Minke whales are the most commonly bycaught large whale globally. Entanglement in fishing gear causes severe suffering and is a priority welfare and conservation concern.
Drowning is a profoundly painful death for air-breathing marine mammals. Entangled minke whales experience oxygen deprivation, extreme physical exertion, panic and exhaustion before dying. Unlike fish bycatch where death may be rapid, cetacean bycatch can extend suffering over many minutes. The IWC Bycatch Mitigation Initiative works to develop and implement solutions. Consumer choices and policy pressure on fishing nations to adopt bycatch reduction technology are among the most impactful actions available to individuals.