Whales are no longer hunted off the West Coast of the United States, but devices meant to catch other sea creatures do occasionally catch a whale. Wildlife agencies and people who make a living from the sea have worked for years to reduce whale entanglements in crabbing and fishing gear, but the incidents still happen.
In fact, records from National Marine Fisheries Service indicate they may happen more often than is reported. The ocean conservation organization Oceana keeps an eye on the situation around the world. Tara Brock, Oceana's Pacific Counsel (as in lawyer) talks to us about entanglements, reporting, and remedies.
Oceana will make several requests on whale entanglements to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission on Friday, August 4.
Please note, Tara Brock would like to clarify a statement in the interview: Oceana is asking the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission to prohibit crabbing in areas deeper than 28 fathoms during the late season in line with humpback critical habitat recently designated under the Federal Endangered Species act. They are not asking to limit crabbing shallower than 28 fathoms