Commercial Fishing Gear Welfare Impacts

Different commercial fishing gear types have dramatically different welfare profiles for both target species and unintended bycatch.

Key Facts

Longline fishing causes significant bycatch of seabirds, sea turtles, and sharks on hooks intended for target fish
Trawling disturbs seafloor ecosystems and catches diverse bycatch species at variable welfare costs
Pot and trap fishing has lower bycatch rates but raises welfare questions about confinement time for crustaceans
Spearfishing and hook-and-line trolling have the lowest bycatch rates and most selective welfare profiles
Gear modification including circle hooks and turtle excluder devices significantly reduces bycatch welfare harm

Welfare Considerations

Commercial fishing gear selection determines the welfare profile of an entire fishery. Indiscriminate gear types including certain longlines and trawls catch enormous numbers of non-target animals — seabirds, turtles, sharks, dolphins — at significant welfare cost. Selective gear types including pole-and-line and troll catching minimize non-target mortality and provide the best welfare profile for captured fish through quicker individual kills. Consumers who understand gear type differences and prefer seafood from selective fisheries create market incentives for welfare-conscious fishing practices across the industry.

What You Can Do

Look for gear type information on seafood labels and prefer products from selective methods like pole-and-line
Choose seafood certified by programs that require bycatch mitigation and gear selectivity standards
Support fisheries management reforms that incentivize transition to lower-bycatch gear types
Learn about fishing gear welfare impacts to communicate the issue to seafood consumers and retailers