wildife visits with some details.