Common dolphins are the most abundant cetacean in UK waters and experience significant mortality as bycatch in trawl and pair-trawl fisheries targeting bass and other pelagic species.
Common dolphin bycatch causes drowning in fishing nets, representing an acute welfare emergency for individual animals. Post-release survival of live bycatch depends on the duration of entanglement and the degree of injury or exhaustion. Population-level bycatch rates are concerning for long-term conservation but individual welfare impacts are also significant.