Review of Methods used to Reduce Risks of Cetacean Bycatch and Entanglements

CMS, UN, WWF Report 2018

Fisheries bycatch is considered to be the greatest threat to cetaceans globally. From coastal artisanal fisheries to deep - sea industrial operations, incidental capture of whales, dolphins and porpoises in a range of fishing gear has resulted in serious welfare and conservation issues for many cetacean species, sometimes to the point of regional extinction.

While there has been concern about bycatch for several decades and attempts to find solutions, progress has been limited. Through the use of case studies, this report summarises the mitigation methods that have been undertaken with the objective of reducing cetacean bycatch, and assesses their efficacy and future potential. These include methods for reducing risk of contact between cetaceans and fishing gear, such as effort reduction, fishing bans and gear modifications, together with methods for reducing harm should entanglement occur.

This review is intended to support initiatives to address cetacean bycatch, including those by CMS, its associated regional agreements, ASCOBANS and ACCOBAMS, and the IWC, by providing a summary of the current state of mitigation techniques.