The Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction, established in 2004, is a collaborative initiative founded by notable institutions including Duke University, the Maine Lobstermen's Association, the New England Aquarium, and the University of New Hampshire, with the Blue Water Fishermen's Association joining shortly thereafter. Under the administration of Dr. Timothy Werner from OAI Consulting and UMASS-Boston, the Consortium aims to find practical solutions for reducing bycatch of endangered species in fishing operations.

Focusing on three core areas—understanding species interactions, developing bycatch reduction methods, and facilitating global information exchange—the Consortium emphasizes the importance of science-industry partnerships. It advocates for fishing practices that are commercially viable, operationally practical, and grounded in scientific research to ensure sustainable marine biodiversity.

Currently, the Consortium actively promotes the Global Bycatch Exchange, inviting collaboration in reducing fisheries bycatch, thus driving efforts to create effective partnerships for the conservation of marine ecosystems.