When catch rates are low, time spent at sea and gear deployment increases resulting in the profitability of the trip decreasing. Fishers using pots and traps targeting crustaceans (in particular snow crab) are finding that their catch efficiency increases. These findings are supported by the science with studies showing an increased catch rate of 77% in snow crab catches when using light in their pots. Increased catch rates in a quota limited fishery ultimately means that the  gear is deployed for less time. This presents novel conservation opportunity in fisheries where whale entanglement is problematic.  That is, if catch rates in a quota limited pot and trap fishery increase by 50%, then the gear is in the water for less time, reducing the potential for cetacean entanglements incidents accordingly by 50%.

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