The Fishing Net Entangled in Controversy

This database lists all fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds caught in the California Drift Gillnet Fishery from May 1, 1991 to January 31, 2016. NOAA uses contract observers to regularly collect this data from about 10 to 30 percent of all fishing trips that utilize drift gillnets. Using data from that sample size, NOAA then calculates estimated totals for all permitted fishing trips, each year. The NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit obtained analyzed that data, which is included below.

Note: The condition of the catch – whether dead or alive – isn't always documented, and so in some cases what was kept and thrown back may not necessary add up to the total amount that was caught.