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Minister for Fisheries pushes for EU action to protect cetaceans
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
NEWS RELEASE
23rd January 2003
Observers must be placed on fishing vessels in the EU as a matter of urgency to gather vital information to tackle the problem of cetaceans being accidentally killed by fishing gear.
During a debate in Westminster Hall yesterday, Elliot Morley, Minister for Fisheries, Water and Nature Protection, said he was writing to the EU Commissioner Franz Fischler this week to stress again the need for urgent action.
And he vowed that if trials on new nets, designed to catch fish but let cetaceans escape, proved successful, he would work with British fishermen to implement this kind of gear, where appropriate, as a matter of priority. Mr Morley added that at the same time, he would press hard for the nets to be used in all relevant EU fisheries - and for rules to back this up.
The Minister said it was important not to be blinkered regarding cetacean bycatch. The UK's own observer programme had only to date identified a problem with British pair trawlers in the winter sea bass fishery. But this did not mean there wasn't a problem in other fisheries - a possibility backed up by the fact that dead cetaceans are being washed up on British shores even when the winter sea bass fishery is not at its peak.
Mr Morley said:
"I have been frustrated by the lack of action in the EU on this matter. Franz Fischler has been very supportive, and I welcome that, but I want to keep the pressure on. I now want to see action to back up the supportive words and that means pushing for other Member States to follow our example. As a matter of priority, we need observers in all fisheries where cetacean bycatch could be a problem.
"The UK is leading Europe on this issue. We were among the first to acknowledge there is a problem of cetacean bycatch; the first to implement an observer programme on our fishing vessels to gather vital evidence; the first to commission research on new cetacean-friendly nets for trawlers. And we were one of the key players in researching pingers to prevent cetaceans getting trapped in gill nets.
"But we need others to follow our lead. We have carried out an initial observer programme on our own fishing vessels, but our vessels are no more than a minority in the winter bass fisher. Vessels from other member states are the main players in many of the fisheries off our coast which may be harming the dolphins washed up on our beaches. That is why I have pushed for an EU observer programme and am determined to keep on pushing until we get a result."
The Minister said he was optimistic about the new nets for pair trawlers and research on pingers for gill nets was encouraging. He reiterated that if these did not provide a solution he wasn't ruling out other measures including seasonal closures in appropriate fisheries - but to be effective, EU-wide action was needed.
Mr Morley praised the work of NGOs and the media in raising awareness about the problem of cetacean bycatch and said that the key to eventually getting effective action was to persuade other member states of the need for it.
is funding further research, looking at a range of issues affecting cetaceans, and Mr Morley said the UK's Cetacean Bycatch Strategy would be published within weeks.
Further information on the issue of cetacean bycatch is to be found on the web site; Ministerial Statements relating to this issue on the are accessed via the news link.
Public Enquiries: 08459 335577
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