Bycatch Research Paper

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Bycatch is the accidental capture or damage of other marine species during commercial fishing. Animals such as dolphins, sea turtles, whales, seals, sea lions, etc… get caught in the nets or hooks during trawling. These animals usually end up dying from various causes, often broken fins, deep lacerations, and drowning. It is estimated that more than 300,000 small whales and dolphins are killed each year from commercial fishing. (Anne Houtman pg. 246) Furthermore, fishing methods such as bottom trawling destroy spawning grounds and invertebrates. There are fishing methods and equipment that reduce bycatch and they are growing in popularity, however, bycatch still remains a major threat to marine life.

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