Ocean Hoptimism

THE FUTURE IS ROPELESS It’s the End of the Line for California’s Whale Entanglement Problem with special guest Ben Grundy-HawleyCenter for Biological Diversity Saving whales does not happen in a moment—it happens with a movement. A whale moving along California’s coast shouldn’t have to navigate a maze of fishing ropes to survive. Yet sharing these waters safely depends on choices people make—from the gear deployed at sea to the policies debated onshore. The threats are urgent, effective solutions already exist, and upcoming policy decisions offer opportunities for all of us to help. It’s a timely and important moment for Ocean Hoptimism’s first evening dedicated to whales. For a whale entangled in fishing gear, it’s a fight for survival. Ropes can restrict movement, cut into flesh, and make feeding or reaching the surface a struggle. Alongside collisions with ships, entanglements are among the most serious threats these animals face. Here along California’s coast, protecting whales also means working through difficult questions about how fishing can continue safely—and how fishers can afford the transition. That’s where science, innovation, policy, and a movement of people willing to speak up come together. We’re delighted to welcome Ben Grundy-Hawley, Oceans Campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity. Ben works to protect whales and other marine species from fishing gear entanglements and vessel strikes, advocating for state and federal laws and regulations that protect ocean wildlife from harmful human activities. He’ll bring that work into the room—and help us find our place in it. Thankfully, effective solutions already exist. Pop-up fishing gear—also called on-demand or ropeless gear—keeps trap lines and buoys stowed until fishers retrieve their catch, reducing the deadly maze of ropes in whale habitat. Already used in several U.S. fisheries, it offers enormous promise. But fishing communities navigating tight margins need support to make…