Marine Life

Elasmobranch Bycatch: Rays and Sharks

Rays and smaller shark species are among the most commonly caught bycatch species globally, with significant welfare and conservation consequences.

Key Facts

Elasmobranchs represent a substantial proportion of total marine bycatch
Common skate were fished to extinction in the Irish Sea before protection was introduced
Electric pulse fishing, banned in the EU in 2021, caused severe injury to rays
Many ray species are slow to mature and produce few offspring, making population recovery slow
Live release of healthy rays significantly improves their survival rates

Welfare Considerations

Rays and sharks caught as bycatch experience significant stress from entanglement, handling, and air exposure. Species with spiracular breathing can be severely oxygen-deprived by standard gill net entanglement. Crushing in trawl codends causes fatal injuries. Gentle handling and rapid return to water significantly improves survival of live-caught elasmobranchs. The conservation overlap with welfare makes protecting ray populations doubly important.

What You Can Do

Support mandatory bycatch recording for elasmobranch species
Advocate for gear restrictions in areas with high elasmobranch populations
Choose seafood certified by programmes that monitor elasmobranch bycatch
Support live-release protocols for incidentally caught rays and sharks
Back shark and ray sanctuary legislation in appropriate regions