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Dolphin slaughter scandal must be stopped
By Louise Barnett
PA News February 2003
Marine conservationists are calling on the European Commission to stop the slaughter of dolphins in UK waters.
Since the beginning of January this year 123 dead dolphins have been washed ashore in Devon and Cornwall – a rate of three per day.
Most of the dead creatures suffered broken beaks or damaged skin – signs of struggling in fishing nets while caught as "bycatch."
Marine wildlife experts fear up to 95% more dolphins and porpoises may be killed by fishing nets but never reach land.
The Wildlife Trusts will today launch a petition urging the European Commission to stop dolphins being killed in the English Channel.
It says the dolphins die after being caught in nets used by fishermen trawling for bass, with whole family groups dying in a single haul.
The Wildlife Trusts wants bass fishing in the English Channel to be banned while a system for reducing dolphin deaths is put in place.
Dr Simon Lyster, director general of the Wildlife Trusts, said: "It is an absolute disgrace that despite repeated warnings the EU has done nothing to stop hundreds of dolphins dying in an unregulated sea bass fishery, which is in itself unsustainable and likely to lead to a collapse of bass stocks.
"The fishery should be closed immediately, and the UK Government should put maximum pressure on the EU to half this horrendous waste of life."
Bass fishing in the English Channel is usually done by pairs of trawlers who stretch nets the size of a football pitch between their two vessels.
At present bass fishing is unregulated by quotas and permits, allowing trawlers to catch as much as they want during the January and February bass season.
Joan Edwards, Wildlife Trusts' marine policy manager, said over 75% of bass trawlers come from France. A small number of Scottish and Irish vessels also pair-trawl in the same waters.
A ban on bass fishing in the English Channel could only be imposed at European level.
Before it imposes such a ban, the European Commission is demanding that independent observers be based on the fishing vessels to provide evidence that dolphins are killed in their nets.
Mrs Edwards said: "At present we have evidence – but only from six Scottish boats.
"The EC is saying they need evidence from the French boats as well, but the French government is denying there is a problem and refusing to place observers on their boats."
The Wildlife Trusts wants the European Commission to place independent observers on all European boats which trawl in the English Channel.
It is urging the public to signs its petition, which will be presented to European Fisheries Minister, Franz Fischler.
Mutilated dolphins were first found washed up on South West beaches around six years ago. This coincided with the advent of pair-trawling for bass in the Channel.
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