New Rule Will Help Fish Survive Catch and Release
Fishermen must carry tool to help snapper and grouper return to depths and recover from rapid pressure changes
www.pewtrusts.org
Every day, many deep-dwelling fish die after being caught and released because their internal organs are damaged by the rapid pressure changes during the ascent to the surface.
The condition is similar to the bends, which scuba divers can experience when ascending too quickly.
But help is on the way: U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross today granted final approval to a rule to help fish survive the pressure change. The rule, initially approved in September 2019 by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, requires snapper and grouper fishermen to carry special tools on board their boats that help the fish return to the depths. With final federal approval, the rule takes effect July 15, 2020.
The new rule requires recreational and commercial fishermen from North Carolina to eastern Florida to have ready-to-use descending devices on their boats. The weighted, reusable tools typically clip to a fish’s jaw and help it quickly return to its deep habitat. This improves chances that the fish’s internal organs, which would have expanded from harmful gases built up during the rapid ascent, will return to their normal size before they are irreparably damaged.
Fishermen must carry tool to help snapper and grouper return to depths and recover from rapid pressure changes
New Rule Will Help Fish Survive Catch and Release
Every day, many deep-dwelling fish die after being caught and released because their internal organs are damaged by the rapid pressure changes during the ascent to the surface.
Every day, many deep-dwelling fish die after being caught and released because their internal organs are damaged by the rapid pressure changes during the ascent to the surface.
The condition is similar to the bends, which scuba divers can experience when ascending too quickly.
But help is on the way: U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross today granted final approval to a rule to help fish survive the pressure change. The rule, initially approved in September 2019 by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, requires snapper and grouper fishermen to carry special tools on board their boats that help the fish return to the depths. With final federal approval, the rule takes effect July 15, 2020.
The new rule requires recreational and commercial fishermen from North Carolina to eastern Florida to have ready-to-use descending devices on their boats. The weighted, reusable tools typically clip to a fish’s jaw and help it quickly return to its deep habitat. This improves chances that the fish’s internal organs, which would have expanded from harmful gases built up during the rapid ascent, will return to their normal size before they are irreparably damaged.
