Goodbye Bycatch – what you need to know

WDC launches #NotInOurNets, empowering people to press ministers to commit to goals and deadlines for ending dolphin deaths in nets in UK seas.

WDC holds three sessions to present results of Scottish Entanglement Alliance project to the Scottish Parliament All-Party Group on Animal Welfare, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology and Marine Scotland Fisheries and Conservation teams.

WDC investigates sinking groundlines to prevent whale entanglements in creel ropes.

WDC investigates alternatives to gill nets in the southeast of England to prevent porpoise and dolphin bycatch.

WDC and other NGOs meet with Defra to raise our concerns about lack of bycatch action progress.

More than 10,000 of you sent a message to your fisheries minister demanding that they take action to stop dolphins, porpoises and whales dying in fishing gear in UK seas. Find out what we achieved and what's next.

We publish a briefing for parliamentarians and government agencies, together with Humane Society International and supported by 21 other welfare and conservation organisations. This sets out the government action required to stop dolphins, porpoises and whales dying in fishing gear in UK seas.

We launch a major campaign to show that the UK public expects less talk more action from government on bycatch. We need new bycatch reduction targets to be set and enforced that will protect dolphins, porpoises and whales in our seas.

The Fisheries Act is passed and the UK’s commitment to reduce and eliminate bycatch becomes law.

WDC input to development of four nation Joint Fisheries Statement. We need this to set rules for fishing industries to follow to prevent dolphin, porpoise and whale bycatch

WDC funds published research to show that a pinger (a device that emits sound to warn dolphins and porpoises about the presence of a net) can be successful in reducing porpoise deaths and does not cause them to move away from an important area.

Success! The draft Fisheries Bill is published. This is the legislation that will control fishing in the UK after Brexit.

Because of our campaigning, it includes a commitment to minimise and where possible eliminate dolphin and whale bycatch.

WDC attends and presents at the UK’s first training for fishers on how to disentangle a whale from fishing gear.

WDC submits a formal complaint to the EU against the UK and other European nations for their inaction to prevent dolphin and porpoise bycatch.

WDC leads an NGO group on production of a report which sets out how we can end bycatch in UK seas.

Following our successful campaign, WDC campaign lead, Sarah Dolman starts work with government and others to draw up a UK Bycatch Strategy.

WDC leads the response from NGOs to the government’s consultation on its UK Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy.

WDC takes part in a two day government workshop to help shape a UK Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy.

WDC presents at a Zoological Society of London event which is opened by George Eustice MP.

WDC initiates a two year Scottish Entanglement Alliance, with partners from Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation, government agencies and NGOs to find out how many whales and other species get entangled each year.

Success! Then Fisheries Minister, George Eustice, accepts our petition and promises action.

MPs pledge their support.

75,000 people sign our petition.

We launch a major campaign urging the UK government to put strong laws in place to stop dolphins, porpoises and whales dying in fishing gear in UK seas after we leave the EU.

WDC investigates the suffering inflicted on dolphins and porpoises trapped in nets.

WDCS (as we were then) publishes ‘The Net Effect?’ and ‘The Price of Fish’ reviews of bycatch in the Northeast Atlantic fisheries.

We join forces with Greenpeace to witness and highlight common dolphin deaths in nets in the English Channel.