Purse Seine Capture of Small Pelagic Species: A Critical Review of Welfare Hazards and Mitigation Strategies Through the fair-fish Database

This review examines the animal welfare implications associated with the purse seine fishing method as applied to the following small pelagic species: Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), Peruvian anchoveta (Engraulis ringens), Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias), and Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus). The analysis is based on synthesized data from the purse seine Method Profile, recently introduced in the catch branch of the fair-fish database—an open-access platform dedicated to compiling, evaluating, and systematically categorizing technical and/or scientific literature on aquatic animal behaviour and welfare. The Method Profile is a novel tool that outlines the commercial relevance of the respective fishing method, its target species, and general operational setup. It provides a structured overview of welfare hazards encountered across the main phases of the fishing process, including prospection, setting, capture, hauling, emersion, gear release, sorting, storage, and stunning and slaughter. In addition, this profile also addresses bycatch and discarding issues as well as environmental hazards associated with the fishing method. Identified welfare concerns in purse seining for the four small pelagic species include high stress levels resulting from intense crowding—primarily leading to hypoxia, mechanical injuries, and mortality—as well as issues related to scooping or pumping fish on board, (live) storage, and the lack of effective stunning and slaughter protocols. Furthermore, the bycatch rate of (undersized) target and diverse non-target species, as well as ghost fishing from abandoned, lost, or discarded gear, pose significant risks requiring effective mitigation. In this review, we critically evaluate factors influencing the welfare outcomes of the four pelagic species caught by purse seine and discuss potential mitigation strategies, such as operational improvements, gear modifications, and management measures.