Skip to content
All news
  • All news
  • About whales & dolphins
  • Corporates
  • Create healthy seas
  • End captivity
  • Green Whale
  • Prevent deaths in nets
  • Scottish Dolphin Centre
  • Stop whaling
  • Stranding
  • Whale watching
Japanese whaling ship

Infamous whale slaughter ship docks for the final time

The whaling ship, Nisshin Maru has returned to the port of Shimonoseki for the final...
Sperm whale

Dominica announces new protections for sperm whales

Dominica has placed almost 800 square kilometers of sea off the west coast of the...
Porpoise dies after becoming entangled in fishing net

UK government rejects chance to protect whales and dolphins

The government has formally rejected almost all of the crucial recommendations made in a House...
Common dolphins © Christopher Swann

Ocean areas selected for conservation are now in danger says task force

The international task force celebrating 10 years of work mapping out Important Marine Mammal Areas...

Tesco joins new initiative to help protect whales and dolphins

Haul of sea bass on French pair trawlers, Le Baron and Magellan, fishing in the English channel. Greenpeace is currently in the English channel protesting against pelagic pair trawling due to the high numbers of dolphin deaths associated with it.

Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer has joined WDC, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in our joint initiative to ensure supermarkets and food brands only sell fish and shellfish that comes from those sources that use best practices in protecting vulnerable marine wildlife.

As part of this work with Tesco, an audit of their seafood suppliers was carried out to assess the risk posed to whales and dolphins, sharks rays, seabirds, and other marine mammals and sea turtles from capture in commercial fisheries - an issue that is commonly referred to as ‘bycatch.’

Bycatch (incidental capture in nets) is the biggest direct killer of dolphins around the globe and a huge issue in UK waters, yet many consumers are unaware of the problem.

The audit identified some high potential bycatch risks in Tesco’s source fisheries, including:

  • Alaskan salmon set/drift gillnet fisheries pose a significant risk to seabirds.
  • Argentine shrimp and Indonesian prawn fisheries pose a significant risk to sea turtles.
  • Icelandic cod gillnet fisheries pose a significant risk to seabirds and marine mammals.
  • Canadian lobster pot and trap fisheries pose a risk to marine mammals.

Anna Turrell, head of environment at Tesco, said, ‘reducing fisheries bycatch is a vital element of our ‘seascape’ or ecosystem-based approach to promote healthy fish stocks and mitigate the impacts of fishing on the wider marine environment. This report is an important step on that journey, and we’re already working with our suppliers to take action on the issues raised, including implementing 100 percent observer coverage on vessels in our supply chain.’

Donate today to help prevent more deaths in nets. 

Related News

We're at COP28 to Save the Whale, Save the World.

We’re at COP28 to save the whale, save the world

Ed Goodall Ed is WDC's head of intergovernmental engagement. He meets with world leaders to increase protection and reduce harm to whales and dolphins, for...
Gray whales from drone.

We’re taking steps to uncover the mysteries of whales

Vicki James Vicki is WDC's protected areas coordinator, she helps to create safe ocean spaces for whales and dolphins to swim freely. Vicki also leads...
Japanese whaling ship

Infamous whale slaughter ship docks for the final time

The whaling ship, Nisshin Maru has returned to the port of Shimonoseki for the final time after more than 30 years servicing the cruel whale...
Sperm whale

Dominica announces new protections for sperm whales

Dominica has placed almost 800 square kilometers of sea off the west coast of the country under protection specifically for sperm whales. This will be...

Leave a Comment