Clever Whales and the Violent Fight for Fish on the Line 
By Nick Rahaim US Source: hakaimagazine 3/8/2022
Nick Rahaim
Credit: NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center
As I coiled rope on the deck of a commercial fishing boat in the western Gulf of Alaska, I felt the sudden thud of a revolver reverberate in my chest. I wheeled around as a crewmate fired more bullets; a round of buckshot followed, from a shotgun held by my captain. I’d known their anger was growing as sperm whales ate our catch but hadn’t expected they would vent their frustrations with live ammunition. I looked out and saw a sperm whale crest the surface for air around 20 meters away, seemingly unfazed by the heavy fire.
 

It was early spring 2013, and I was sore, exhausted, and cold. After working 20 hours a day for more than a week, my crewmates and I still owed the boat money because sperm whales had dined on nearly all the sablefish hanging from our hooks as we burned fuel and ate food—both of which came out of our pay. We were using longline gear, essentially a kilometers-long rope with baited hooks spaced at intervals, and all that we pulled from the depths were bent hooks and the occasional disembodied sablefish head.

 
Atlantic halibut Continue...

News Id SourceStampcountry
4776Mass fish escape raises concerns over fish farmingabc2005-05-19AU
4777New fish species found off Taitungtaipeitimes2005-05-28TW
4778In River of Many Aliens, Snakehead Looms as ThreatWashington Post 2005-05-28US
4779Foiling fugitive fishinnovations2005-02-21CA
4780Scientist finds little surprise lurking at bottom of the harboursmh2005-07-11CA
4781Sinking Fish May Fast-Track Mercury Pollution to the Deep Seaeos.org2020-12-22US
4782Mint pollution kills 6,000 fishbbc news2005-07-04UK
4783How fish hear and make sounds at same timeinnovations2005-04-07US
4784Fishy secret of why men attractbbc news2005-03-22UK
4785Researcher Focuses on Atka MackerelNOAA2005-03-18US
4786'Cowardly and selfish' act hits Turtles Kingston conservation effort 2020-08-24CA
4787Where goldfish come fromCNN/Money2005-03-21US
4788Multiple genes permit closely related fish species to mix and match their color visioneurekalert2005-10-10UK
4789Angler floored by monster catchbbc news2005-08-01UK
4790Haddock catch plan sparks angerbbc news2005-10-21UK
4791Ban on long-line commercial fishing may be lifted / Restyled hook won't spare sea turtles, opponents contendsfgate2005-08-05US
4792New species are being found in record numbers in the river. Now TV viewers have a chance to name one of themtheguardian2005-04-03UK
4793Criminal probe into Barents chasebbc news2005-11-01UK
4794Fish reveal hidden depthstheguardian2005-04-15UK
4795Scientists call for urgent action to save Atlantic tunatheguardian2005-04-28UK
4796Some fish like it hotabc news2005-04-27NZ
4797Tuna fears exaggeratedstarbulletin2005-04-30US
4798Quarter of Irish sea cod 'illegal'bbc news2005-12-07IE
4799'Splash' R.I.P.; Former World Record Blue Catfish Turns Fins Upunderwatertimes2005-12-09US
4800Risk assessments urged for fish escaping from net-pen aquacultureinnovations-report2005-03-05US

215 216 217 191 of [218 - pages.]