SMELTS.org

02/26/2025

SMELTS in the news again.

In Jonesport, the lobstermen were skeptical. But organizers don't want an endorsement, they just want lobstermen to see the gear for themselves.

02/06/2025

https://www.neaq.org/on-demand-fishing-systems-are-available-at-gear-libraries-in-the-us-and-canada/

Fishers are borrowing and using this gear, then providing feedback to refine it.  

12/18/2023

Teledyne Benthos, a pioneer in underwater communication technology, is excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Sea Mammal Education Learning Technology Society (SMELTS) that brings forth a game-changing solution for sustainable ropeless lobster fishing.

Teledyne Benthos

Teledyne Benthos, a pioneer in underwater communication technology, is excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Sea Mammal Education Learning Technology Society (SMELTS) that brings forth a game-changing solution for sustainable ropeless lobster fishing. Through the integration of Teled...

04/26/2023

Right Whale Day in Massachusetts was April 24th. We were at the New England Aquarium to celebrate.

Thanks to WCVB Channel 5 Boston for the video. (click the link below to see us in action)

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04/03/2023

https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2023/04/02/right-whale-entangled-cape-cod-bay/

The North Atlantic right whale has been entangled since at least February. Her location is being monitored, but weather has prevented further disentanglement efforts.

03/21/2023

Drop-by and visit the JASCO team at the 30th Annual Fishermen and Scientists Research Society (FSRS) Conference today!

📍 15 Spectacle Lake Dr. Dartmouth, N.S.
📆 Tuesday, March 21st, 2023
https://fsrsns.ca/annual-conference-and-agm/

SMELTS.org

03/20/2023

It's that time of year again!

The first North Atlantic right whale mother and calf pair of the season have been spotted in Cape Cod Bay, the Center for Coastal Studies said.

03/02/2023

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/03/01/science/an-effort-protect-right-whales-state-federal-officials-first-time-allow-ropeless-fishing-closed-areas/?p1=HP_TrendingBar

Lobstermen have been pleading for a way to fish in closed waters off the Massachusetts coast, and now they can if they use a new kind of fishing gear that aims to eliminate the threat to North Atlantic right whales.

08/01/2022

Great start to the 24th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals! This conference is near and dear to my heart!

07/28/2022

The joint project collaboration to demonstrate, train, and enable indigenous fishers from Miawpukek First Nation (MFN) in whale-safe (ropeless) fishing and acoustic data collection is in full-swing! In early July, JASCO and SMELTS.org team members demonstrated deployments of the whale-safe gear in both St. John's, and Harbour Breton, Newfoundland. 🐋

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is sponsoring a portion of the project collaboration through the Whalesafe Gear Adoption Fund.

Press Release:
➡ https://www.jasco.com/press-releases/2022/whalesafe-gear-adoption-fund

Read more - Whale Recorder Raft:
➡ https://www.jasco.com/smelts

➡ https://www.smelts.org/
➡ https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/mammals-mammiferes/whales-baleines/gear-equipement/index-eng.html

02/19/2022

LOSE THE ROPE, GIVE WHALES HOPE.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/video/video-lose-rope-give-whales-hope?fbclid=IwAR3XPZC7FJAhH4xkWQ-gBckrvMhKvotJF-kUEuKQtkKc95GDwdHSx3ToPaQ

NOAA Fisheries is developing ropeless fishing gear to help prevent marine mammal entanglement off the coast of New England.