Cetacean Bycatch Reduction: Technology and Policy Solutions

Bycatch of dolphins, porpoises, and small whales in fishing gear represents a major welfare and conservation challenge. Acoustic deterrents, gear modifications, and regulatory changes are among the most promising solutions.

Key Facts

An estimated 300,000 cetaceans die annually as bycatch in fishing nets and lines worldwide
Common dolphins are among the most frequently bycaught species in European waters, particularly in trawl fisheries
Harbour porpoises are severely affected by gill nets in the North Sea, Baltic, and Celtic Sea
Acoustic deterrents called 'pingers' emit sounds that alert cetaceans to net presence and have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing bycatch
Pinger effectiveness depends on deployment density, maintenance, and the specific sound frequencies used for target species
Some cetaceans learn to associate pinger sounds with food, reducing their deterrent effect over time
Weak rope links in pot fisheries can allow gear to break away if entangled by a cetacean, reducing entanglement mortality
Observer programs and electronic monitoring provide essential data on bycatch levels but are expensive to implement at scale

Welfare Considerations

Cetacean bycatch entails significant suffering - animals that are air-breathing mammals drown when caught in nets, with drowning occurring over minutes. Deaths that are rapid may be relatively welfare-limited, but entanglement in fixed gear such as lobster pot lines can result in animals being dragged underwater repeatedly, unable to surface, over hours. The welfare case for bycatch reduction overlaps almost completely with the conservation case. Every technological advance in gear modification, every pinger deployment, every regulatory requirement for observer coverage represents real welfare gains for individual animals.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood from fisheries certified for low bycatch rates under credible standards
Support organizations campaigning for mandatory pinger deployment and gear modification regulations
Advocate for increased fishing observer programs and electronic monitoring requirements
Donate to research developing next-generation bycatch reduction technologies