Gillnet fishing for salmon results in significant bycatch of non-target species that suffer and die - bycatch reduction is both a conservation and animal welfare priority.
Gillnet bycatch represents suffering on a large scale across many species simultaneously. A dolphin or seal entangled in a gillnet and drowning experiences acute, prolonged distress. Seabirds dragged below the surface by net entanglement die slowly. Even non-target fish species caught incidentally face the same physiological stress and death as target fish, but without any management consideration or monitoring. The welfare case for bycatch reduction is compelling: reducing the number of animals killed unnecessarily and improving the conditions of those that are caught are both achievable through selective fishing methods, time-area closures, and bycatch reduction devices that are already available.