Companies
Marina firm develops tech that could help whale entanglement
By Dennis L. Taylor
Monterey Herald
February 19, 2020 — Marina, CA
(Photo: Desert Star chief executive Marco Flagg explains how his “pop-up” device can connect crabbers to their traps without the use of ropes. Source: Dennis L. Taylor/Monterey Herald)
On the heels of a new report indicating whale entanglements from buoyed ropes from crab traps could worsen in Monterey Bay, a Marina company has a technology that can eliminate the need for any entangling lines.
A study released last week by a researcher from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicates that conditions that have caused a marked increase in humpback whale entanglements are likely to get worse because of climate change.
The reasons can be complicated but essentially humpbacks are being pushed toward crab lines in search of food that isn’t available in their normal feeding areas.
Traditional crab traps lie on the ocean floor and are connected to identifiable buoys with roping. When a whale swims under the buoy it can get caught up in that roping and suffer severe trauma such as deep cuts.
But Marina-based Desert Star Systems believes it has an answer to the problem: get rid of the ropes.
Continue reading here: https://www.montereyherald.com/2020/02/03/marina-firm-develops-tech-that-could-help-whale-entanglement/
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Tagged Desert Star Systems