Wildlife Entanglement: Marine and Terrestrial Welfare Crisis

Entanglement in fishing gear, plastic waste, and agricultural materials causes acute suffering and death for hundreds of thousands of animals annually.

Key Facts

Ghost fishing gear (lost or abandoned nets) kills an estimated 650,000 marine mammals, turtles, and birds annually
Seals, dolphins, and whales entangled in nets typically drown over 15-30 minutes
Agricultural netting — for soft fruits and vegetables — entangles hedgehogs, birds, and reptiles
Balloon releases are now understood to be a significant wildlife entanglement and ingestion risk
Lost fishing line entangles diving birds including gannets, cormorants, and swans

Welfare Considerations

Entanglement causes acute suffering through drowning, strangulation, lacerating wounds, and exhaustion from extended struggle. For air-breathing marine mammals, net entanglement causes a prolonged drowning death lasting minutes. Ghost fishing gear continues to catch and kill for years after abandonment. Terrestrial entanglement in agricultural netting or fishing line can trap animals for days before they die or are found. The common thread is human debris left in wildlife habitats. Removing it — and reducing generation at source — is the primary welfare intervention.

What You Can Do

Remove garden netting at ground level during wildlife-active seasons
Support ghost gear retrieval programs through Fishing for Litter and Ocean Cleanup
Never release balloons outdoors
Pick up discarded fishing line from riverbanks and coasts
Advocate for compulsory return of lost fishing gear in national fisheries regulations