Aquatic Animals

Wild Fish Harvest Bycatch Welfare

Bycatch in commercial fisheries kills billions of non-target fish, mammals, turtles, and seabirds with minimal welfare consideration.

Key Facts

Global bycatch kills an estimated 40% of all marine life caught by fisheries
Bycatch species include juvenile fish, sea turtles, dolphins, and seabirds
Bycatch reduction devices reduce turtle and dolphin bycatch by 80-90%
Some bycatch species are discarded dead or dying after prolonged time in nets
Selective fishing gear reduces bycatch of non-target species significantly

Welfare Considerations

Bycatch represents enormous welfare costs to billions of animals that experience net entanglement, air exposure, crushing, and death without being the intended target of fishing. Bycatch reduction devices and selective gear provide proven solutions. Consumer preference for bycatch-certified seafood can drive adoption of welfare-protective fishing methods.

What You Can Do

Choose MSC certified seafood with bycatch reduction requirements
Ask retailers about bycatch standards for their seafood
Advocate for mandatory bycatch reduction device requirements
Support research on selective fishing gear
Donate to ocean conservation organizations working on bycatch reduction