Welfare of Animals in Traditional Fishing Net Entanglement Rescue

Entanglement rescue programs for whales, seals, and sea turtles caught in fishing gear save individual animals but involve highly stressful disentanglement procedures.

Key Facts

Entanglement in fishing gear is the leading cause of large whale mortality globally
An estimated 300,000 cetaceans die from entanglement annually, with many more injured and released
Disentanglement operations by trained responders can free entangled animals but involve prolonged vessel approach and cutting operations
Entangled animals are in acute distress from restricted movement, possible wounds, and inability to surface freely
Time-sensitive response is critical — delays increase exhaustion, injury, and drowning risk for entangled animals

Welfare Considerations

Entanglement rescue is one of the most welfare-valuable interventions available for wild marine mammals, but the rescue process itself is inherently stressful for animals already in acute distress. Trained disentanglement teams work rapidly to free animals while minimizing additional trauma from vessel approach and cutting operations. The welfare priority is speed — each additional hour of entanglement increases exhaustion, injury from struggling, and risk of drowning. Investing in trained rescue teams and rapid response networks saves individual animals while the underlying problem of ghost gear and active fishing entanglement is addressed.

What You Can Do

Report entangled marine animals immediately to local coast guard or marine mammal rescue networks
Support organizations training and equipping marine mammal disentanglement teams
Donate to ghost gear retrieval programs that remove entanglement hazards from ocean environments
Advocate for fishing gear modifications including weak links and ropeless gear that reduce entanglement risk