Fish

Fish Bycatch Welfare: Discarded and Dying at Scale

Bycatch — fish and other marine animals caught unintentionally — kills hundreds of millions of animals annually with zero economic benefit.

Key Facts

Global bycatch is estimated at 38 million tonnes annually, roughly 40% of total marine catch
Sea turtles, sharks, dolphins, and non-target fish species are all caught as bycatch
Most bycatch is dumped dead or dying back into the ocean
Circle hooks reduce turtle bycatch by up to 90% while maintaining target species catch
TEDs (Turtle Excluder Devices) are legally required in some US shrimp fisheries

Welfare Considerations

Bycatch animals die from barotrauma, suffocation, crushing in nets, and drowning. Non-target fish experience the same suffering as target fish. Sharks drown when trapped in nets without ability to swim. Sea turtles become entangled in longlines and drown. The scale of bycatch mortality rivals or exceeds the total death toll of target fishing. Most bycatch suffering is preventable with available technology.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by MSC or similar standards with bycatch reduction requirements
Advocate for mandatory bycatch reduction technology requirements in all fisheries
Support TEDs and circle hook requirements in shrimp and longline fisheries
Reduce seafood consumption to decrease demand for high-bycatch fishing methods
Donate to Oceana bycatch reduction campaigns