CORVALLIS, Ore. — Researchers with Oregon State University are trying to better protect whales from getting entangled in fishing gear. They have discovered some areas of the ocean are more at risk for whales to get caught up in that gear, and the research has been forcing some changes for some fisherman.
The research is focused on fishing for Dungeness Crab. It was three years ago when the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife made changes to how many pots fisherman could have out, it was always a way to keep whales from getting caught in their lines.
For the past six years, Oregon State University along with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have been trying to determine when and where these whales get entangled with fishing gear, specifically with crabbing gear. They have determined some of the locations where they get into trouble are along the central and southern Oregon Coasts, where they run into problems.
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