Wildlife

Welfare of Commercial Fishing Bycatch

Bycatch — non-target species caught and discarded in fishing operations — kills billions of marine animals annually with significant welfare implications.

Key Facts

Global bycatch is estimated at 40% of total marine catch — about 38 million tonnes annually
Sea turtles, seabirds, sharks, and marine mammals are all major bycatch victims
TEDs (Turtle Excluder Devices) reduce sea turtle bycatch by over 95%
Acoustic pingers reduce dolphin bycatch in gillnet fisheries significantly
Circle hooks reduce sea turtle longline bycatch substantially compared to J-hooks

Welfare Considerations

Bycatch welfare harm operates at enormous scale — billions of animals discarded, most dead or dying, from fishing operations targeting different species. Proven technical solutions exist for most major bycatch problems; the barrier is adoption and enforcement rather than feasibility.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood from fisheries with documented low bycatch rates
Advocate for mandatory TED use in all trawl fisheries
Support circle hook requirements in longline fisheries to protect sea turtles
Donate to organizations working on bycatch reduction technology and policy