Marine & Wildlife

Wild Minke Whale Bycatch and Welfare

Minke whales are caught as bycatch in fishing nets across the North Atlantic, causing drowning deaths that represent a significant cetacean welfare issue.

Key Facts

Minke whales are the most common baleen whale species in UK and North Atlantic waters
Entanglement in creel ropes and static fishing gear causes drowning over 10-20 minutes
Disentanglement networks including BDMLR respond to live entangled whales when possible
Norway and Iceland continue deliberate commercial whaling of minke whales
Acoustic pingers and alternative gear reduce entanglement risk in some fisheries

Welfare Considerations

Minke whale bycatch drowning causes prolonged, highly distressing death. Gear modification and pinger use reduce entanglement risk while deliberate whaling remains a direct welfare crisis.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns against commercial whaling at International Whaling Commission meetings
Choose seafood from fisheries with low cetacean bycatch certification
Support BDMLR disentanglement training and response capability in UK waters