Minimising bycatch of sensitive species groups in marine capture fisheries: lessons from tuna fisheries

Bycatch in marine capture fisheries is the retained catch of nontargeted but commercially viable species (referred to as “incidental catch”) plus all discards. It is an increasingly prominent international issue, raising ecological concerns, as some bycatch species of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), seabirds, sea turtles, elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays), and other fish species are particularly vulnerable to overexploitation and slow to recover from large population declines.