Did you know that there are proven, tested fishing practices and new technologies that can help to reduce the incidental catch of marine wildlife in fisheries?
Known as “bycatch,” this incidental catch can be dangerous for fishers to deal with. It can reduce profits, because more bycatch means less target catch, and it’s a huge environmental risk for retailers and seafood buyers who have sustainability commitments.
But changing fishing practices can be hard and costly. So SFP went in search of solutions.
With generous support from founding sponsor Purina Europe, SFP launched the Bycatch Solutions Hub to connect seafood companies and innovative fisheries around the world to reverse the decline of ocean wildlife. Since its launch just over a year ago, we’ve raised over $300,000 from the seafood industry to support projects to reduce bycatch of marine wildlife.
Explore the Hub
The Bycatch Solutions Hub is a first-of-its-kind tool just for the seafood industry, highlighting voluntary, industry-led adoption of best practices and innovations to protect ocean wildlife. We hope you will take some time to browse the Hub. You can learn more about bycatch risks to vulnerable sea birds, sharks, sea turtles, and marine mammals by clicking on the bycatch tab and then head over to our solutions page to learn about the best practices currently in use to reduce these risks.
We’ve just launched our pot and trap gear innovation page, providing an in-depth example of how solutions can protect wildlife and support harvesters. Be sure to check out the active projects on the Hub and current projects that need funding. You can also see who else is involved and stay up to date on efforts to reduce bycatch in commercial fisheries – from smart buoys in swordfish fisheries to electronic monitoring in tuna fisheries.
SFP’s Protecting Ocean Wildlife team invites you to join us in our mission to safeguard ocean wildlife and ensure a sustainable future for our seas. Contact us to learn more about how to reduce bycatch impacts in your supply chain.
