A multidisciplinary approach combining natural and social scientific data was used to provide a holistic view of the practice of discarding in the North Sea fisheries. The research comprised (a) a documentary analysis of discarding in the North Sea; and (b) a case study of one fishery, the English Nephrops fishery. The study aimed to identify the fundamental causes of discarding, the consequences of discarding, the factors that prevent discard reduction and the best means of effectively managing discarding.