74Formula233

November 15, 2007
R.I. fishermen, researchers net big prize


Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach

Researchers in winter 2005 prepare for their second trip to test "The Eliminator," a fishing net designed to catch haddock while avoiding catching other fish. From left are Rufus Ayers and Ray Carr, both fishermen on the Sea Breeze; Phil Ruhle Jr., captain of Sea Breeze, and URI's David Beutel.

Three types of fish -- cod, flounder and haddock -- live together, swim together, eat together and are often caught together in commercial fishing trawlers.

Cod and flounder are heavily restricted by federal fisheries regulations, and fishermen often have to throw thousands of pounds back into the ocean – where they will likely die – because they were caught alongside haddock. And so fishermen often had to stop short of reaching their haddock quota.

But a team of researchers in Rhode Island have designed a net that effectively eliminates that problem. And today they were awarded the grand prize in the World Wildlife’s International Smart Gear Competition -- $30,000 -- for their efforts.

University of Rhode Island Fisheries Center researchers Laura Skrobe and David Beutel worked with fishermen Jon Knight, Phil Ruhle Sr., Phil Ruhle Jr., and Jim O’Grady on a net called “The Eliminator,” which takes advantage of haddock’s tendency to swim up when faced with a net, when other fish swim down.

The group received the reward today in Washington. “We’re excited to be receiving this award," Buetel said in a statement, "and look forward to continuing to research effective ways of reducing bycatch in fishing.”

The International Smart Gear competition was created to encourage engineers and fishermen to develop technologies that would reduce bycatch, according to Ginette Hemley, the senior vice president of the WWF.

“Bycatch is a critical environmental and economic problem,” she said. “These inventions have shown to be effective solutions in our efforts to make fishing ‘smarter’ and we’re pleased to honor their creators today.”

The design, which beat out more than 70 contenders from 22 countries, is more than seven years in the making.

In 1999, Knight, who has fishing and engineering degrees from URI, began work on a net to help O’Grady and the Rhules catch squid. It was designed with mesh larger than traditional trawler nets and did well with squid. But the fishermen also noticed that there were no cod or flounder showing up as bycatch.

Beutel and Skrobe placed an ad in trade publications and newspapers looking for help designing a selective net. Knight, O’Grady and the Rhules answered.

The group put their heads together and used a lot of math and fishing trips to perfect the design: large, 8-foot mesh on the bottom of the net that cod and flounder can easily slip through, and smaller, 6-inch mesh on top and in the back to catch the haddock.

“The collaborative design and development of the Eliminator trawl is a great example of industry and scientists working together with managers,” Beutel said, “to develop innovative solutions to reduce or eliminate bycatch.”

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74Formula233

Any comments?

I for one would love to see a net designed specifically for the dogfish

.....and less targeting of cod/haddock, etc for a while......

BUT....being a realist, I'm glad to see some innovation........

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Bob & Mag

Sometimes simple is the best way. KISS keep it simple stupid.
A fine example of it.
There was a show on discovery last year about nets and what could be used to help bycatch. They had sound equipment, transponders and the list goes on. It helped but
didn't eliminate the bycatch problem. Hence my above comment.

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of food, electricity, gas, and oil, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

Smoke free 4 Months!

Seaker

These refinements are very good indeed. Sometimes the slaughter we troll through from discarded bycatch is very sad indeed.

You have to pause and think for a moment if we have the technology to wipe everything out then why can't we enginner gear that is selective.

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www.seakersportfishing.com

fishcounterbob

great info on the haddock net.
Quick story- On one of the final headboat scup trips we fished hard against the so'east corner of Block when we hauled the anchor to find an unflaged gillnet within a quarter mile of shore. Saw at least two fresh togs in it before the net had to be rendered into two. No choice. Are there any regs concerning location and I.D. of nets. B.I occasionally has own regs.

74Formula233

Here's the article, and here's their website link:

F/V Sea Breeze

Update: 1 missing after R.I. fishing boat sinks off N.J.

3:59 PM Thu, Jul 24, 2008 | Permalink
Jack Perry Email

Journal photo / John Freidah
The Sea Breeze, which is homeported in Newport.

The Coast Guard is continuing its search today for the owner of a Rhode Island fishing boat that sank last night in rough seas off Atlantic City, N.J.

Two crew members of the Sea Breeze were rescued, but Phil Ruhle, 56, the operator of the 80-foot vessel, is missing. Survivor Rayford Carr told the Coast Guard, "He didn't get a chance to get out."
The Coast Guard said it plans to continue its search for Ruhle until sunset tonight, then decide what action to take at that time. Crew members Carr, 50, of New Bedford, Mass., and Anthony Hendrickson, 22, were found clinging to the capsized boat last night and were rescued by the crew of a Coast Guard helicopter, according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Crystalynn Kneen. According to a Web site dedicated to the fishing vessel, Sea Breeze's home port is Parascondola Dock in Newport.


Journal file photo
Phil Ruhle standing in front of his 80-foot dragger, Sea Breeze, in 2002.
Video: Watch a Coast Guard interview with survivor Rayford Carr.

The Coast Guard is searching for Ruhle, of North Kingstown, this afternoon with a cutter, a helicopter and a jet, according to Kneen. Rhule is known for being an advocate for fishermen. He goes to meetings, sends out e-mails to other fishermen, even collaborates with academics and engineers to make sure fishermen have the most modern equipment for the trade. "He always paid attention," fishing net engineer Jonathan Knight said, "he kept us informed, he's a valuable resource ... He's been on the ocean all his life."

The Coast Guard believes Ruhle was in the pilot house when the boat capsized.

Both of the rescued fishermen were in good condition this morning at the Coast Guard's Air Station in Atlantic City, Knee said. The boat was carrying 100,000 pounds of squid when it went down in 164 feet of water, she said. University of Rhode Island Fisheries researcher David Beutel, who has worked with Ruhle on a fishing net innovation, said Ruhle fished off Cape May in New Jersey for squid during the summer. The Coast Guard was alerted to the problem at about 9:30 p.m. via the signal from an emergency locator beacon, according to Kneen. The boat went down about 45 miles east of Atlantic City in eight- to 10-foot seas with 24-knot winds.

In an interview with the Coast Guard, Carr said the boat was steaming home with its catch when it started getting hit by waves on the port side. Ruhle struggled in the pilot house to turn the boat into the waves before it capsized. "He didn't get a chance to get out," Carr said. Carr estimated that he and Hendrickson were in the 75-degree water for about three hours before they were rescued. "I never prayed so much in my life," he said.

While the two fisherman were clinging to the capsized boat, Hendrickson spotted the emergency beacon floating in the water, swam to it and set it off, Carr said. The cause of the sinking is under investigation. Carr says it was his last fishing trip. "I never want to be in a situation like that again," he said. "As a matter or fact, I'm done fishing." Rhule's son, Philip Ruhle Jr. just got off the Sea Breeze on Monday. He spent two weeks fishing on the vessel with his own 7-year-old son, also named Philip. "If I didn't think that it was safe, I would not bring my own kid out on it," said Philip Jr. of the Sea Breeze. "It's perfectly safe." Ruhle said his son loves fishing, just as he does. But now he's not sure he wants to go back to sea. "I couldn't imagine someone telling my son that I'm gone," he said.

-- With reports from projo.com staff writer Brandie Jefferson and Journal staff writers Amanda Milkovits and Peter Lord

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AlloyToy

Such a tragedy!!! Thought & prayers for all his family & friends.........

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"First The Bite Then The Fight"

Possum

My prayers go out as well. Such a tragedy, indeed. As we all know, the salt ain't always safe, and anything can go wrong.

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Bob & Mag

Thoughts & Prayers go out as well. It must have really happened quickly for him not to get out of the pilot house.

__________________
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of food, electricity, gas, and oil, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

Smoke free 4 Months!