In Southern California waters, nearly invisible nets spanning up to a mile along the seafloor are set to trap and kill unsuspecting halibut and white sea bass. However, creatures like whales, sea lions, and sharks are not safe from their clutches.
These set gillnets have a high mortality rate and have been banned off the coasts of Central and Northern California for decades. But they are still used in federal waters, offshore banks, and around the Channel Islands.
