Marine mammals including dolphins, whales, seals, and sea lions are killed in fishing gear at rates that threaten some populations and cause significant individual suffering.
Marine mammal entanglement causes some of the most prolonged and severe suffering documented in wildlife. Whales that become entangled in lobster or crab trap lines may drag heavy gear for months, with ropes cutting through blubber and muscle. Animals caught in nets experience panic, exhaustion, and drowning. Solutions exist including ropeless fishing technology, modified gear, and area closures during vulnerable periods, but implementation requires policy support.