The Government announced today that it is seeking an emergency halt to bassfishing off south-west England because of growing numbers of related dolphindeaths.
Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw will urge the European Commission to closethe region’s bass fishery to pair trawlers, which have been blamed for killinghundreds of dolphins and porpoises.New figures from a Government-funded study show that 169 dolphins werekilledas “bycatch” in the bass fishing season from November 2003 to April 2004 -upfrom 30 in 2002-03.
Mr Bradshaw said the number of dolphin deaths recorded off the South West coast was “unacceptable”. and added: “I have concluded therefore that we need European action to deal with this bycatch before the fishery reopens in November. A detailed case will therefore now be put to the Commission for emergency action under the Common Fisheries Policy to close the offshore fishery topair trawling. This is necessary as the majority of vessels in the fishery areFrench… I hope that the Commission and other member states accept the seriousnessofthis situation and we succeed in getting agreement to an emergencyclosure.”
Campaigners welcomed the move, but warned that persuading French fishermentoaccept a ban would be difficult. If the British position is not accepted, Mr Bradshaw pledged to close thebassfishery within the national 12-mile limit and seek a limit to fishing boatnumbers.
Lindy Hingley, of Brixham Seawatch, has long warned about the risks to sealife posed by pair trawlers, which fish in twos with a large net suspendedbetween them. She said today’s announcement was “a huge step in the right direction”,butadded: “The only thing is, it is so late. This should have happened yearsandyears ago… Remember all those dolphins that have suffered an appalling, agonising,slow death.'” She added that local conservationists found a record 350 dead dolphins and porpoiseswashedup on Devon and Cornwall’s beaches between January and April this year.
