Dolphin Bycatch Welfare in Fisheries

Common dolphins and porpoises are caught in large numbers as bycatch in French and UK pelagic trawl fisheries in the Bay of Biscay and Celtic Sea. Thousands die each winter as a direct welfare and conservation concern.

Key Facts

An estimated 10,000 common dolphins die as bycatch in the Bay of Biscay each winter
Post-mortem evidence shows many animals died through asphyxiation and entanglement trauma
Acoustic deterrents called pingers have been shown to reduce cetacean bycatch by up to 90%
The EU and UK have both faced pressure to close fisheries or mandate mitigation in high-bycatch seasons

Welfare Considerations

Dolphins entangled in nets experience progressive asphyxiation as they cannot surface to breathe. Death takes from minutes to over an hour depending on entanglement depth and configuration. Surviving entangled animals suffer lacerations, broken teeth, and severe stress. Mothers and calves may be separated during net events. The high number of dolphins stranded on French and southwest English beaches each winter with propeller and net injuries demonstrates the ongoing welfare impact of this fishery.

What You Can Do

Support the Dolphin Support Trust and other organisations campaigning for mandatory pinger use
Advocate for the closure of high-bycatch fisheries during peak dolphin aggregation periods
Report stranded dolphins to the BDMLR and provide information on physical condition
Choose seafood from fisheries with documented cetacean bycatch mitigation requirements