Marine Life

Shrimp Trawl Bycatch Mortality

Bottom trawling for shrimp is one of the most indiscriminate fishing methods, with bycatch ratios often exceeding 10:1, killing vast numbers of fish, crustaceans, and sea turtles for every kilogram of target shrimp.

Key Facts

Shrimp trawl bycatch can reach 10-20 kg of non-target species per kg of shrimp
Juvenile fish caught as bycatch die before reaching reproductive age, harming populations
Sea turtles are a protected bycatch species in shrimp trawl fisheries globally
Bycatch reduction devices can reduce non-target catch by 30-60% with minimal shrimp loss
FAO estimates shrimp trawling produces more bycatch by weight than any other fishery

Welfare Considerations

Bycatch mortality in shrimp trawling involves millions of individual animals crushed, suffocated, or injured in nets daily. Small fish, crabs, starfish, and juvenile specimens die before reaching maturity — their deaths cause acute suffering through oxygen deprivation and physical trauma. The scale of this suffering across global shrimp trawl fleets is enormous, yet consumer-driven certification pressure has demonstrated that change is possible.

What You Can Do

Choose MSC-certified or trap-caught shrimp products
Ask restaurants and retailers about their shrimp sourcing
Support campaigns for mandatory bycatch reduction devices on shrimp trawlers
Advocate for transition to more selective fishing methods
Donate to bycatch reduction research and certification programs