"Fishing gear that is responsible for the unintentional deaths of dozens of marine mammals every year will be phased out under a new bill passed by the state Legislature and awaiting the governor’s signature.
Called drift gill nets, the often mile-long nets used to catch swordfish, also trap and kill many other species, including dolphins, seals and the occasional endangered sperm whale and leatherback sea turtle.
“Anything that comes in its way, it’s going to (catch) in its net,” said Paul Shively, project director of Pacific Ocean conservation at Pew Charitable Trusts, which has been working to ban the nets for five years. “It’s not only inhumane, it’s just not a good way to manage our U.S. resources.”"
Tara Duggan reports for the San Francisco Chronicle September 2, 2018.
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