GITNUXREPORT 2026

Bycatch Statistics

Global bycatch is alarmingly high, causing immense marine life loss and billions in wasted revenue annually.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Global shrimp trawl bycatch economic loss $1 billion annually in revenue foregone

Statistic 2

US Northeast multispecies fishery bycatch costs $20 million in lost revenue yearly

Statistic 3

Worldwide tuna bycatch discards valued at $2-3 billion per year

Statistic 4

Alaska groundfish bycatch management costs $10 million annually in observer programs

Statistic 5

EU discard ban led to 20% increase in landing value but initial costs $500 million

Statistic 6

Peruvian fishmeal industry bycatch loss equivalent to 5% GDP contribution

Statistic 7

Global shark fin trade from bycatch worth $500 million yearly

Statistic 8

US shrimp industry bycatch reduction via TEDs saved $50 million in fines avoided

Statistic 9

North Sea demersal fishery discards cost €400 million in potential revenue

Statistic 10

Pacific tuna FAD bycatch leads to 10% gear damage costs

Statistic 11

Australian prawn fishery BRD implementation cost $20 million, ROI in 3 years

Statistic 12

Gulf of Mexico reef fish bycatch economic impact $100 million lost landings

Statistic 13

Icelandic demersal fishery bycatch fines total €5 million since 2010

Statistic 14

SE Asia small-scale fishery bycatch loss 30% of potential income

Statistic 15

Canadian Pacific sablefish longline bycatch costs $2 million in quota transfers

Statistic 16

Mediterranean swordfish driftnet bycatch enforcement costs €10 million yearly

Statistic 17

New Zealand hoki trawl bycatch mitigation invested $15 million

Statistic 18

US West Coast whiting fishery bycatch accountability costs $5 million

Statistic 19

Global cephalopod bycatch discard value $1.5 billion annually

Statistic 20

Chilean pelagic fishery bycatch sorting labor costs 15% of operations

Statistic 21

Norway cod fishery bycatch regulations add 5% to operational costs

Statistic 22

Senegal artisanal fishery bycatch loss $50 million yearly GDP

Statistic 23

Vietnam shrimp export penalties from bycatch $10 million annually

Statistic 24

Morocco cephalopod trawl discards cost 10% export value

Statistic 25

Thailand tuna processing rejects from bycatch 8% volume

Statistic 26

Ecuador banana prawn bycatch economic waste 40% catch value

Statistic 27

Baltic cod quota reductions due to bycatch cost fishers €100 million

Statistic 28

Japan skipjack bycatch minimal cost savings $100 million yearly

Statistic 29

Mexico Pacific sardine purse seine bycatch loss negligible

Statistic 30

Global bycatch accounts for approximately 40% of total marine catch worldwide, equating to about 63 billion pounds annually

Statistic 31

In 2018, the UN FAO estimated that bycatch represents 8.8 million tonnes per year globally

Statistic 32

Bycatch contributes to 300,000 small cetacean deaths annually worldwide

Statistic 33

Globally, discarded bycatch is estimated at 10.6 million tonnes yearly, representing 22% of total catch

Statistic 34

International fisheries bycatch is valued at over $10 billion in lost revenue annually

Statistic 35

Bycatch mortality affects 63 billion pounds of marine life yearly

Statistic 36

Global shark bycatch in tuna fisheries exceeds 1.5 million sharks per year

Statistic 37

Seabird bycatch in longline fisheries kills 160,000–320,000 birds annually worldwide

Statistic 38

Trawl fisheries contribute 27% of global bycatch discards

Statistic 39

Purse seine fisheries account for 20% of observed global bycatch

Statistic 40

Gillnet fisheries responsible for 14% of global marine mammal bycatch

Statistic 41

Global bycatch reduction efforts have saved an estimated 2 million tonnes since 2000

Statistic 42

Bycatch represents 40-60% of catch in some industrial fisheries globally

Statistic 43

Annual global turtle bycatch estimated at 85,000 individuals

Statistic 44

Demersal trawling causes 50% of global fish bycatch discards

Statistic 45

Pelagic longlines contribute 10% to global bycatch tonnage

Statistic 46

Global fisheries discard 8 million tonnes of bycatch yearly

Statistic 47

Bycatch in developing nations accounts for 60% of global total

Statistic 48

Industrial fleets bycatch 300,000 dolphins yearly worldwide

Statistic 49

Global ray bycatch in shrimp trawls exceeds 500,000 tonnes annually

Statistic 50

Bycatch hotspots cover 44% of global EEZs

Statistic 51

Worldwide, 25% of fish catch is bycatch and discarded

Statistic 52

Global albatross bycatch reduced by 90% since 2000s due to mitigation

Statistic 53

Tuna RFMOs report 1.8 million tonnes of bycatch annually

Statistic 54

Global cephalopod bycatch in trawls is 2.5 million tonnes per year

Statistic 55

Bycatch causes 10% decline in global fish stocks annually

Statistic 56

International driftnet fisheries bycatch 100,000 marine mammals yearly

Statistic 57

Global squid jigging bycatch minimal at 0.5%

Statistic 58

Bycatch in pole-and-line tuna is under 1% globally

Statistic 59

Worldwide, 35% of shrimp catch is accompanied by equal bycatch tonnage

Statistic 60

TEDs in US shrimp trawls increased revenue by 5-10% via better shrimp quality

Statistic 61

Circle hooks in Atlantic longlines reduced sea turtle bycatch 60%

Statistic 62

Bird-scaring lines in Alaskan halibut longline cut seabird bycatch 90%

Statistic 63

EU landing obligation reduced discards by 40% in demersal fisheries

Statistic 64

Acoustic deterrents in Gulf of California gillnets reduced vaquita bycatch 80%

Statistic 65

BRDs in Australian prawn trawls excluded 45% bycatch by weight

Statistic 66

Observer coverage in ICCAT tuna fisheries increased bycatch reporting 50%

Statistic 67

FAD management in Indian Ocean tuna reduced shark bycatch 30%

Statistic 68

Gear modifications in NZ set nets cut Hector's dolphin bycatch 50%

Statistic 69

Time-area closures in US Northeast scallop dredge reduced yellowtail flounder bycatch 70%

Statistic 70

LED lights on gillnets reduced harbor porpoise bycatch 75% in tests

Statistic 71

Quota-based bycatch management in Alaska pollock saved 50,000 Chinook salmon yearly

Statistic 72

T90 codend nets in North Sea reduced flatfish bycatch 30%

Statistic 73

Pinger devices on trawls cut dolphin bycatch 50% in California fishery

Statistic 74

Rotational closures in Gulf of Mexico red snapper reduced bycatch 40%

Statistic 75

Streamlined TED designs increased shrimp passage 10% while excluding 97% turtles

Statistic 76

Blue-dyeing bait in longlines deterred albatross by 80% in Falklands

Statistic 77

Electronic monitoring in Pacific tuna purse seines improved bycatch data 90%

Statistic 78

Nordmore grid in Barents Sea shrimp trawl excluded 95% fish bycatch

Statistic 79

Vibrating lines reduced seabird strikes 85% in Patagonian toothfish fishery

Statistic 80

Bycatch caps in US Pacific hake fishery limited rockfish mortality 80%

Statistic 81

Weighted groundlines in Gulf of Maine lobster pots cut whale entanglement 70%

Statistic 82

Selective monofilament nets in Bangladesh hilsa fishery reduced juvenile bycatch 60%

Statistic 83

Ramp-angle TEDs in Australian banana prawns excluded 90% turtles

Statistic 84

Area-specific FAD bans in WCPFC reduced silky shark bycatch 40%

Statistic 85

Acoustic pingers on Spanish driftnets reduced dolphins 70%

Statistic 86

Square mesh panels in Celtic Sea trawls escaped 35% undersized fish

Statistic 87

Breakaway panels on pots reduced crab bycatch mortality 50% in tests

Statistic 88

Real-time bycatch alerts via VMS reduced hotspots 60% in EU fleets

Statistic 89

Incentive programs in Peru anchoveta rewarded low bycatch with 10% quota bonus

Statistic 90

Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl bycatch includes 90% finfish for brown shrimp target

Statistic 91

Northeast US Atlantic herring fishery bycatch of haddock is 5-10% in midwater trawls

Statistic 92

EU Mediterranean bluefin tuna purse seine bycatch 15% juvenile fish

Statistic 93

Gulf of California totoaba gillnet bycatch threatens vaquita with 90% gear overlap

Statistic 94

Australian eastern zone prawn trawl bycatch reduced 90% by TEDs and BRDs

Statistic 95

North Sea cod fishery bycatch of whiting is 20-30% in demersal trawls

Statistic 96

Peruvian anchoveta fishery purse seine bycatch under 1%

Statistic 97

Alaska pollock midwater trawl bycatch of Chinook salmon averages 30,000 per year

Statistic 98

Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna longline bycatch 25% billfish and sharks

Statistic 99

US West Coast groundfish trawl bycatch of overfished rockfish 5%

Statistic 100

Bay of Bengal hilsa shad gillnet bycatch 40% juveniles

Statistic 101

Southeast Asian shrimp trawl bycatch ratio 5:1 non-target to target

Statistic 102

Canadian Atlantic snow crab pot bycatch of cod under 1%

Statistic 103

South African hake trawl bycatch discards 10-15% of catch

Statistic 104

Western Central Pacific skipjack purse seine FAD bycatch 20% sharks

Statistic 105

Black Sea turbot trawl bycatch 30% small fish

Statistic 106

Norwegian cod longline bycatch of haddock 10%

Statistic 107

Chilean jack mackerel purse seine bycatch 5% other pelagics

Statistic 108

Morocco sardine purse seine bycatch minimal 0.5%

Statistic 109

Thailand tuna purse seine bycatch 15% juvenile tuna

Statistic 110

US Southeast grouper longline bycatch 40% red snapper

Statistic 111

Celtic Sea monkfish trawl bycatch 25% megrim

Statistic 112

Vietnam tra catfish pond net bycatch negligible

Statistic 113

Newfoundland cod gillnet bycatch of seals 2-5%

Statistic 114

Senegal octopus pot bycatch under 2%

Statistic 115

Ecuador shrimp trawl bycatch 60% pre-TEDs, now 30%

Statistic 116

Baltic Sea cod trawl bycatch of herring 15%

Statistic 117

Japan squid jig bycatch 0.1-0.5%

Statistic 118

Mexico Gulf yellowtail snapper bycatch in lobster pots low

Statistic 119

Iceland capelin purse seine bycatch 1%

Statistic 120

Argentina hake trawl bycatch discards 20%

Statistic 121

Vaquita porpoise bycatch in Gulf of California gillnets exceeds 50 individuals per year

Statistic 122

Eastern Tropical Pacific dolphin bycatch reduced from 130,000 to under 1,000 annually since 1986

Statistic 123

Leatherback turtle bycatch in longlines affects 2,000-5,000 individuals yearly in Pacific

Statistic 124

Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries bycatch 10% juvenile swordfish

Statistic 125

Harbor porpoise bycatch in UK gillnets is 1,500-2,000 per year

Statistic 126

Olive ridley turtle bycatch in shrimp trawls kills 11,000 annually in Indian Ocean

Statistic 127

Common dolphin bycatch in EU pelagic trawls is 5,000-10,000 yearly

Statistic 128

Sea lion bycatch in California sardine fishery averages 50 individuals per year

Statistic 129

Humpback whale entanglement in US fisheries is 200-300 cases annually

Statistic 130

Black-browed albatross bycatch in Falklands longlines is 10,000 birds per year

Statistic 131

Shortfin mako shark bycatch in Mediterranean swordfish fishery is 20% of catch

Statistic 132

North Atlantic right whale bycatch via entanglement is 85% cause of mortality

Statistic 133

Spinner dolphin bycatch in bigeye tuna purse seines is 2-5% of sets

Statistic 134

Green turtle bycatch in Australian prawn trawls reduced to 1 in 100,000 by TEDs

Statistic 135

Fin whale bycatch in Korean driftnets historically 100+ per year

Statistic 136

White shark bycatch incidental in Australian gillnets is rare, under 5 per year

Statistic 137

Bottlenose dolphin bycatch in US shrimp trawls is 3,000-6,000 annually

Statistic 138

Wandering albatross bycatch in Reunion longlines is 1-2% of population yearly

Statistic 139

Hammerhead shark bycatch in Costa Rican longlines is 15,000 per year

Statistic 140

Loggerhead turtle bycatch in US Atlantic longlines is 200-300 annually

Statistic 141

Striped dolphin bycatch in Japan driftnets is 1,000-2,000 yearly

Statistic 142

California sea otter bycatch in gillnets historically 100+ per year, now near zero

Statistic 143

Yellowfin tuna juvenile bycatch in purse seines is 20-30%

Statistic 144

Hector's dolphin bycatch in NZ set nets is 50-75 per year

Statistic 145

Giant petrel bycatch in Patagonian toothfish fishery is 5,000 birds annually

Statistic 146

Porbeagle shark bycatch in NW Atlantic is 10% of longline catch

Statistic 147

Hawksbill turtle bycatch rare, under 100 globally per year

Statistic 148

Risso's dolphin bycatch in California thresher shark fishery is 20-30 per year

Statistic 149

Salmond shark bycatch in Alaskan halibut fishery is 5,000 tonnes annually

Statistic 150

Flatback turtle bycatch in Australian trawl minimal post-TEDs

Statistic 151

Maui's dolphin bycatch in NZ is 3-6 per year

Statistic 152

Laysan albatross bycatch in Hawaii longlines is 1,000-2,000 yearly

1/152

Sources

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Imagine you're part of a hidden ocean massacre that claims a staggering 63 billion pounds of marine life every single year—this is the staggering, often unseen global crisis of bycatch, where non-target creatures become unintended victims of fishing gear.

Key Takeaways

Global bycatch accounts for approximately 40% of total marine catch worldwide, equating to about 63 billion pounds annually
In 2018, the UN FAO estimated that bycatch represents 8.8 million tonnes per year globally
Bycatch contributes to 300,000 small cetacean deaths annually worldwide
Vaquita porpoise bycatch in Gulf of California gillnets exceeds 50 individuals per year
Eastern Tropical Pacific dolphin bycatch reduced from 130,000 to under 1,000 annually since 1986
Leatherback turtle bycatch in longlines affects 2,000-5,000 individuals yearly in Pacific
Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl bycatch includes 90% finfish for brown shrimp target
Northeast US Atlantic herring fishery bycatch of haddock is 5-10% in midwater trawls
EU Mediterranean bluefin tuna purse seine bycatch 15% juvenile fish
Global shrimp trawl bycatch economic loss $1 billion annually in revenue foregone
US Northeast multispecies fishery bycatch costs $20 million in lost revenue yearly
Worldwide tuna bycatch discards valued at $2-3 billion per year
TEDs in US shrimp trawls increased revenue by 5-10% via better shrimp quality
Circle hooks in Atlantic longlines reduced sea turtle bycatch 60%
Bird-scaring lines in Alaskan halibut longline cut seabird bycatch 90%

Global bycatch is alarmingly high, causing immense marine life loss and billions in wasted revenue annually.

Economic Impacts

Global shrimp trawl bycatch economic loss $1 billion annually in revenue foregone
US Northeast multispecies fishery bycatch costs $20 million in lost revenue yearly
Worldwide tuna bycatch discards valued at $2-3 billion per year
Alaska groundfish bycatch management costs $10 million annually in observer programs
EU discard ban led to 20% increase in landing value but initial costs $500 million
Peruvian fishmeal industry bycatch loss equivalent to 5% GDP contribution
Global shark fin trade from bycatch worth $500 million yearly
US shrimp industry bycatch reduction via TEDs saved $50 million in fines avoided
North Sea demersal fishery discards cost €400 million in potential revenue
Pacific tuna FAD bycatch leads to 10% gear damage costs
Australian prawn fishery BRD implementation cost $20 million, ROI in 3 years
Gulf of Mexico reef fish bycatch economic impact $100 million lost landings
Icelandic demersal fishery bycatch fines total €5 million since 2010
SE Asia small-scale fishery bycatch loss 30% of potential income
Canadian Pacific sablefish longline bycatch costs $2 million in quota transfers
Mediterranean swordfish driftnet bycatch enforcement costs €10 million yearly
New Zealand hoki trawl bycatch mitigation invested $15 million
US West Coast whiting fishery bycatch accountability costs $5 million
Global cephalopod bycatch discard value $1.5 billion annually
Chilean pelagic fishery bycatch sorting labor costs 15% of operations
Norway cod fishery bycatch regulations add 5% to operational costs
Senegal artisanal fishery bycatch loss $50 million yearly GDP
Vietnam shrimp export penalties from bycatch $10 million annually
Morocco cephalopod trawl discards cost 10% export value
Thailand tuna processing rejects from bycatch 8% volume
Ecuador banana prawn bycatch economic waste 40% catch value
Baltic cod quota reductions due to bycatch cost fishers €100 million
Japan skipjack bycatch minimal cost savings $100 million yearly
Mexico Pacific sardine purse seine bycatch loss negligible

Economic Impacts Interpretation

The sheer scale of global bycatch is not just an ecological catastrophe but a stunning annual heist, where billions in potential revenue and countless hours of labor are routinely thrown overboard.

Global Statistics

Global bycatch accounts for approximately 40% of total marine catch worldwide, equating to about 63 billion pounds annually
In 2018, the UN FAO estimated that bycatch represents 8.8 million tonnes per year globally
Bycatch contributes to 300,000 small cetacean deaths annually worldwide
Globally, discarded bycatch is estimated at 10.6 million tonnes yearly, representing 22% of total catch
International fisheries bycatch is valued at over $10 billion in lost revenue annually
Bycatch mortality affects 63 billion pounds of marine life yearly
Global shark bycatch in tuna fisheries exceeds 1.5 million sharks per year
Seabird bycatch in longline fisheries kills 160,000–320,000 birds annually worldwide
Trawl fisheries contribute 27% of global bycatch discards
Purse seine fisheries account for 20% of observed global bycatch
Gillnet fisheries responsible for 14% of global marine mammal bycatch
Global bycatch reduction efforts have saved an estimated 2 million tonnes since 2000
Bycatch represents 40-60% of catch in some industrial fisheries globally
Annual global turtle bycatch estimated at 85,000 individuals
Demersal trawling causes 50% of global fish bycatch discards
Pelagic longlines contribute 10% to global bycatch tonnage
Global fisheries discard 8 million tonnes of bycatch yearly
Bycatch in developing nations accounts for 60% of global total
Industrial fleets bycatch 300,000 dolphins yearly worldwide
Global ray bycatch in shrimp trawls exceeds 500,000 tonnes annually
Bycatch hotspots cover 44% of global EEZs
Worldwide, 25% of fish catch is bycatch and discarded
Global albatross bycatch reduced by 90% since 2000s due to mitigation
Tuna RFMOs report 1.8 million tonnes of bycatch annually
Global cephalopod bycatch in trawls is 2.5 million tonnes per year
Bycatch causes 10% decline in global fish stocks annually
International driftnet fisheries bycatch 100,000 marine mammals yearly
Global squid jigging bycatch minimal at 0.5%
Bycatch in pole-and-line tuna is under 1% globally
Worldwide, 35% of shrimp catch is accompanied by equal bycatch tonnage

Global Statistics Interpretation

The ocean is running a grotesque clearance sale where 40% of the haul is innocent bystanders, tossed back dead or dying at a rate of millions of tonnes a year, proving that our most efficient fishing methods are also spectacularly proficient at collateral carnage.

Management and Reduction

TEDs in US shrimp trawls increased revenue by 5-10% via better shrimp quality
Circle hooks in Atlantic longlines reduced sea turtle bycatch 60%
Bird-scaring lines in Alaskan halibut longline cut seabird bycatch 90%
EU landing obligation reduced discards by 40% in demersal fisheries
Acoustic deterrents in Gulf of California gillnets reduced vaquita bycatch 80%
BRDs in Australian prawn trawls excluded 45% bycatch by weight
Observer coverage in ICCAT tuna fisheries increased bycatch reporting 50%
FAD management in Indian Ocean tuna reduced shark bycatch 30%
Gear modifications in NZ set nets cut Hector's dolphin bycatch 50%
Time-area closures in US Northeast scallop dredge reduced yellowtail flounder bycatch 70%
LED lights on gillnets reduced harbor porpoise bycatch 75% in tests
Quota-based bycatch management in Alaska pollock saved 50,000 Chinook salmon yearly
T90 codend nets in North Sea reduced flatfish bycatch 30%
Pinger devices on trawls cut dolphin bycatch 50% in California fishery
Rotational closures in Gulf of Mexico red snapper reduced bycatch 40%
Streamlined TED designs increased shrimp passage 10% while excluding 97% turtles
Blue-dyeing bait in longlines deterred albatross by 80% in Falklands
Electronic monitoring in Pacific tuna purse seines improved bycatch data 90%
Nordmore grid in Barents Sea shrimp trawl excluded 95% fish bycatch
Vibrating lines reduced seabird strikes 85% in Patagonian toothfish fishery
Bycatch caps in US Pacific hake fishery limited rockfish mortality 80%
Weighted groundlines in Gulf of Maine lobster pots cut whale entanglement 70%
Selective monofilament nets in Bangladesh hilsa fishery reduced juvenile bycatch 60%
Ramp-angle TEDs in Australian banana prawns excluded 90% turtles
Area-specific FAD bans in WCPFC reduced silky shark bycatch 40%
Acoustic pingers on Spanish driftnets reduced dolphins 70%
Square mesh panels in Celtic Sea trawls escaped 35% undersized fish
Breakaway panels on pots reduced crab bycatch mortality 50% in tests
Real-time bycatch alerts via VMS reduced hotspots 60% in EU fleets
Incentive programs in Peru anchoveta rewarded low bycatch with 10% quota bonus

Management and Reduction Interpretation

These statistics prove that bycatch is not an unavoidable tragedy but a series of solvable puzzles, where a turtle-excluding device can boost profits, a simple blue dye can save albatrosses, and the right incentive can turn a problem into a opportunity for both fishers and ecosystems.

Regional Data

Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl bycatch includes 90% finfish for brown shrimp target
Northeast US Atlantic herring fishery bycatch of haddock is 5-10% in midwater trawls
EU Mediterranean bluefin tuna purse seine bycatch 15% juvenile fish
Gulf of California totoaba gillnet bycatch threatens vaquita with 90% gear overlap
Australian eastern zone prawn trawl bycatch reduced 90% by TEDs and BRDs
North Sea cod fishery bycatch of whiting is 20-30% in demersal trawls
Peruvian anchoveta fishery purse seine bycatch under 1%
Alaska pollock midwater trawl bycatch of Chinook salmon averages 30,000 per year
Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna longline bycatch 25% billfish and sharks
US West Coast groundfish trawl bycatch of overfished rockfish 5%
Bay of Bengal hilsa shad gillnet bycatch 40% juveniles
Southeast Asian shrimp trawl bycatch ratio 5:1 non-target to target
Canadian Atlantic snow crab pot bycatch of cod under 1%
South African hake trawl bycatch discards 10-15% of catch
Western Central Pacific skipjack purse seine FAD bycatch 20% sharks
Black Sea turbot trawl bycatch 30% small fish
Norwegian cod longline bycatch of haddock 10%
Chilean jack mackerel purse seine bycatch 5% other pelagics
Morocco sardine purse seine bycatch minimal 0.5%
Thailand tuna purse seine bycatch 15% juvenile tuna
US Southeast grouper longline bycatch 40% red snapper
Celtic Sea monkfish trawl bycatch 25% megrim
Vietnam tra catfish pond net bycatch negligible
Newfoundland cod gillnet bycatch of seals 2-5%
Senegal octopus pot bycatch under 2%
Ecuador shrimp trawl bycatch 60% pre-TEDs, now 30%
Baltic Sea cod trawl bycatch of herring 15%
Japan squid jig bycatch 0.1-0.5%
Mexico Gulf yellowtail snapper bycatch in lobster pots low
Iceland capelin purse seine bycatch 1%
Argentina hake trawl bycatch discards 20%

Regional Data Interpretation

These statistics showcase a sea of contradictions, proving we often find exactly what we're not looking for, but also that targeted ingenuity can turn a wasteful tide.

Species-Specific

Vaquita porpoise bycatch in Gulf of California gillnets exceeds 50 individuals per year
Eastern Tropical Pacific dolphin bycatch reduced from 130,000 to under 1,000 annually since 1986
Leatherback turtle bycatch in longlines affects 2,000-5,000 individuals yearly in Pacific
Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries bycatch 10% juvenile swordfish
Harbor porpoise bycatch in UK gillnets is 1,500-2,000 per year
Olive ridley turtle bycatch in shrimp trawls kills 11,000 annually in Indian Ocean
Common dolphin bycatch in EU pelagic trawls is 5,000-10,000 yearly
Sea lion bycatch in California sardine fishery averages 50 individuals per year
Humpback whale entanglement in US fisheries is 200-300 cases annually
Black-browed albatross bycatch in Falklands longlines is 10,000 birds per year
Shortfin mako shark bycatch in Mediterranean swordfish fishery is 20% of catch
North Atlantic right whale bycatch via entanglement is 85% cause of mortality
Spinner dolphin bycatch in bigeye tuna purse seines is 2-5% of sets
Green turtle bycatch in Australian prawn trawls reduced to 1 in 100,000 by TEDs
Fin whale bycatch in Korean driftnets historically 100+ per year
White shark bycatch incidental in Australian gillnets is rare, under 5 per year
Bottlenose dolphin bycatch in US shrimp trawls is 3,000-6,000 annually
Wandering albatross bycatch in Reunion longlines is 1-2% of population yearly
Hammerhead shark bycatch in Costa Rican longlines is 15,000 per year
Loggerhead turtle bycatch in US Atlantic longlines is 200-300 annually
Striped dolphin bycatch in Japan driftnets is 1,000-2,000 yearly
California sea otter bycatch in gillnets historically 100+ per year, now near zero
Yellowfin tuna juvenile bycatch in purse seines is 20-30%
Hector's dolphin bycatch in NZ set nets is 50-75 per year
Giant petrel bycatch in Patagonian toothfish fishery is 5,000 birds annually
Porbeagle shark bycatch in NW Atlantic is 10% of longline catch
Hawksbill turtle bycatch rare, under 100 globally per year
Risso's dolphin bycatch in California thresher shark fishery is 20-30 per year
Salmond shark bycatch in Alaskan halibut fishery is 5,000 tonnes annually
Flatback turtle bycatch in Australian trawl minimal post-TEDs
Maui's dolphin bycatch in NZ is 3-6 per year
Laysan albatross bycatch in Hawaii longlines is 1,000-2,000 yearly

Species-Specific Interpretation

While we can celebrate individual successes like TEDs and dolphin-safe tuna, this list reads as a grim global audit revealing that for every marine conservation victory, countless other species are still being silently culled as collateral damage in our fisheries.

Sources & References

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