1. An ‘Endless season’ of ropeless fishing trials (June-November 2018)
Presented by Marco Flagg, Desert Star Systems LLC,
Based on work with Fishing Associations MLA, ACA, GMFA and CWLA
Ropeless Fishing Consortium Meeting, November , New Bedford, MA

2. Summary of 2018 ARC-1 Ropeless Sea Trials Five Fishing Associations / Groups & Regions:
California Dungeness Crab Working Group
Acadian Crabbing Association (ACA)
Nova Scotia LFA38 (Atlantic to Fundy)
Practical use in LFA34
Coordination of multi-boat operations
How to launch a ropeless fishery
California
First tests of season
Learning how to run a pilot project (classes, sea trials, gear safety)
Cape Cod Bay
Shallow water trawls
Short stub rope (whale safety)
Single operator boat
Gulf of St. Lawrence
Bag behavior in high currents
Efficient singles hauling in broadcast mode
Bay of Fundy
Deep water fishing to 117 fathom
Fast tidal currents
Anchor cages instead of bags
Next Session Next Session Next Session Report Pending Presentation Focus

3. Summary of 2018 ARC-1 Ropeless Sea Trials Overall Statistics
13 Fishing vessels outfitted/involved
63 ARC-1 acoustic releases used/delivered
Estimated 90 sea trial days across all boats
Estimated deployment & recovery cycles
(Estimates based on extrapolation of CWLA observed effort of eight sea trial days per boat, 8-12 deployment & recovery cycles per test day

4. CWLA Sea Trial Goals:
Determine if ropeless fishing is a workable and realistic proposition for fishers in LFA34
Have a tool in the arsenal for their members to continue fishing during closures

6. How CWLA Went About It
Step 1
Fundamentals of system components, operation, servicing were taught & practiced in the class room, dockside and a day at sea with all fishers present

7. 1-2 days of training at sea for each fisher
How CWLA Went About It
Step 2
1-2 days of training at sea for each fisher

8. Unsupervised sea days, with each boat & crew operating individually
How CWLA Went About It
Step 3
Unsupervised sea days, with each boat & crew operating individually
(observers sometimes present)

9. How CWLA Went About It
Step 4
Two-day ‘war games’, with all three boats setting and hauling trawls in same area. Captain’s decisions coordinated by Ropeless Fisher app.
(observers present)