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…

Thank you to everyone who’s got involved with our campaign to stop dolphins, porpoises and whales dying in fishing gear in UK seas to put fish and shellfish on our plates. We’ve loved seeing all your support on social media and appreciated every single person who took action by emailing the fisheries minister or contacting…

Ali and Lucy Tabrizi’s Netflix film Seaspiracy is compelling viewing for anyone who cares for the ocean.  The film covers many of the issues WDC cares most deeply about – the fight to stop whaling, the crisis of plastic and chemical pollution and, most of all, the appalling damage being wrought by widespread, poorly managed…