Marine Mammal Bycatch and Entanglement Welfare

The welfare crisis of marine mammals caught in fishing gear and how fishing industry reform can reduce suffering.

Key Facts

An estimated 300,000 cetaceans die each year as bycatch in fishing nets and lines globally
Entanglement in fishing gear causes drowning, physical trauma, and exhaustion before death
Ghost gear — lost or abandoned fishing equipment — continues to catch and kill marine mammals for years
Acoustic deterrents and weak links in fishing gear reduce cetacean bycatch without major economic impact
Highly endangered populations including the vaquita porpoise face extinction due to fishing entanglement
Observer programs and improved gear technology are the most effective mitigation strategies

Welfare Considerations

Marine mammal entanglement represents one of the largest sources of preventable suffering for intelligent, sentient species. Dolphins, whales, seals, and sea lions caught in fishing gear experience panic, physical injury, and prolonged death by drowning. The welfare implications are severe given the high cognitive and emotional complexity of these animals. Solutions exist — modified gear, acoustic deterrents, protected areas, observer programs — but require regulatory will and industry commitment to implement at the scale needed to protect wild populations.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by programs with verified bycatch reduction requirements
Support Marine Stewardship Council certification reform to require stronger bycatch standards
Advocate for mandatory observer programs on all commercial fishing vessels
Donate to organizations working on ghost gear retrieval and marine mammal rescue