Cetacean bycatch

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/cetacean-bycatch

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the global trend?Increasing intensity and frequency of bycatch incidents globally
2. What is the ecological significance?Threatens population viability, disrupts food webs, and impacts ecosystem health
3. How do dolphins and whales get caught in fishing gear?They can become tangled in nets or be hooked when they swim into the fishing gear.
4. Why is bycatch a big problem for ocean giants?It can kill many animals each year, hurts their health, and can slow the recovery of endangered species.

Anthropogenic threat: A threat to the environment or wildlife caused by human activities.
Trawl fisheries: Fishing operations that use large nets dragged through the water or along the seabed, often resulting in significant bycatch.
Ecosystem-based fisheries management: A holistic approach to managing fisheries that considers the entire ecosystem, including interactions between species and their environment.