Grey seals suffer serious welfare impacts from entanglement in discarded fishing gear, with rescue and rehabilitation providing individual welfare benefit and data on the scale of the problem.
Marine entanglement causes acute and chronic suffering. Fishing line or net cutting into seal flesh causes deep lacerations that become infected. Seals unable to dive effectively face starvation. Entangled pups separated from mothers face abandonment. Rescue of entangled seals requires trained responders and specialist equipment. Debris removal from beaches and coastal waters is a direct welfare intervention. Industry adoption of biodegradable fishing gear is a systemic solution.