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Campaigners say dolphin slaughter will not end
BY JOHN FLETCHER
Western Morning News
20th March 2003
A Plan to end the slaughter of dolphins caught in fishing nets was launched by the Government today. Thousands of the marine mammals have died after being trapped in nets and hundreds have been washed up dead on the Westcountry coast, triggering an outcry.
Fisheries Minister Elliot Morley revealed proposals designed to stop dolphins chasing fish into the nets and providing them with an escape route.
But sealife campaigners gave the proposals a mixed response, with some saying it was too little too late.
The Government launched its consultation document - the UK Small Cetacean Bycatch Response Strategy. Cetacean is the word for dolphins and similar mammals, such as porpoises. Bycatch is the term for sealife other than fish accidentally caught in fishing nets.
The document proposes trials of 'pingers' - alarms attached to nets giving off high-pitched sounds resembling the tone of mobile phones, which will scare the mammals away from trawlers. Fishermen are also being asked to use nets fitted with 'dolphin gates', which would allow the mammals to escape through special grills.
French pair trawlers, which stretch giant nets between two boats to catch bass, are largely blamed for the dolphin deaths.
Mr Morley said: "The bycatch problem poses a major threat to the conservation of dolphins and other cetaceans. The UK is among European leaders in developing solutions.
"But the problem cannot be solved in isolation. Cooperation at EU level is vital if there is to be real progress. That is why I continue to press the matter with fisheries ministers from other member states and with the European Commission."
A spokeswoman for the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said 'pingers' had proved effective.
Since January 74 dolphin carcasses have been washed up on Devon's beaches, including six at Dawlish and Exmouth last week.
Tony Woodley, leader of the Devon branch of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, said: "Last year there were more than 200 dolphins found dead on our beaches and now we are pleased that something is being done.''
Fisherman's wife Lindy Hingley, of the marine conservation group Seawatch, said the Government's measures did not go far enough. She said: "Dolphins will still get trapped in nets, despite what is planned.
"The nets are just too big and fishermen agree with us that to cut the number of dolphin deaths the nets must be smaller. The 'pingers' and escape hatches in nets will not help. I have spoken to Elliot Morley personally about our concerns and he knows how we feel.''
Laila Sadler, of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said: "The society says the draft of the UK's long awaited strategy for tackling the slaughter of dolphins in commercial fishing nets is a positive step. But the carcass toll will only drop significantly when other European boats follow suit. This strategy is long overdue.''
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