Whales and dolphins under pressure in European waters as tens of thousands die each year in fishing nets

LONDON: Tens of thousands of dolphins, porpoises and whales (collectively known as cetaceans) are dying every year in European waters as a result of being bycaught in fishing gear – and some populations are coming perilously close to extinction.

A new report by the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) reveals that the degree of bycatch is so serious that there are cetacean populations where fisheries bycatch thresholds have been exceeded in European waters, including five that are critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable..

In Catch of the Day – The deadly impacts of cetacean bycatch in European waters, EIA identifies the 15 populations of cetaceans known to be impacted by bycatch, including eight of 13 populations of harbour porpoises. .

Harbour porpoises are especially hard-hit, with more than 35,000 trapped each year, many of them in static underwater nets. Common dolphins also suffer greatly,   with the bycatch level for this population exceeding the limit by six times in 2020.

EIA Senior Ocean Campaigner Sarah Dolman said: “Bycatch of whales, dolphins and porpoises has been impacting populations and causing suffering for decades in European waters, despite strong existing laws to prevent it.

“To prevent the potential extinction of some sub-populations, such as harbour porpoises in the Baltic Proper, Belt Sea and the Iberian Peninsula, immediate, urgent and effective law enforcement is necessary.”

The European Commission has begun taking action against eight EU member states (Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden) for failing to monitor and prevent the bycatch of cetaceans and other protected marine species, but the measures implemented by national governments are insufficient to effectively reduce it anywhere in Europe.

Gillnets (anchored static nets hanging in the water) and driftnets (which hang in the water but are not anchored on the seabed) are among the biggest culprits and are globally recognised as having the greatest impacts on the widest range of toothed cetaceans and other protected species, including seabirds and turtles, throughout European waters.

The EU Fleet Register identifies 28,388 vessels using static gears in European waters, including gillnets and other entangling nets.

“Previous examples, such as the vaquita porpoise and maui dolphin – two of the most endangered cetaceans in the world for whom bycatch has driven their declines – have shown that early action is key,” added Dolman.

“Fishing with harmful gear, particularly static nets, should be a priority for action. European governments need to put robust fleet-wide measures in place to end cetacean bycatch, including for the most vulnerable cetacean populations facing extinction.”

Catch of the Day makes several key recommendations to European governments, including:

• the European Commission should continue current infringement procedures and pursue new infringement actions against other member states which are not fully implementing the Habitats Directive to prevent cetacean bycatch
• given the high levels of porpoise bycatch in Irish, Celtic and Norwegian waters, the relevant governments should implement strict measures to continually reduce bycatch
• governments should implement longer-term strategies that consider structural changes to the relevant fishing fleets to minimise cetacean bycatch, including a transition from gillnets to alternative fishing gears with lower impacts
• the implementation of effective bycatch management plans across Europe.

CONTACTS FOR MEDIA

• Sarah Dolman, EIA UK Senior Ocean Campaigner, via sarahdolman[at]eia-international.org
• Paul Newman, EIA UK Senior Press & Communications Officer, via press[at]eia-international.org

EDITORS’ NOTES

1. EIA investigates and campaigns against environmental crime and abuse. Its undercover investigations expose transnational wildlife crime, with a focus on elephants, pangolins and tigers and forest crimes such as illegal logging and deforestation for cash crops such as palm oil. It works to safeguard global marine ecosystems by addressing the threats posed by plastic pollution, bycatch and commercial exploitation of whales, dolphins and porpoises. Finally, it works to avert climate catastrophe by strengthening and enforcing regional and international agreements that tackle short-lived climate super-pollutants, including ozone-depleting substances, hydrofluorocarbons and methane, and advocating corporate and policy measures to promote transition to a sustainable cooling sector and away from fossil fuels. It uses its findings in hard-hitting reports to campaign for new legislation, improved governance and more effective enforcement. Its field experience is used to provide guidance to enforcement agencies and it forms partnerships with local groups and activists and support their work through hands-on training.
2. Read and download the full version of Catch of the Day at https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/2025-EIA-UK-Catch-of-the-Day-SPREAD.pdf
3. Read and download the condensed version of Catch of the Day at https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/2025-EIA-UK-Catch-of-the-Day-SHORT-SPREADS.pdf

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Tel: +44 (0) 20 7354 7960

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