Petition · past parliament · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Phase out the usage of gill nets within UK waters
Closed
72 signatures
What the petition asks
This petition calls upon the UK government to commit to the phasing out of gill nets within a clear time frame and meet their commitment in the post-Brexit Fisheries Act to “minimise and where possible eliminate” dolphin, porpoise and whale bycatch from UK fishing activities.
Gillnets, fixed fishing nets which are anchored to the seabed, are one of the greatest threats toward cetacean species and responsible for approximately 1000 porpoise and 250 dolphin deaths each year
Though greatly harmful to marine mammals, the use of these nets only make up 2% (!) of fishery catches.
The phasing out of the usage of this equipment will do masses to help protect marine wildlife with minimal disruption to the fishing industry.
Though greatly harmful to marine mammals, the use of these nets only make up 2% (!) of fishery catches.
The phasing out of the usage of this equipment will do masses to help protect marine wildlife with minimal disruption to the fishing industry.
Timeline
| 9 Mar 2021 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 9 Sep 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
72
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened
9 Mar 2021
Closed
9 Sep 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.