Shark Bycatch Welfare: Longline and Trawl Fisheries

Sharks are caught in enormous numbers as bycatch in global fisheries. Understanding the welfare impacts of capture and handling helps drive more humane fisheries management.

Key Facts

An estimated 100 million sharks are killed annually in global fisheries, the majority as bycatch
Longline fisheries targeting tuna and swordfish are among the largest sources of shark bycatch
Sharks may remain alive on longlines for up to 24 hours before the gear is hauled
Oceanic whitetip and blue sharks are among the most commonly caught bycatch species
Circle hooks significantly reduce shark and turtle bycatch compared to J-hooks on longlines
Shark finning - removing fins and discarding the live body at sea - is banned in many but not all jurisdictions
Deepwater shark species have particularly low reproductive rates, making bycatch mortality highly damaging at population level

Welfare Considerations

Shark bycatch causes acute and prolonged welfare harm. Animals caught on longlines experience hook wounds, exhaustion from fighting the gear, and physiological stress from lactic acid buildup over hours of captivity. Species with obligate ram ventilation (requiring forward movement to breathe) suffocate when restrained on longlines. Sharks brought aboard trawlers experience air exposure, crushing from net pressure, and handling stress. Even when released, many bycatch sharks die from capture stress.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood from fisheries certified to have low shark bycatch rates
Support circle hook mandates in longline fisheries through fisheries management consultation responses
Advocate for fins-naturally-attached regulations to end shark finning in all jurisdictions
Donate to the Shark Trust and similar organisations working on bycatch reduction policy