Dolphin, albatross and commercial fishing: Australia’s response to an unpalatable mix

Australia’s experience with bycatch policy has been both brief and varied. By far the greatest governmental effort has been devoted to developing policy in relation to the bycatch of dolphins and albatrosses. Although four main factors were common to the development of policy in both examples, the relative influence exerted in each case differed because of the characteristics of dolphin and albatross bycatch. International and domestic influences were equally significant in the development of bycatch policy toward both species. The greatest difference was observed in the relationship between science and NGOs, though. Albatross bycatch policy in Australia was most influenced by science, whereas environmental NGOs were instrumental in action to protect dolphins from driftnet fishing. One implication from this observation is that policy development catalysed by NGO action is less likely to achieve a consensus resolution than policy driven by science.