Wildlife Welfare

Marine Mammal Bycatch Mitigation

Hundreds of thousands of marine mammals including dolphins, porpoises, and seals die in fishing gear each year. Bycatch mitigation technology and fishing practice reforms offer substantial welfare improvements.

Key Facts

The vaquita porpoise is critically endangered primarily from gillnet bycatch
Acoustic pingers attached to nets reduce porpoise and small cetacean bycatch significantly
Circle hooks rather than J-hooks reduce sea turtle and marine mammal entanglement
Observer programs catch only a fraction of bycatch events on commercial vessels
The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires bycatch reduction plans for US fisheries

Welfare Considerations

Marine mammals entangled in fishing gear drown or suffer severe injuries from line cuts. Drowning is particularly distressing for air-breathing mammals. Even animals that escape entanglement may die from wounds or exhaustion. Acoustic deterrents, modified gear, and modified fishing practices have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing bycatch. Stronger observer coverage and enforcement are needed.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood from fisheries with documented low marine mammal bycatch rates
Support MSC-certified fisheries that meet bycatch reduction standards
Advocate for acoustic pinger requirements and observer coverage on gillnet fisheries
Donate to organizations developing and deploying bycatch mitigation technology