Wildlife

Common Dolphin Bycatch Welfare

Common dolphins are caught as bycatch in European trawl fisheries in large numbers, causing significant welfare harm and population impact.

Key Facts

Thousands of common dolphins die annually as bycatch in European fisheries
France, UK, and Spain have large incidental catch rates in winter trawl fisheries
Pingers (acoustic deterrents) and modified gear can reduce dolphin bycatch
Regulatory requirements have been insufficient to achieve population-safe bycatch levels

Welfare Considerations

Dolphins entangled in trawl nets drown in minutes to hours of terrifying confinement. Those released alive have often sustained injuries and severe stress. Mass stranding events include significant numbers of trawl bycatch victims. The welfare harm of entanglement deaths is compounded by its preventability through gear modifications and fishing closure areas.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for dolphin bycatch reduction in European fisheries
Choose seafood from certified fisheries with low cetacean bycatch
Advocate for fishing closure areas during dolphin peak-presence periods
Donate to organizations monitoring and documenting dolphin bycatch