OTS Conducts Side Scan Survey to Locate Derelict Fishing Gear
Ocean Tech Services was engaged by the Massachusetts Fishermen’s Mobile Gear Alliance (MFMGA) to perform a reconnaissance survey of derelict fishing gear off the coast of Massachusetts. OTS utilized a high-resolution EdgeTech 4125 sonar to image over 60 nautical miles of the seafloor between Cape Cod and Gloucester, MA. Following three days of data acquisition, OTS post-processed all data and identified targets to quantify the amount of abandoned gear in the sample area.
This project has brought to light the extent of ghost fishing, seabed debris accumulation and whale entanglement potential in Massachusetts Bay waters.