Lorraine Williamson
At least eighteen dolphins died after becoming entangled in fishing nets off the coast of Galicia, according to footage released by the environmental group Sea Shepherd.
The incident, which took place around 30 kilometres west of the Cíes Islands near the Bay of Vigo, has raised new concerns over dolphin bycatch and compliance within the fishing industry in Spain.
Two trawlers, operating in parallel, were involved in the operation. Alongside the dolphins, four swordfish were also caught in the nets. Rather than reporting the bycatch as required, the vessels discarded the dolphins’ carcasses at sea.
Sea Shepherd published video evidence showing the retrieval and disposal of the dead animals. The organisation argues this case is far from isolated and reflects broader issues of illegal or poorly regulated fishing practices along Spain’s northwestern coast. The video may be upsetting for some readers.
Guardia Civil launches legal action against vessel skipper
The Guardia Civil has charged the skipper of one vessel, based in A Coruña, with violations of the Fisheries Act. Officials confirmed that the crew failed to declare the dolphin deaths or bring the bodies ashore for scientific examination. Such actions contravene both Spanish law and European Union conservation rules.
Sea Shepherd France commented on the development in a post on X, formerly Twitter, stating: “The captain of this trawler will therefore have to answer for his actions in court. Sea Shepherd France wishes to thank the @guardiacivil for its professionalism and hopes that this case will help break the code of silence surrounding the issue of accidental dolphin captures.”
The post continued with a message directed at the Spanish fishing community: “We sincerely hope that Spanish fishermen will not make the same mistakes as French fishermen and that transparency and collaboration will lead to lasting solutions for both dolphins and fishermen.”
Environmentalists demand urgent policy overhaul
Bycatch—the accidental capture of non-target species—has long been recognised as a serious threat to marine biodiversity. Scientists warn it endangers ocean ecosystems and undermines sustainable fishing. Overfishing and accidental deaths can reduce fish stocks, ultimately affecting long-term livelihoods in the fishing sector.
“This isn’t just about dolphins,” said a Sea Shepherd spokesperson. “The health of the entire marine ecosystem is at stake. Predators like dolphins help maintain ecological balance.”
Environmentalists stress that without stronger rules and increased transparency, such incidents will likely continue. They are calling for regular monitoring, stricter reporting requirements, and harsher penalties for non-compliance.
Campaign expands to monitor Spanish waters
The group has recently expanded its monitoring programme under the campaign Dolphin Bycatch Spain, extending previous efforts from French waters into Spain. Sea Shepherd is now urging the Spanish government to strengthen enforcement and align fully with EU regulations protecting marine mammals.
The Ministry for Ecological Transition has yet to respond publicly to the incident.
Seventeen dolphins in the news in Spain