Fishing crews across a broad expanse of the world’s oceans, ranging from the South Atlantic to the North Pacific, report unwelcome encounters with whales.
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In waters off Alaska, fishermen struggle to keep orcas from their catch →

Commercial fishermen have tried many often unsuccessful tactics to shake off whales pursuing their catch, including moving dozens of miles to new areas, blaring rock music or, years ago, using more violent means like dynamite or firearms. A recent sea trial tested a new defense, an aluminum “shuttle” resembling a small submarine.

This story was supported by grants from the Pulitzer Center and the Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism, in partnership with The Seattle Times and Northern Journal.

Bottom-trawl fishermen that snagged orcas try ‘echoreflective’ netting →

The netting is designed to act as a barrier to orcas while still allowing fish to pass over, under or through the broad gaps in the web barrier.

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