A lot of dolphins die in fisheries. In the North Sea alone, an estimated 10,000 harbour porpoises are killed in fishing gear each year.  In recent years there have been gear modifications  that make it possible for the dolphins, to escape once a fishingnet is closed. Not every country has made these modifications mandatory yet, so dolphins are still killed in this fishery. The dolphins killed in fishery are mainly common dolphins, spotted dolphins and spinner dolphins. Occasionally other species, including bottlenose dolphins, are caught as well, but their numbers are lower.

Especially in coastal areas, marine mammals are often disturbed by human activities. Collisions with boats and jet skis have already resulted in severe traumas and even deaths of marine mammals, including dolphins. Also, boat traffic in areas where dolphins usually rest or forage can disrupt their normal behaviour. The seemingly harmless human behaviour, such as swimming in areas where dolphins naturally rest, can result in disturbance and changes in behaviour. In a bay in Hawaii for example, where spinner dolphins came to rest, the increase in swimmers, has resulted in the dolphins leaving the bay. They had to find another resting area.

Dolphins are very acoustically oriented animals. With their natural sonar, they rely heavily on sound for their orientation, navigation and communication with other dolphins. Since the last century, the increase in boat traffic around the globe has resulted in a considerable increase in noise in the world's oceans. This has a negative effect on dolphin and whale navigation and communication.