Fishing line and hook entanglement in pelican pouches causes severe welfare harm that is largely preventable.
Pelicans with fishing hooks in their throats or pouches cannot feed and experience progressive starvation alongside internal injury from the hook. Line wrapped around the bill prevents beak opening causing slow starvation. The association between pelicans and fishing piers creates chronic exposure risk. Education of anglers about responsible handling of fishing gear and not feeding pelicans reduces the association and injury risk.