Fishermen’s Finest, Inc. (FFI) recognizes our responsibility as good stewards of the North Pacific fisheries resources and our unique ability to further National and Global goals of removing derelict fishing gear and marine debris from our environment. As part of this recognition, FFI launched a Derelict Crab Pot Removal Program in 2023.

Fishermen, gear manufacturers, and marine mammal experts collaborated to develop the “Killer Whale Fence”. The concept originated in 2023, when a captain and net manufacturer co-developed a prototype. Simultaneously, a killer whale expert studied the animals’ behavior around vessels to identify peak entanglement risk. The fence design was refined through flume tank testing with input from additional fishers and scientists.

A groundbreaking collaboration brought fishermen’s experience and innovative technology on board to improve rockfish assessment. When Gulf of Alaska rockfish Fisherman Bob Hezel approached NOAA Fisheries biologist Mark Zimmermann with an innovative proposal, he saw a potential solution to a rocky problem.