For many marine animals in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, survival is not only based on predators but also on whether or not they happen to swim through a fishing net. According to NOAA, Atlantic commercial fisheries discard around 17%- 22% of their catch annually. The unintended capture of these marine animals is known as bycatch. This issue includes many types of sea turtles, dolphins, seabirds, and most often, sharks. While many fishing practices are created to target a specific species, many of these nets end up with unwanted guests.

According to the InterResearch Science Publisher, bycatch has caused a sharp decline in shark populations, estimating that certain shark species are down 50% to 80%. No economic benefit justifies the large-scale harm caused to marine animals by bycatch, making it crucial to reform the current fishing practices to protect ocean ecosystems. Aside from the loss of marine life, bycatch disrupts the balance of ocean biodiversity. When a key species is removed in large quantities, predators lose prey. The populations of these prey become unregulated, and the well-being of the Atlantic Ocean's marine life declines over time.

Although there are already efforts being made to prevent bycatch, I do not believe these efforts are as effective as initially thought. Things such as policies and technologies like modified nets and exclusion devices only reduce total bycatch, not erase it. As enforcement and adoption remain inconsistent throughout, unintended targets are still being caught in the masses. Many fisheries “report” on their total mortality counts, but the estimations of the real count tend to lean much higher. In the North Atlantic Ocean, bycatch highlights the importance of the economic demand for seafood but also the need to protect marine life. To properly address this issue, we need to provide not only safe fishing practices but also regulations that can satisfy both humans and marine animals.