Commercial fishing methods affect both target species and non-target bycatch. Understanding the welfare dimensions of different fishing techniques informs seafood choices and fishing policy.
Commercial fishing welfare encompasses the suffering of billions of fish caught annually and the bycatch mortality of seabirds, marine mammals, sea turtles and non-target fish species. Fish caught in large nets may experience prolonged asphyxiation as nets are hauled, lasting hours. Pressure changes as fish are brought from depth cause barotrauma including ruptured swim bladders. Bycatch animals die entangled, drowned or crushed in indiscriminate gear. The welfare-positive end of the commercial fishing spectrum includes pole and line fishing for tuna, trap fishing for crustaceans with appropriate escape mechanisms and selective gear fishing with high target-species specificity and low bycatch. Consumer seafood choices based on fishing method and bycatch rates can drive market demand toward more welfare-positive methods.