The scope of rope in the Maine lobster industry

Have you noticed that most of these companies have products with the word “co-polymer” in them (Hy-Liner Steel Liner, Polysteel’s EsterPro and HydroPro, and Everson’s Pro rope)?  The co-polymer polysteel is created by a process whereby polypropylene (PP) is co-extruded with polyethylene (PE) to make it strong and light.  To make it sink, just add a touch of polyester.  The design of co-polymer sink ropes has become more important since federal whale regulations mandated the use of sinking groundline in 2002. Lobstermen demanded that those ropes have higher abrasion resistance and durability.