Bottlenose Dolphin Welfare: Bycatch in UK and European Trawl Fisheries

Bottlenose dolphins and other cetaceans are killed as bycatch in European trawl fisheries in large numbers, with ASCOBANS estimates indicating tens of thousands of cetacean deaths annually in European waters.

Key Facts

ASCOBANS estimates that over 10,000 common and bottlenose dolphins die as bycatch in European fisheries annually
Pair trawling for sea bass in the Bay of Biscay is particularly associated with high cetacean bycatch rates
Porpoise acoustic deterrents (pingers) reduce porpoise bycatch but are less effective for dolphins
EU regulations require pinger use on gill nets in some fisheries but compliance and effectiveness vary

Welfare Considerations

Dolphins that become entangled in trawls or static nets experience progressive exhaustion, drowning, and physical injury from restraint against the net. The duration of suffering depends on where the dolphin is in the net — those near the surface may survive for extended periods before drowning. Post-mortem examination of bycaught dolphins reveals traumatic injuries consistent with violent struggle during entrapment. Cetaceans that escape entanglement with injuries face impaired feeding ability and social exclusion from pods. The scale of cetacean bycatch in European waters represents a major but largely hidden welfare crisis.

What You Can Do

Support WDC (Whale and Dolphin Conservation) campaigns for dolphin-safe fishery certification in Europe
Advocate for mandatory fishery observer programmes and bycatch reporting in European waters
Choose seafood from fisheries certified as low bycatch by Marine Stewardship Council and equivalent schemes
Raise awareness that European fisheries cause tens of thousands of dolphin deaths annually — an underreported welfare crisis