Bycatch News

Who better than the incomparable David Attenborough to explain why our Conssortium exists? Please see : 

https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/2050515/breaking-david-attenborough-heartbreaking-update-end-of-life

It is worth acknowledging the importamce of tuna to ourseleves and the world's oceans. Please read this OpEd and take to heart the need for conserving yje world's tuna stock,  including how fishing them endangers maby other marine wildlife in the form of bycatch.

https://www.newswise.com/articles/up-marine-expert-calls-for-protection-of-the-ocean-s-blue-giants 

The Secretariat of the International Whaling Commission is hiring for a Cetacean Bycatch Coordinator

Please see the link for more info.

CETACEAN BYCATCH MITIGATION COORDINATOR
The IWC is seeking a Bycatch Coordinator to coordinate and implement the programme of work for the Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI). The Coordinator will provide advice to the Commission, exchange information and liaise with other inter-governmental organisations, and support governments in addressing the complex issues and challenges relating to bycatch and its mitigation.
Apply or read more: https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fiwc.int%2Fbycatch-coordinator-job-description-and-person.download&data=05%7C02%7CTimothy.Werner%40umb.edu%7Ce79a43d627884b18816508dd84056a88%7Cb97188711ee94425953c1ace1373eb38%7C0%7C0%7C638811880988703576%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Q48xJBoU5Rl%2BZgiS0PkVjg0ZJAOY5r6xKe18R10%2FlgM%3D&reserved=0

Regards
Iain Staniland
Head of Science Conservation and Management
IWC

We have known for years that whales, especially minke whales, get caught in fishing  Korean fishing nets.

New England doesn’t show much in the spring on land. For me the arrival of spring is when Critically Endangered North Atlantic  right whales appear off of Cape Cod, after hanging out south before migrating northward where most spend their summer. And, alas, we have the news in the attached You Tube link on yet another entanglement in fishing gear. If you eat lobster or crab learn where it’s from! Let your stores and restaurants know why you want to know. Gradually we can make a difference before the 350 individuals that remain succumb and go extinct from excessive boat strikes and these entanglements. In the meantime I also am working with colleagues on building markets for the most sustainably caught lobster and crab off New England. Although we got the feds to agree on a implementing regulations that would keep our fishermen on the water while making it safer for whales, a small but strong group of lobster fishermen complained to Congress, and got them to delay their implementation for a species with little time left. Please educate  your family and friends too  but avoid sounding preachy. Together we can do this.

In recent years, whale entanglements have grown in number in the southern portion of the Dungeness crab fishery, and earlier in the season. The Government of California plans to implement closures as a way to mitigate the problem.

See: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Inseason

Sharks among the most endangered groups of animals from bycatch. A new study examined the impacts of retention bans on shark populations. It concluded that in some cases they can be beneficial, but avoiding bycatch in the first place is of paramount importance such as making modifications to fishing gear and practices.

Article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/faf.12892

A journalist summarizes the status of legislation in Europe and North America intended to reduce bycatch.

See: https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/07/us/harriet-tubman-underground-railroad-national-parks-service/index.html

Mexican authorities physically removed gillnets used in the illegal fishery for critically endangered totoaba. These nets are also responsible for causing the bycatch of the critically endangered vaquita porpoise, of which only an estimated 10 individuals remain.

See https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/environment-sustainability/mexico-law-enforcement-remove-illegal-gillnets-rescue-surviving-totoaba?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_content=newsletter&mkt_tok=NzU2LUZXSi0wNjEAAAGZlqd24s_tjC32w0yoGEFGQ9c8osaDC-uQWeeHoc7R2rQ4_TkKb5NArexd5YspznuTJc4hRwxFUswfOdOWkDeHxeN9nm3wzQ7TISGztLXL2qYb_lYqMw