Marine Animal Welfare

Cetacean Bycatch and Entanglement Prevention

Dolphins, porpoises, and whales are caught accidentally in fishing gear, causing suffering and death. Technical solutions are reducing but not eliminating the problem.

Key Facts

An estimated 300,000 cetaceans die in fishing gear annually worldwide
Gillnets, longlines, and trawls are the primary entanglement risks for cetaceans
Pingers - acoustic deterrent devices - reduce porpoise bycatch by up to 90% in trials
Harbor porpoise bycatch in EU fisheries remains above sustainable levels
Observer coverage of fishing vessels to monitor bycatch remains below 5% in most fisheries

Welfare Considerations

Bycatch death is rarely instant - entangled cetaceans may struggle for hours before drowning. The suffering involved is significant and largely invisible to consumers and policymakers. Effective technical solutions exist but adoption is slow without regulatory mandates and enforcement.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by Marine Stewardship Council with bycatch standards
Support mandatory pinger use regulations in gillnet fisheries near cetacean habitats
Advocate for increased at-sea observer coverage of commercial fishing vessels
Donate to organizations developing and deploying whale disentanglement teams