Fishing Nets Are Accidentally Killing Sea Animals in Britain

Thousands of sea animals in Britain are dying by accident each year when they get caught in fishing equipment. A new study shows that whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds are being killed by fishing boats that are trying to catch fish. The Wildlife and Countryside Link studied this problem for the first time. They found that many protected sea animals are dying as 'bycatch,' which means they were caught by mistake.

The study shows shocking numbers of animal deaths each year. More than 1,000 dolphins and harbor porpoises die when caught in fishing nets. About 10,000 seabirds and 500 seals also die this way. Even large whales get trapped in ropes used for catching crabs and lobsters.

Different types of fishing equipment cause different problems for sea animals. Gillnets are especially dangerous for seabirds like puffins and gannets. These nets hang in the water like curtains, and birds get caught when they dive for food. Once trapped underwater, the birds cannot swim back up and they drown.

Some fishing areas have already found ways to solve the problem. In Filey Bay, Yorkshire, small fishing boats worked with scientists to reduce seabird deaths. They changed their nets and fishing methods, and now only four or five birds die each year instead of 700. Conservation groups want the government to require better monitoring on all fishing boats.