The accidental death of dolphins and porpoises in fishing nets (by-catch) is a real concern.
In 2008 it was estimated that 600 porpoises and 300 dolphins die every year in set net fisheries waters off the UK’s south-west coast. The proportion of stranded cetaceans that were by-caught has remained consistently high over the last 16 years and, despite a fall in 2008, shows no sign of a sustained decline.
The UK government and those of other member states that fish in waters off the UK coast must take action to enforce legislation and be proactive in supporting research into alternative fishing technology and by-catch mitigation methods.
For more information, read the 'cetacean by-catch' animal welfare indicator.
Number of stranded cetaceans examined and deaths caused by by-catch
