Smarter Solutions for Saving Marine Life: A Framework for Incentive-Based Bycatch Reduction

Fisheries bycatch—the accidental capture of marine mammals and other protected species—remains a major threat to ocean biodiversity. Traditional management tools, like fishing bans or gear restrictions, often fail to encourage fishers to change their behavior effectively. A new study by Bellanger et al. (2025) introduces a practical framework to evaluate incentive-based approaches that aim to align conservation goals with the motivations of those working at sea.