In August 2018, this publication was discussing the plethora of issues related to implementing ropeless fishing gear technology in our corner of the North Atlantic.
As our readers know, this equipment replaces the typical surface buoy and vertical rope that fishermen attach to their traps on the seafloor to identify the gear locations. Instead, the ropeless equipment has a bottom-anchored mesh bag full of rope and floats that can open and pop up to the surface with an acoustic command from a boat.
At the time, we were asking the question, is ropeless fishing technology such as this really the future of the fishery, notably snow crab and lobster?
Jump ahead eight years and it appears the same question is still being pondered.
The push to adopt ropeless fishing gear remains in the North Atlantic commercial lobster and snow crab fishery, largely due to efforts to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale.
While the technology promises to reduce whale entanglements by eliminating vertical buoy lines, its integration into a long-established industry has proven difficult. A combination of economic, technological, operational and social challenges continues to slow widespread adoption.
The harsh North Atlantic has proven more than problematic for the technology-dependent fishing gear.
Although trials have demonstrated that ropeless gear can function effectively in controlled or limited conditions, it is not yet proven at the scale required for a large commercial fishery. Early feedback from lobster harvesters indicates that the systems are not yet reliable enough for widespread use. Concerns include mechanical failures, inconsistent retrieval and difficulties operating in harsh ocean conditions typical of the North Atlantic, such as strong currents, deep waters and rough weather.
Another one of the most significant problems is cost.
Ropeless systems require sophisticated acoustic release devices, onboard electronics and gear storage modifications. For many independent lobster harvesters — particularly those operating small vessels — the upfront investment is prohibitive.
On top of this, industry regulators continue to struggle with ropeless gear implementation.
Federal governments in both the United States and Canada are still experimenting with pilot programs, seasonal closures and gear requirements. While ropeless gear is seen as a promising long-term solution, it remains in an experimental phase, with ongoing trials involving only a small number of vessels. This uncertainty makes it difficult for fishers to justify major investments in new technology.
Most recently, Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King were urging the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to fully consider Maine lobstermen’s documented concerns about ropeless fishing gear requirements and to continue stakeholder engagement as the agency prepares future North Atlantic right whale conservation rulemaking.
“Small vessels simply would not have access to capital, deck space, crew, or familiarity with high-tech systems to survive a transition to ropeless fishing,” the senators wrote, urging NMFS to explore alternatives like Dynamic Area Management with the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
The intervention comes as Maine’s gear testing program shows mixed results.
The Maine Innovative Gear Library (MIGL), launched in 2024 with federal funding secured through a 2022 regulatory pause, now has 33 active testers across all seven lobster zones with more than 3,200 hauls completed. While the program demonstrated industry willingness to engage, initial data indicated substantial issues must be resolved before this technology is suitable for broad implementation.
Cost remains a primary barrier. The Maine Lobstermen’s Association estimated that ropeless gear adoption would cost Maine lobstermen at least $45 million, while a Massachusetts study projected a $40 million annual revenue decline and 20 per cent production drop for that state’s smaller fishery during a 2015–2019 transition scenario.
Technical challenges were highlighted in Maine as well. Research has found that acoustic interoperability among ropeless systems has not been demonstrated in busy, mixed-gear fisheries alongside mobile groundfish and scallop operations, raising safety and enforcement concerns as more than a dozen manufacturers develop incompatible systems.
Industry groups, including the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association and Maine Lobstermen’s Association, have consistently opposed mandatory ropeless gear transitions, citing safety risks, increased vessel interactions, and incompatibility with mixed-use fishing grounds.
So, what’s next?
While ropeless fishing gear offers clear environmental benefits, its adoption in the Eastern Canadian and New England lobster fisheries face substantial hurdles. High costs, technological immaturity, operational disruptions, gear conflicts and social resistance all contribute to a slow and contested transition.
Until these challenges are addressed through improved technology, financial support and collaborative policy development, widespread implementation is unlikely in the near future. It would be interesting to see where this fishing technology is in another eight years.
