Marine Wildlife

Wild Spotted Dolphin Tuna Bycatch

Eastern Pacific yellowfin tuna associate with spotted dolphins, and the purse seine fishery that sets nets on dolphin schools causes dolphin mortality.

Key Facts

Millions of dolphins were killed by tuna fishing before conservation measures
The 1990 Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act created the dolphin-safe label
Current dolphin-safe tuna uses fish-aggregating devices that have other bycatch problems
Spinner and spotted dolphins are most commonly associated with tuna schools

Welfare Considerations

Dolphins encircled by purse seine nets experience extreme panic, physical injury from netting, and drowning. Calves are separated from mothers during net sets with high calf mortality. Even when dolphins are successfully released, the extreme stress of encirclement causes physiological harm. The shift from setting on dolphin schools to FAD fishing reduced dolphin mortality but increased juvenile tuna and sea turtle bycatch.

What You Can Do

Choose tuna certified through methods not involving dolphin or sea turtle bycatch
Support improved labeling that reflects full bycatch impacts
Reduce tuna consumption given ongoing bycatch challenges
Advocate for fishing method certification that addresses all marine life impacts