Marine Animals

Commercial Fishing Bycatch Mortality Scale

Commercial fishing kills approximately 40 percent of all marine life caught as non-target bycatch, representing one of the largest sources of human-caused animal mortality.

Key Facts

Global commercial fishing bycatch may exceed 40 million metric tonnes annually
Sea turtles dolphins seabirds and sharks are among the most affected non-target species
Circle hooks turtle excluder devices and acoustic pingers can dramatically reduce specific bycatch
Some shrimp trawl fisheries discard more than 10 pounds of bycatch for every pound of shrimp

Welfare Considerations

The scale of bycatch mortality dwarfs many other animal welfare issues. Fish and marine mammals caught as bycatch die from suffocation, crushing, barotrauma, and drowning. Many are injured and discarded still alive but fatally wounded. The suffering involved is extensive and largely invisible to consumers. Technological solutions exist but require regulatory mandates to achieve widespread adoption.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by programs with strict bycatch reduction requirements
Support fisheries regulation requiring turtle excluder devices and other bycatch reduction technology
Reduce seafood consumption to decrease total fishing pressure
Advocate for observer programs that accurately monitor bycatch rates in commercial fisheries