Whalesafe fishing gear

On this page

• What is whalesafe gear
• Working together on solutions
  • Our efforts to protect whales
• Looking ahead: Canada’s whalesafe gear strategy
• Progress up to now
  • Collaboration with domestic and international partners
  • Fisheries management measures for North Atlantic right whales
  • Whalesafe gear adoption fund
• Industry information
  • Modified fishing gear that meet harvester conditions of licence requirements
• Approved modified gear
  • Novabraid sleeve
  • Coastline Cordage break-away release link
  • Oval in-line weak links
  • Everson whale safe rope
  • Polysteel Low breaking-strength ropes
  • Time tension line-cutter
  • Tag line spring release

What is whalesafe gear

Whalesafe gear is modified fishing gear that helps reduce the risk of harm from entanglements to whales, such as the endangered North Atlantic right whale, making Canadian waters safer for these whales and other marine species.

Whalesafe gear falls into two general categories:

• On-demand gear: Uses acoustic signals from a fishing boat to bring up fishing pots from the ocean floor. This removes the need for vertical ropes in the water and helps reduce entanglement risk for whales.
• Lower breaking-strength or ‘weak’ rope or links: Designed to break at 1,700 lb. of force, making it easier for entangled whales to free themselves and reduce the risk of serious injury.

Working together on solutions

DFO is working closely with the fishing industry, whale experts, gear manufacturers, Indigenous groups, and other partners to identify and implement whalesafe gear for Canadian fisheries. There’s no single solution. We will keep working with industry to find and adapt solutions that meet the unique needs of each fishery, now and in the future.

Our efforts to protect whales

Implementing whalesafe fishing gear is just one of the actions DFO is taking to protect whales. North Atlantic right whale management measures, marine mammal response and efforts to clean up lost fishing gear all help make Canadian waters safer for whales, while supporting sustainable fisheries.

Looking Ahead: Canada’s whalesafe gear strategy

Canada’s 5-year Whalesafe Fishing Gear strategy provides a process to develop and implement innovative fishing gear in Canadian fisheries to help reduce the risk of harm to whales from entanglements while supporting sustainable, vibrant commercial fisheries. In the near term, the five-year plan focuses on protecting the endangered North Atlantic right whales in eastern Canada. The strategy will expand across Canada to address fishery-specific needs on east and west coasts.

The strategy was developed after extensive engagement and collaboration with the fishing industry, gear manufacturers, Indigenous communities, researchers and other partners, and DFO will continue to work with these groups to support the implementation of innovative fishing technology that works for industry and protects whales.

Progress up to now

Collaboration with domestic and international partners

The 2023 Whalesafe Gear Trial Results Symposium and the 2025 International Fishing Gear Summit brought together Indigenous partners, fish harvesters, non-government organizations and academic experts to share the outcomes of their work, including successes, challenges, lessons learned, and ways forward.

Fisheries management measures for North Atlantic right whales

Canada has fisheries measures and initiatives in place in Atlantic Canada and Quebec to prevent entanglements of North Atlantic right whales (NARW). These include opening fisheries before North Atlantic right whales arrive in our waters, by closing fishing areas where and when whales are detected, and by removing ‘ghost’ fishing gear.

Starting in 2024, voluntary whalesafe fishing gear pilots were introduced in select lobster and shallow water fisheries in Eastern Canada. The pilot allows harvesters to continue fishing following a confirmed NARW detection under certain conditions that will help reduce entanglement risk. These conditions include increasing trawl length and dropping endlines, and equipping the remaining endline with a lower breaking-strength gear modification.

Whalesafe gear adoption fund

The Whalesafe Gear Adoption Fund (WSGF) ended in 2023, but its impact continues. This two-year program (2021-23) invested up to $20 million to help purchase, test and improve, and the lessons learned still guide our work today. This program supported projects to test whalesafe fishing gear’s safety, operational effectiveness, potential effectiveness at reducing harm to whales, and readiness to support harvesters with the transition to new gear.

The fund also provided support to Canadian manufacturers to increase the domestic supply of commercially-ready whalesafe gear. Groups in the following categories were eligible to apply to the Whalesafe Gear Adoption Fund:

• Canadian not-for-profit and charitable organizations
• Canadian companies, businesses, organizations, and associations
• Indigenous organizations and communities
• Recognized research, academic, and educational institutions

Through 39 projects, the department provided support to industry and Indigenous partners to test modified fishing gear under real life conditions. These trials helped choose gear types that work best for the unique needs of different fisheries and pilot projects. Results of the Whalesafe Gear Adoption Fund projects were shared at the Whalesafe Gear Trial Results Symposium in 2023.

Industry information

Modified fishing gear that meet harvester conditions of licence requirements

Modified fishing gear may be authorized for use under specific licence conditions, which may vary by fishery and area.

It’s essential to always follow all licence conditions and manufacturers’ instructions for selecting, installing and using lower breaking-strength gear.

Lower breaking-strength gear is approved if it breaks at 1,700 lb of force, and if trial results show the fishing gear is safe and performs as well as conventional fishing gear. ^{Footnote 1}

Approved modified gear

This page lists the products currently approved for use by DFO and will be updated as new products are approved.

For more information on using this gear, or to discuss conducting new gear trials, harvesters may contact their regional DFO office.

Novabraid sleeve

• Manufacturer: Novabraid
• Gear type: Low breaking-strength rope
• Availability: Available in Canada at various fishing supply stores and online retailers, or through its manufacturer in Yarmouth.
• Contact: Please visit Novatec Braids Ltd. for more information.
• Details: Sleeve is a breakaway link made in Nova Scotia that consists of an orange woven covering into which two ends of conventional rope are inserted. This design will sustain forces up to 1,700 lb. during regular fishing activities and is intended to break apart if a whale becomes entangled.
• Novatec Braids Ltd. designed this sleeve to break under tension. When applied to fishing lines, the sleeve provides a weak knotless connection that is less likely to snag or tangle with marine life, including whales. Novabraid sleeves approved for use are the 3/8 and ½ inch models.

How to use

To install the Novabraid sleeve to the regular buoy line:

1. Cut the buoy line and melt the ends of the line to ease insertion.
2. Make a 1-inch slice into the sleeve approximately 4 inches from each end. Insert each end of the buoy line through one of these 1-inch openings and guide both ends to meet at the center of the Novabraid sleeve, with no gap remaining between the ends of the line.
3. Make sure the Novabraid sleeve is secure, and properly aligned such that the buoy line is not twisted within the sleeve.
4. Tuck the 4-inch hollow ends of the Novabraid sleeve into the buoy line.

For more information, including a video of sleeve installation, visit SSLFA Novabraid Sleeve Demo, Courtesy of NOAA

Coastline Cordage break-away release link

• Manufacturer: Coastline Cordage
• Gear type: Weak link
• Availability: The Coastline Cordage Break-Away Release Link is available in Canada at various fishing supply stores and online retailers that specialize in fishing gear and equipment.
• Contact: Please contact Coastline Cordage Group Inc. for more information.
• Details: Break-Away Release Link is made in Nova Scotia. It is in the form of a 6-foot-long section of red braided rope with a stitched loop at each end.

How to use

When using the Coastline Cordage Break-Away Release Link, a cut is made in the buoy line. Each cut end of the buoy line is attached to one of the stitched loops of the break-away release. The buoy line can be attached to a loop by any method, as long as the attachment does not reinforce the stitching. The link is designed to break under specific conditions, such as an entanglement or other source of excessive force.

Installation by use of an eye splice with the buoy line at each stitched loop is recommended.

For more information, including video of the Break-Away Release Link passing through a hauler, visit Coastline Cordage's website.

Oval in-line weak links

• Manufacturer: Several companies have developed breakaway oval in-line weak links including Brooks Trap Mill and Marine Mold & Machine Inc.
• Gear type: Weak links
• Availability: The oval in-line weak link is available in Canada at various fishing supply stores and online retailers that specialize in fishing gear and equipment. This product can also be purchased directly through the manufacturer.
• Contact: Please visit the manufacturers’ websites for more information:
  • Brooks Trap Mill
  • Maine Mold & Machine Inc.**
• Details: Oval in-line weak links are a type of fishing gear designed to be weaker than the buoy line, allowing them to break under specific conditions, such as an entanglement or other source of excessive force.
• Several companies have developed breakaway oval in-line weak links, black plastic oval rings with a breaking point of 1,700 lb when used within a traditional buoy line. The oval rings are available to accommodate up to a 1/2-inch diameter buoy line.

How to use

The oval ring is attached within the regular buoy line by cutting the line and passing the two cut ends through the weak link, and securing by a tuck eye splice with three to four tucks at each end. The oval in-line weak link is designed to pass through most haulers without interruption. The Maine Mold has one thin and one thick end and this oval link should be positioned so the end marked TOP is located towards the surface buoy. The Seaside oval weak links have a uniform thickness, which means either end of the oval can be positioned towards the surface buoy. Attachment methods that override the intended functionality of the weak link are prohibited.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a video of an oval in-line link passing through a hauler.

Everson whale safe rope

• Manufacturer: Everson Cordage Works
• Gear type: Lower breaking-strength sinking rope
• Availability: Everson whale safe rope is available in Canada at various fishing supply stores and online retailers that specialize in fishing gear and equipment.
• Contact: Please contact Everson Cordage Works in Everson, Washington for more information.

How to use

Spliced in sections of lower breaking-strength rope in specific locations in the main buoy line.

Polysteel lower breaking-strength rope

• Manufacturer: Polysteel Atlantic Ltd
• Gear type: Lower breaking-strength rope
• Availability Polysteel low breaking-strength rope, also referred to as Esterpro low break rope, is available in Canada at various fishing supply stores and online retailers that specialize in fishing gear and equipment.
• Contact: Please contact the manufacturer Polysteel Atlantic Ltd. in Sydney, Nova Scotia for more information.

How to use

Spliced in sections of lower breaking-strength rope in specific locations in the main buoy line.

Time tension line-cutter

• Manufacturer: Blue Water Concepts Inc.
• Gear type: Breakaway device for hauling gear with regular breaking-strength rope
• Availability: Time tension line-cutters are available in Canada at various fishing supply stores and online retailers that specialize in fishing gear and equipment.
• Contact: Please contact Blue Water Concepts Inc. for more information.
• Details: The Time Tension Line Cutter (TTLC) is an innovative breakaway device that allows harvesters to haul their gear with regular breaking-strength rope. The TTLC is attached within the buoy line and when it is exposed to specific tensions for an unusually long duration, likely indicating a whale interaction, it cuts the rope.
• When a whale interacts with the fishing gear for a prolonged period of time beyond that normally needed to haul the gear, the TTLC will respond by severing the line, thus reducing the weight and drag of fishing gear restricting the whale’s movement.
• The TTLC is commercially available in two sizes to accommodate the range in rope diameters for pot/trap and gillnet fisheries. Each TTLC is calibrated for the specific conditions it will be used in, based on knowledge of normal fishing operations. The time and tension at which the blades will emerge is pre-set in the factory, to avoid having a TTLC cut the buoy line in non-entanglement situations.

How to use

Typically, the buoy line is fitted around the TTLC closer to the bottom (closer to the trap/trawl end of the buoy line) and the end of the line passes through an area with two cutting blades that become exposed when continuous tension is applied for a duration of time greater than what is experienced while hauling gear. The rope will also release if the force is consistent with an entangled whale towing the gear.

Installing this device takes approximately two minutes and does not require any line cutting or modification. It can bereadily installed and uninstalled on all line types in all deck conditions without the need for special tools.

The manufacturer has a video showing how the TTLC works.

Tag Line Spring Release

• Manufacturer: Nova Robotics
• Gear type: Device for controlled deployment of fishing gear with lower breaking-strength rope
• Availability: The tag line spring release is available in Canada at various fishing supply stores and online retailers that specialize in fishing gear and equipment.
• Contact: This product can be purchased directly through the manufacturer. Please contact Nova Robotics for more information.
• Details: The Tag Line Spring Release is an innovative spring release mechanism designed by Nova Robotics, a company based in Nova Scotia. It uses a tag line, which is a relatively weak (under 1,700 lb.) secondary line attached to the main buoy line which in turn is attached to the traps or other fishing gear. This design allows for a controlled deployment of fishing gear, including ropes, nets, and traps. If the tag line attached to the primary surface buoy is snagged, towed and severed by a whale or transiting vessel, it will trigger the release of the hard plastic buoy bringing the stored rope to the surface, where it can be observed and retrieved, thereby reducing the occurrence of lost fishing gear.

How to use

The Tag Line Spring Release is used in fishing gear configured with lower breaking-strength rope in the upper part of the buoy line. The Tag Line Spring Release is inserted in the buoy line between the weak and regular breaking strength rope. Hauling the weak rope activates the release, opening the attached bag which contains regular breaking strength rope (the ‘recovery rope’) attached to 1-2 hard plastic buoys, which then rise to the surface. The gear is then hauled using the regular breaking-strength rope. Additional rope (the lower breaking strength tag line) is required as part of the overall buoy line system.

The tension in the spring can be adjusted to accommodate different fishing environments.

For more information, including videos to further illustrate its deployment, visit:

• Tag line spring release: theory of operation
• Tag line spring release: underwater deployment
• Tag line spring release: setting and rigging