Researchers to host roundtable meetings on shipwrecks and ghost gear
January 31, 2025
Woods Hole, Mass. (Jan. 31, 2025) --Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) recently received a NOAA Sea Grant award to investigate impacts of ghost fishing gear (net and rope) on cultural heritage, specifically on submerged cultural heritage such as shipwrecks, and to develop means to remove the gear and recycle it if possible.
More about the project can be found here: WHOI Sea Grant receives funding to support community-driven marine debris solutions – Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
In collaboration with Center for Coastal Studies Marine Debris & Plastics Program, WHOI will host a series of public roundtable discussions during the month of February regarding shipwrecks in Massachusetts waters and how to mitigate or prevent interactions with fishing gear, and fisherman are invited to attend any or all of the roundtable sessions.
Input from commercial fishermen and other mariners is sought by the research team regarding net removal with the use of special technology like remote operated vehicles with net cutting apparatus, industry engagement and outreach about shipwrecks, and solutions to prevent hangups of gear during harvesting activities.
These locations start at 4 pm ET:
- February 3, 2025: New Bedford - Net Your Problem - 779 Church Street, New Bedford, Mass.
- February 5, 2025: Provincetown - Center for Coastal Studies - 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown, Mass.
- February 7, 2025: Chatham - Fishermen’s Alliance - 1566 Main Street, Chatham, Mass.
- February 10, 2025: Woods Hole - WHOI Redfield Auditorium - 45 Water Street, Woods Hole, Mass.
- February 14, 2025: New Bedford - Fishing Heritage Ctr - 38 Bethel Street, New Bedford, Mass.
This location starts at 5 pm ET:
- February 25, 2025: Gloucester - Ocean Alliance Paint Factory - 32 Horton Street, Gloucester, Mass.
Refreshments will be served at all events.
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For additional information:
Kirstin Meyer-Kaiser kmeyer@whoi.edu
Laura Ludwig lludwig@coastalstudies.org
About Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is a private, non-profit organization on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930, its primary mission is to understand the ocean and its interaction with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate an understanding of the ocean’s role in the changing global environment. WHOI’s pioneering discoveries stem from an ideal combination of science and engineering—one that has made it one of the most trusted and technically advanced leaders in basic and applied ocean research and exploration anywhere. WHOI is known for its multidisciplinary approach, superior ship operations, and unparalleled deep-sea robotics capabilities. We play a leading role in ocean observation and operate the most extensive suite of data-gathering platforms in the world. Top scientists, engineers, and students collaborate on more than 800 concurrent projects worldwide—both above and below the waves—pushing the boundaries of knowledge and possibility. For more information, please visit www.whoi.edu