Why now is the time for government action on dolphin deaths in fishing nets

Thousands of dolphins, porpoises, whales, seabirds, seals and other protected species die in fishing gear in UK waters each year. This is known as ‘bycatch’ and inadequate government action has meant that it’s continued largely unabated for decades. After our exit from the European Union, the UK implemented the Fisheries Act 2020. Contained within this…

As new government fishing policies are put together, now is your chance to tell ministers that they must stop dolphins dying in fishing nets around the UK.  It’s easy to have your say – just follow the link to our action page where you can send our ready-made email and/or a prepared tweet. Tell ministers…

Every week in UK waters about 30 porpoises, dolphins, whales and seals die in our fishing nets. Unable to get free, they will often struggle before suffocating. A large whale might pick up fishing gear and carry it, cutting into their skin and blubber, painfully slowing them down and preventing them from feeding. It was…

Whale and dolphin entanglement in fishing gear (or bycatch) is a massive issue all around the UK killing more than 1,000 individuals every year. But in Scotland we have a particular problem with whales getting tangled up in the ropes used to join and haul up the baskets (known as ‘creels’) that are set on…