Wild Salmon Bycatch and Welfare Solutions

Millions of non-target fish including wild salmon are caught and killed incidentally in commercial fisheries each year. Improved gear and practices can dramatically reduce this welfare and conservation problem.

Key Facts

Global bycatch estimates exceed 10 million tons of non-target fish annually
Salmon bycatch occurs in high-seas trawl and longline fisheries targeting other species
Many bycatch animals suffer prolonged stress before dying in nets or being discarded
Selective fishing gear such as modified trawl designs can reduce bycatch by 50-80%
Observer programs that monitor bycatch are critical but underfunded in many regions
Some fisheries have achieved near-zero salmon bycatch through real-time closures

Welfare Considerations

Bycatch represents a massive welfare problem because caught fish experience significant stress and often die slowly. For wild salmon specifically, bycatch depletes populations that are already under pressure from climate change and habitat loss. The welfare dimension is often overlooked in debates that focus primarily on conservation outcomes. Fish experience pain and physiological stress comparable to other vertebrates, making rapid and humane handling or avoidance crucial.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by MSC or equivalent programs with bycatch limits
Support funding for fisheries observer programs that track bycatch
Advocate for adoption of selective gear requirements in your country's fisheries policy
Reduce overall seafood consumption to decrease fishing pressure
Support aquaculture alternatives where welfare and environmental standards are high
Learn about real-time fishery closure systems and their effectiveness