That study has previously been referred to a couple of times here.

While Ms. Drinkwin suggests utilizing a bungee cord on the top opening escape panels discussion during their presentation of the study in Mukilteo was that that "fix" does require ongoing replacement as the bungee loses elasticity over time and exposure.

Even with the top opening operating properly those pots with a lip extending out from the side of the pot to the opening were less "successful" in allowing crab to escape than the top opening design without a lip.

Another tidbit is that the "ubiquitous Danielson square pot" also allowed the fewest numbers of successful escapes under normal operating conditions of the pots tested.

One thing that may be easy to address is that narrower diameter rot cord would allow for earlier activation of the escape mechanism on lost pots.

While the study appeared to have a good design the fact sheet also included an assertion of 12,000 pots lost per year. Not so sure that the study establishing that number has been peer reviewed.