Cetaceans are very different from sharks, but they face some of the same problems that sharks do. One of the biggest examples of this is bycatch. Cetacean bycatch has been in the public eye for a long time, as tuna is now advertised as “dolphin-friendly” due to protests against bycatch. Bycatch has been discussed in recent years due to the plight of the world’s smallest cetacean, the Vaquita porpoise, which has been pushed to the brink of extinction by gillnet fisheries killing them as bycatch. But unfortunately, the devastation of bycatch extends far beyond these two high-publicity issues. According to the World Wildlife Fund, over 300,000 cetaceans are killed as bycatch every year. Death by bycatch is terrifying and painful. Cetaceans either get trapped in nets or entangled in fishing gear. In either situation, they often die by drowning, exhaustion, and stress. Bycatch can have a devastating impact on cetacean populations, as seen by the decline of the vaquita (~30 individuals left), Hector’s dolphin (Endangered), and Atlantic humpback dolphins (Critically Endangered). When humans intentionally kill dolphins, it gets a lot of press - dolphin drive hunts are widely discussed online. Cetaceans also need their advocates to speak up on the issue of bycatch, as it kills far more animals and is driving species to extinction. To help reduce bycatch, make sure to use sustainable seafood guides such as @seafoodwatch for the US, @oceanwise for Canada, and World Wildlife Fund’s regional seafood guides for other countries: http://wwf.panda.org/get_involved/live_green/out_shopping/seafood_guides/ Seafood labeling laws in the US, Canada, and other places are also terribly lax, which makes it harder for consumers to make sustainable choices. Please help us raise awareness of this issue! Here is WWF’s fact page on cetacean bycatch if you would like to know more: https://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/cetaceans/threats/bycatch/ ••• #bycatch #dolphin #whale #cetacean #dolphins #whales #cetaceans #savewhales #savethewhales #taiji #whaling #overfishing https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwe8CWCBRCJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=o3fluj8brg13
