Marine Mammal Bycatch and Welfare in Fisheries

Bycatch of marine mammals in commercial fishing gear causes suffering and death for thousands of dolphins, whales, and seals annually. Solutions exist but require industry and regulatory commitment.

Key Facts

An estimated 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises die as bycatch annually worldwide
Gillnets are particularly deadly for air-breathing marine mammals that drown when entangled
Acoustic deterrents called pingers can reduce small cetacean bycatch by up to 90%
Some fisheries have achieved near-zero marine mammal bycatch through gear modifications
The vaquita porpoise faces extinction primarily due to gillnet bycatch

Welfare Considerations

Marine mammal bycatch causes prolonged suffering before death. Entangled animals may struggle for extended periods unable to surface for air, drowning in their attempts to escape gear. Those that survive entanglement often carry life-altering injuries including amputated flippers, deep lacerations, and embedded fishing line. The scale of this mortality and suffering represents one of the most significant wildlife welfare crises from commercial fishing. Technological solutions exist but require regulatory mandates and fishing industry adoption.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by programs that monitor and minimize marine mammal bycatch
Support legislation requiring pinger use and bycatch monitoring in gillnet fisheries
Donate to organizations working on marine mammal rescue and bycatch mitigation
Advocate for stronger international agreements on marine mammal protection in fisheries