Marine Mammals

Common Dolphin Bycatch Welfare

Common dolphins are the most frequently caught marine mammal bycatch in the Northeast Atlantic, suffering and dying in fishing nets.

Key Facts

An estimated 10,000+ common dolphins are killed in Northeast Atlantic nets annually
Pair trawls targeting sea bass are the primary source of UK dolphin bycatch
France, Spain, and the UK all have documented high bycatch rates
Dolphins can be alive for extended periods entangled in nets before drowning
CCTV and acoustic pingers can reduce, but not eliminate, bycatch

Welfare Considerations

Entanglement in trawl nets causes drowning after a prolonged struggle. Dolphins may be held underwater for 20-30 minutes before death. Blunt trauma from trawl equipment causes internal injuries. Animals that escape nets may be injured. Current bycatch levels are likely unsustainable for common dolphin populations. Welfare of entangled animals is acute and widely underreported.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for mandatory CCTV on fishing vessels
Choose fish from fisheries with verified low dolphin bycatch
Support ORCA and WDC campaigns for stronger bycatch regulations
Pressure governments to enforce EU bycatch limits
Ask fish suppliers about their dolphin bycatch mitigation measures