Non-target fish caught as bycatch in commercial fisheries are typically discarded dead or dying; the welfare and conservation impact of bycatch is enormous and largely invisible to consumers.
Bycatch fish die through barotrauma, asphyxiation, crushing, or predation after discard — none of which are rapid or welfare-neutral. The invisibility of this suffering at the point of purchase prevents consumer pressure from driving change. Fisheries reform through selective gear requirements, area closures, and bycatch quotas provides structural solutions. Consumer demand for certified low-bycatch seafood creates market incentives for gear modification.