Catch of the Day

The deadly impacts of cetacean bycatch in European waters

For decades, cetacean entanglement and mortality in commercial and recreational fishing gear has been a major conservation challenge and welfare concern.

EIA has identified 15 populations of cetaceans (the collective term for whales, dolphins and porpoises) that are threatened due to bycatch in European waters – especially among harbour porpoises, with an estimated 35,000 deaths each year, mainly in static fishing nets. The level of bycatch in European waters is so serious that several populations of cetaceans are endangered and face potential extinction despite binding legal requirements to adequately protect them.

EIA is calling for the implementation of robust bycatch measures, the enforcement of existing legislation and to address the plight of harbour porpoises as a priority.