Dolphin bycatch in fisheries causes significant individual suffering and threatens population viability of multiple species.
Dolphin bycatch welfare impacts are severe — drowning in fishing gear causes extreme distress and a frightening death for highly intelligent, socially complex animals. The ongoing vaquita crisis represents the most extreme bycatch welfare-conservation intersection, with the species facing extinction within years. For common and striped dolphins, population-level sustainability is uncertain in heavily fished areas. Effective bycatch reduction requires mandatory observer coverage, gear modifications, seasonal closures in critical areas, and credible enforcement mechanisms. Consumer pressure through sustainable seafood certification creates market incentives for fishing practices that minimize cetacean bycatch.