From the Fishing Daily: In 2025, California commercial Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) fishermen conducted the third consecutive year of trials of on-demand crab traps designed by Sub Sea Sonics and Guardian Ropeless systems in areas that were closed to conventional crab gear due to the risk of entangling threatened and endangered whale species. 1,163 strings of gear were tested at depths ranging from 27-392 feet. The primary on-demand gear had an operational reliability rate of 98%, and use of secondary backup retrieval methods, such as grappling, resulted in 100% of gear being recovered. Gear loss rate was 0.2%, an improvement over conventional traps, which have an estimated loss rate between 5 and 10%.The trial organizers emphasized that hands-on training was a fundamental element in minimizing technical gear issues and preventing gear loss.
Fishers landed more than 217,000 crabs during the trials, valued at approximately $1.4 million. Following the successful trial, Sea Sonics and Guardian Ropeless Systems are collaborating with local fishers to achieve full authorization for on-demand gear to be used during the upcoming fishing season.
Read more: Ropeless Fishing Gear Trials Successfully Revitalize Closed Crab Fishery
Featured Bycatch Species
The Endangered black-browed albatross is threatened throughout its range by commercial fisheries bycatch, primarily from longline vessels.