Dolphin bycatch in Europe: Bay of Biscay crisis and ways forward

The incidental capture of protected marine species in fishing gear - bycatch - is considered the greatest threat to the welfare and conservation of cetaceans and other marine mammals globally.

Marine mammal bycatch around the world is so widespread, longstanding and often intrinsic to certain fisheries that it has come to be seen in some cases as an intractable problem. However, IFAW believes that humans and animals can thrive together and aims to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, the number of sensitive species caught in fishing gear by increasing awareness and promoting measures to end bycatch. IFAW also advocates for stronger legislation and strategies to ensure bycatch reduction can be achieved in fisheries around the world.

In the European Union (EU), all cetaceans are strictly protected under the Habitats Directive. Despite this, cetacean bycatch has been a major conservation and welfare concern throughout European waters for decades. Here, we present a roadmap for a step-by- step journey towards addressing one of the worst marine animal welfare and conservation cases in Europe.