Pelicans are large waterbirds that face persecution by fishermen who view them as competitors. Entanglement in fishing gear and deliberate harm cause significant welfare harms to these protected species.
Pelican welfare harms from fishing gear entanglement and deliberate persecution are preventable and ongoing. Monofilament fishing line wraps around wings, bills, feet, and bodies, causing progressive constriction injuries that amputate limbs, prevent feeding, and cause drowning when birds cannot surface. Hook ingestion causes internal injuries requiring surgery. Birds that survive entanglement without rescue suffer prolonged pain and starvation. Deliberate harm by fishermen — illegal in most jurisdictions — causes acute trauma and is driven by misperceptions about competition for fish. Education programs demonstrating that pelicans and recreational fishermen target different fish sizes and species at different times reduce conflict-motivated harm. Monofilament recycling bins at fishing access points provide responsible disposal options that reduce accidental entanglement.