Rare sea turtles, sea lions, whales, and sharks are among the species that are ending up helplessly entangled in these huge driftnets. These non-target species are known as “bycatch” and some are even threatened or endangered. For instance, in 2017, two endangered sperm whales were entangled and killed in the California driftnet fishery.
These driftnets are over a mile long, 100 feet deep, and designed to kill everything in their path.
— Paul Nicklen, SeaLegacy co-founder
Image Credit : Brock Cahill photographing entangled swordfish // Photo by Paul Nicklen // Location: Near California’s Channel Islands, February 2018
Sadly, driftnet fishing has an astonishingly high bycatch rate, with estimates for some nets as high as seven to one. This means that for every swordfish being caught in these nets, as many as seven other marine animals may become collateral damage. The California driftnet fishery has an estimated 65 percent bycatch rate. In Paul Nicklen’s words, this makes it “the most destructive fishery in the U.S.”
Though many animals die when they become entangled in these driftnets, undercover observers also confirm that in some cases, live bycatch is being severely maimed and unceremoniously discarded overboard as waste rather than being freed.
Despite ongoing legislative efforts — and more than twenty-five years since the 1992 ban by the United Nations on the use of large scale driftnets in the High Seas — the state of California continues to lower these “walls of death” into the sea. A new California Senate Bill (SB 1017), recently introduced by State Senator, Ben Allen, now directly addresses and aims to phase out the use of large-scale driftnets by California’s commercial fishing industry. If passed, this bill will be instrumental in transitioning California away from one of the most harmful fishing practices on the West Coast.
But the legislation can’t stop there. US Congress also plays a crucial role in regulating the fishing industry, so in order to effectively put an end to the use of destructive driftnets, both strong state and federal legislation is necessary.
Driftnets are outdated and destructive to wildlife. Now we have the chance to both better protect marine wildlife and support sustainable fishing practices that share our vision of a healthy ocean ecosystem.
Add your voice in support of this necessary legislation and be a part of putting an end to the brutal, senseless driftnet practice.
Though many animals die when they become entangled in these driftnets, undercover observers also confirm that in some cases, live bycatch is being severely maimed and unceremoniously discarded overboard as waste rather than being freed.
Despite ongoing legislative efforts — and more than twenty-five years since the 1992 ban by the United Nations on the use of large scale driftnets in the High Seas — the state of California continues to lower these “walls of death” into the sea. A new California Senate Bill (SB 1017), recently introduced by State Senator, Ben Allen, now directly addresses and aims to phase out the use of large-scale driftnets by California’s commercial fishing industry. If passed, this bill will be instrumental in transitioning California away from one of the most harmful fishing practices on the West Coast.
But the legislation can’t stop there. US Congress also plays a crucial role in regulating the fishing industry, so in order to effectively put an end to the use of destructive driftnets, both strong state and federal legislation is necessary.
Driftnets are outdated and destructive to wildlife. Now we have the chance to both better protect marine wildlife and support sustainable fishing practices that share our vision of a healthy ocean ecosystem.
Add your voice in support of this necessary legislation and be a part of putting an end to the brutal, senseless driftnet practice.