Haul of Shame - RSPCA calls on Goverment to halt porpoise deaths

Porpoises under threat

Porpoises get caught in nets used to catch hake and cod.

The RSPCA is calling on the government to take
immediate action to stop thousands of porpoises being
killed in fishing nets. It warns that if nothing is done, the
harbour porpoise could disappear from parts of the UK's
coastline.

The fishing industry says the claims are exaggerated.

Publishing a report on the problem on Tuesday, the animal charity said there had been no great reduction in deaths, despite a government commitment to reduce the numbers.

RSPCA marine wildlife expert Helen McLachlan
said the government had been aware of the
problem for six years.

Helen McLachlan wants government to act

"In that time, as many as 20,000 porpoises could have died off the UK's coast," she said. "Although the government has commissioned research into the problem it has failed to introduce the changes in fishing practices which are sorely needed. "We would like the government to seize the opportunity to lead calls for Europe-wide measures to reduce and monitor deaths in fishing nets."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said the government was taking steps the tackle the problem.

'Stab in the back'

"We've commissioned a three-year project with the Sea Mammal Research Unit at St Andrew's to look at the impact of fishing on dolphins and porpoises," he said.
"We have had co-operation from a lot of British fishermen to ascertain the scale of the problem and how best to deal with it."

The report, called Haul of Shame, has been described as a "stab in the back" by the chief executive of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, Nathan de Rozarieux.
He said Cornish gill net fishermen had worked closely with scientists since concerns were raised about harbour porpoises in 1994.

Struggle

He believes the RSPCA claims are "highly exaggerated" and said that since 1994 the number of Cornish gill netters had reduced by 40% through decommissioning, with a 63% reduction in the amount of net being used.

The RSPCA has launched an advertising campaign to highlight the suffering of the protected species, in advance of an international meeting to discuss the problem.
A study carried out in 1994 showed 2,200 porpoises were killed in nets off south-west England.

And it is believed that about 1,000 die in UK nets in the North Sea each year, added the charity.

Once entangled in the nets, the mammals can struggle for up to four minutes before running out of oxygen and dying, even suffering broken teeth and jaws in a desperate bid to escape.