Pelicans and other coastal seabirds face welfare threats from fishing line entanglement, hook ingestion, and deliberate persecution by anglers protecting their catch.
Pelicans entangled in fishing line suffer protracted welfare harm - line cuts into tissue as the bird struggles, and entangled individuals may be unable to feed for days before rescue or death. Hook ingestion causes internal injury and infection. Deliberate injury by anglers is a welfare crime that is underreported and underprosecuted. The visibility of pelicans around fishing areas makes them both highly vulnerable and highly suitable for targeted welfare interventions at fishing access points.