UK fishing vessels ‘underreporting’ whale, dolphin and porpoise bycatch

Only 19 cases of cetacean bycatch reported under Defra scheme, but experts say figure much higher

Only a handful of instances of accidental bycatch of whales, dolphins and porpoises have been recorded under the UK government's self-reporting initiative, despite the likelihood that hundreds are being caught by fishing vessels.

Fishers have been encouraged to voluntarily record the bycatch of marine mammals in an attempt to reduce the accidental catch, which would benefit the fishing industry and the health of the seas.