While in the CG I watched a video on one of these "factory trawlers" The name is really a missnomer. The foriegn vsl does no actual fishing they process what is given to them by U.S. flaged vsl's. Working in tandem 2 U.S. vsl's tow a single net I believe to be about a 100' long, both vsl's come along each side of the foreigner and pass off the net. Foriegn F/V's are prohibited from fishing our waters.Foreign vsl hauls back the "targeted catch" This is where I have a huge problem with letting foriegn factory ships in our waters. The amount of the catch is astronomical and the bycatch is notewothy.
The bycatch of HUGE DEAD Striped Bass was appauling. So big one man had problems "discarding them over the side.
I saw this video in the company of the Boarding Officer who thought the only reason they were going over the side was "we were there" These pelagic species targeted are the forage as we know for the Bass. It just doesn't make sense
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