Clean Catch

Clean Catch is a UK initiative focused on collaborative action to monitor and reduce the accidental capture, or bycatch, of sensitive marine species in fisheries. These include protected, endangered and threatened animals such as common dolphins, grey seals and seabirds. Bycatch poses conservation and animal welfare challenges, and can also be distressing, costly and time-consuming for fishing crews.

Clean Catch works with fisheries in England to develop and trial practical approaches for gathering bycatch data and testing mitigation measures, with attention to both effectiveness and the realities of fishing. Its programme also includes interdisciplinary research into bycatch risks, hotspots, monitoring and mitigation, as well as efforts to address barriers to participation and support fair representation across the fishing industry and related communities. Clean Catch brings together people from fishing and seafood industries, research, environmental organisations, government and technology providers through national and local advisory groups.

A key resource is the UK Wildlife Bycatch Mitigation Hub, an interactive portal where users can explore measures trialled worldwide for marine mammals, seabirds, sharks, skates and rays. Searchable by gear, species and mitigation type, it presents evidence on approaches at different stages of development and is periodically updated. Clean Catch also shares resources and research and encourages international knowledge exchange