UK Fisheries Bycatch Policy

In the UK, bycatch is one of the most significant threats to the conservation and welfare of marine species, including cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), seabirds, seals, and elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays).

Through the Fisheries Act 2020 and the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS), the UK Government and devolved administrations recognise the need to minimise and, where possible, eliminate bycatch of these sensitive species as part of a wider effort to ensure the sustainability of our fisheries. Actions to achieve this are set out in the Marine Wildlife Bycatch Mitigation Initiative as well as the Environment Improvement Plan 2023 (formerly known as the 25 Year Environmental Strategy).

Reducing bycatch is complex and requires solutions that are tailored to different needs in different fisheries. It is vital to bring together all key actors, including the fishing industry, the wider seafood industry, scientists, Non-Governmental Organisations, regulators, policymakers, and technology providers to collaboratively develop and implement solutions that are ambitious, effective and practical.

Clean Catch is part of Defra’s larger portfolio of work on monitoring and mitigation of bycatch; and this portfolio is complemented by the work of other people and organisations in the UK. Click on the button below for a comprehensive list of initiatives on bycatch, which has been compiled by Defra and will be updated as and when new initiatives come online. If there is an initiative you would like to add to this list, please get in touch with us.

View the list of bycatch initiatives

The Marine Wildlife Bycatch Mitigation Initiative

Known as the BMI for short, the Marine Wildlife Bycatch Mitigation Initiative outlines how the UK government and devolved administrations will achieve their ambitions to minimise and, where possible, eliminate the bycatch of sensitive marine species, by:

Improving our understanding of bycatch and entanglement of sensitive marine species through monitoring and scientific research.
Identifying “hotspot” or high-risk areas, gear types and/or fisheries for bycatch and entanglement in the UK in which to focus monitoring and mitigation.
Developing, adopting and implementing effective measures to minimise and, where possible, eliminate bycatch and entanglement of sensitive marine species.
Identifying and adopting effective incentives for fisheries to implement bycatch and entanglement mitigation measures.
Working with the international community to share best practice and lessons learned to contribute to the understanding, reduction and elimination of bycatch and entanglement globally.

Marine environment and fisheries policy is largely devolved. Each fisheries policy authority is responsible for setting out how they will take action on bycatch.

How are we supporting government ambitions on bycatch?

Clean Catch supports the objectives of the BMI through gathering critical information about bycatch and testing and evaluating monitoring and mitigation measures. While outcomes will be specifically applicable to the fisheries we work with in the first instance, we will disseminate our research widely, so that the knowledge we produce can inform fisheries management efforts across the UK and beyond.