Wildlife

Seal Bycatch and Entanglement in Fishing Gear

Seals and sea lions are caught incidentally in fishing nets globally; drowning, entanglement injury, and the stress of capture represent significant individual welfare harms alongside population-level conservation concerns.

Key Facts

Mediterranean monk seals face drowning in set nets as a primary mortality cause
Entangled seals may drown within minutes or struggle for hours before death
Acoustic deterrent devices reduce seal bycatch in some fisheries
Bycatch mitigation requirements vary widely between fishing nations and gear types

Welfare Considerations

Drowning in fishing gear is one of the most welfare-concerning mortality causes for marine mammals — the prolonged nature of the struggle, the inability to surface for air, and the terror of entrapment combine to create severe acute suffering. Mitigation measures including acoustic pingers, gear modifications, and exclusion zones near haul-out sites reduce bycatch while also benefiting fishery sustainability.

What You Can Do

Support sustainable seafood certification schemes that include bycatch mitigation requirements
Advocate for mandatory acoustic deterrent deployment in seal-sensitive fisheries
Raise awareness about seal bycatch as a welfare as well as conservation issue