Non-Dolphin/Whale Shark Sets

Fishery Type

Purse Seine

Ocean Region

Indian Ocean, Eastern Pacific Ocean, Western Pacific Ocean, Northern Atlantic Ocean

Target Species

Tuna

Bycatch Species

Marine Mammals, Sharks and Rays

Dolphins/porpoises and whale sharks are often found with target fish in the open ocean, and were often used as an indication of where to set purse seine nets. This led to large bycatch rates for both in historical purse seine fisheries leading to very high mortality rates. By setting around pods of dolphins or whale sharks, they would become encircled and entangled in the net and hauled onto deck where they commonly died. This practice is restricted in many fisheries, but still is practiced in some regions and fisheries. Any use of setting around dolphins and whale sharks needs to be avoided at all costs.