Marine & Aquatic

Marine Mammal Bycatch in Trawl Fisheries

Trawl fisheries accidentally catch and kill tens of thousands of marine mammals annually, representing a major welfare and conservation crisis.

Key Facts

Over 300,000 cetaceans are killed as bycatch globally each year
Common dolphins are among the most frequently bycaught species in European waters
Acoustic deterrents (pingers) reduce cetacean bycatch by up to 90% in some fisheries
Observer coverage rates in most fisheries are too low to accurately estimate bycatch
Entanglement causes drowning, a prolonged and distressing death

Welfare Considerations

Drowning in fishing nets causes extreme suffering - marine mammals are air-breathing and experience hypoxic distress before dying. Animals that escape nets may suffer severe injuries from rope entanglement. Reducing bycatch through gear modification, area closures, and acoustic deterrents prevents mass welfare harms that are largely invisible to consumers.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by MSC or similar standards that assess bycatch