Harbour Porpoise Bycatch: Acoustic Deterrents and Welfare Solutions

Harbour porpoise drowning in fishing gear is a leading cause of cetacean mortality in the North Sea and North Atlantic, with acoustic deterrents offering proven welfare solutions at scale.

Key Facts

Harbour porpoises are the most frequently bycaught cetacean in the North Atlantic and North Sea
An estimated 5,000-10,000 porpoises die annually in European fisheries alone
Pingers — acoustic deterrents emitting ultrasonic signals — reduce porpoise bycatch by 70-90% in gill net fisheries
EU regulations require pingers on gill nets in porpoise conservation areas, but compliance is inconsistently monitored
Porpoises that survive entanglement events suffer significant trauma including lacerations, rib fractures, and respiratory compromise

Welfare Considerations

Harbour porpoise bycatch welfare is both acute — drowning is an extremely distressing death — and preventable at known cost. Pingers provide highly effective protection and their economic impact on catches is minimal. The welfare gap is primarily regulatory — where pingers are required and monitored, bycatch is dramatically reduced; where compliance is poor, mass mortality continues. Consumer demand for porpoise-safe certified seafood and regulatory enforcement investment are the primary welfare levers available outside the fishing industry.

What You Can Do

Support MSC-certified gill net fisheries that demonstrate pinger compliance and bycatch monitoring
Advocate for independent monitoring of pinger compliance requirements in all EU gill net fisheries
Donate to cetacean bycatch research programmes developing improved acoustic deterrent technology