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                      Bycatch & Entanglement of Cetaceans in Fishing Gear

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Bycatch is the incidental capture of non-target species in fishing gear. It is a global problem affecting fish, seabirds, turtles, rays and sharks as well as whales, dolphins and porpoises, collectively known as cetaceans. More than 300,000 cetaceans are estimated to die as bycatch every year and it is considered their single biggest threat.

Some animals, particularly larger whales, may break free but remain entangled in fishing gear. These animals must then tow the heavy gear which may include nets, lines and pots. This can impede swimming and surfacing, prevent effective feeding and cut slowly into the skin, leading to drowning, starvation, disease or even amputation of fins and tails.

Bycatch and entanglement are therefore a major concern in terms of both species conservation and animal welfare.

IWC work programmes are in place to address these issues. These are the Bycatch Mitigation Initiative and the Global Whale Entanglement Response Network.
 
The overall aim of both programmes is to prevent bycatch and entanglement happening at all. A variety of projects are working to gather data and samples from entanglements, assess the effectiveness of new fishing technologies and regulatory schemes, share successes and lessons learned on an international scale, and support pilot projects, gear testing and implementation of new approaches. This complex work is multilateral, multi-disciplinary and ongoing.

Recognising both the extent of the problem in today’s oceans and the danger involved in attempting to disentangle a whale, the IWC has also been working to build an international network of responders. Responders have been trained to manage the many hazards involved in disentangling large whales safely and effectively.  The programme has already trained responders from more than 40 countries and continues to grow.

Learn more about the Bycatch Mitigation Initiative

 

 

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Learn more about the Global Whale Entanglement Response Network

 

 

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