Over the course of 24 days, 520 lost traps and more than 10,000 pounds of rope were recovered from Massachusetts waters.

 

Every spring, when critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whales make their way to Cape Cod Bay, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries ends the commercial lobster fishing season.

 

The Center for Coastal Studies said during that time, their nonprofit is allowed to work with fishermen to remove abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear that threatens the whales and other marine life.

 

The lost fishing gear, frequently called ghost gear, ends up getting separated from buoys due to storms and conflicts with other fisheries.

 

This season, the CCS hired nine fishermen on six vessels to collect the gear using a grapple.

 

The collected debris was assessed and documented, according to the CCS.

 

See more at wpri.com.