September 4th has been designated European Cetacean Bycatch Day.

Interviews. 
On the evening of September 3rd 2001, a representative of ECBC was interviewed by the BBC World Service, and during the following morning, September 4th, by 6 local radio stations.
Representatives of 2 organizations working with ECBC, were interviewed by three television stations, BBC, ITV and Carlton.

The Action Day.
There was a small gathering outside  (formerly MAFF).
Members of the campaign held 2 banners, one of which was made from a gillnet.
Attached to these banners were photos of bycaught cetaceans. 
Other members held a life size model of a dolphin wrapped in gillnet.  
Two of our members, dressed as dolphins, handed information sheets to members of the public, and officials from . 
At one point, the personal private secretary of a Cabinet Minister arrived, and took away a selection of information sheets. 
A large photo of a bycaught porpoise, complete with text, was handed to  officials, plus a CD ROM containing photos of bycaught cetaceans, to be given to Rt. Hon. Margaret Beckett.
 
We then walked to Downing Street and at 2p.m. representatives from several of the UK organisations working with the campaign, handed petitions containing over 40,000 signatures, a photo of a bycaught  porpoise complete with text, plus a CD ROM containing  photos of bycaught cetaceans, to officials at No.10.
 
 
There were Action Days / Education Days in other European countries throughout the month of September.
 
The response from the British public has been quite incredible. 
We have been inundated with enquiries, and offers of help and support. 
Groups in other European countries have had similar experiences.
People are outraged, and wish to know what they can do to put pressure on the EU Commission to address the problem of cetacean bycatch.

The campaign will continue.  

For further information , please contact the European Cetacean Bycatch Campaign  cetaceanbycatchcampaign@btinternet.com or info@eurocbc.org          


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