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.
The finalist images document the consequences of overfishing and bycatch, the impact of pollution on marine mammals and the killing of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands, a practice known as grindadráp. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Sharks often become bycatch – entangled in fishing nets not intended for them, they are rendered helpless and face certain death. — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 9 June 2026 Meat and fins of many shark species are highly valued, and they are targeted and taken as bycatch in commercial and recreational fisheries, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 1 June 2026 Scientists are still studying Greenland shark genetics for insights into aging and DNA repair, but the species’ extreme vulnerability to bycatch means conservation efforts may determine whether these centuries-old animals keep swimming. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026 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

Rhymes for bycatch

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Browse Nearby Words

by car
bycatch
by chance
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Cite this Entry

“Bycatch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bycatch. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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