bycatch

noun

by·​catch ˈbī-ˌkach How to pronounce bycatch (audio)
-ˌkech
: the portion of a commercial fishing catch that consists of marine animals caught unintentionally

Examples of bycatch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Up until about seven years ago, fishermen in Vietnam would sell them as an inexpensive bycatch seafood product. Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 14 Jan. 2025 Educational initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable fishing and minimizing bycatch could also help bridge the gap between marine conservation goals and recreational or commercial fishing interests. Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025 Unfortunately, to catch wild shrimp requires massive nets that capture many different forms of marine life, known as bycatch, which can be 10x more than the shrimp catch. Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 20 Dec. 2024 But their populations have been devastated by overfishing, often as unintended bycatch in commercial fisheries. Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bycatch 

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bycatch was in 1962

Dictionary Entries Near bycatch

Cite this Entry

“Bycatch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bycatch. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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