Wildlife

Harbour Porpoise Welfare and Bycatch in Fishing Gear

Harbour porpoises are the most common cetacean in UK waters but die in significant numbers as bycatch in static fishing gear, particularly gillnets and tangle nets, where they drown within minutes.

Key Facts

Estimates suggest 1,000-5,000 harbour porpoises die as bycatch in UK waters annually
Gillnets set on the seabed are the primary bycatch threat for porpoises diving to feed
Acoustic pingers attached to nets at regular intervals significantly reduce porpoise bycatch
The EU and UK require pinger use in some fisheries but compliance and coverage remain incomplete

Welfare Considerations

Drowning in fishing gear causes acute suffering before death in harbour porpoises. Individuals that survive entanglement may escape with injuries from net abrasion or flipper entanglement. Acoustic pingers are highly effective but only work when correctly maintained and deployed. Greater compliance with pinger requirements would significantly reduce bycatch mortality.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for mandatory pinger use and compliance monitoring in gillnet fisheries
Choose seafood from MSC-certified fisheries that include bycatch reduction commitments
Report stranded porpoises to BDMLR and the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme
Support research into alternative low-bycatch fishing gear designs for small-scale fisheries