A dead dolphin bearing the tell-tale signs of being killed in a large fishing net was today (22 February) found floating 18 miles south of Plymouth by the Greenpeace ship Esperanza.
Observers onboard the vessel spotted the dolphin at 9.10am and, after battling gale force winds, were eventually able to bring the dolphin onboard. The Institute of Zoology and the Natural History Museum, who co-ordinate information on dead dolphins, will be contacted by Greenpeace with all the relevant information. The male dolphin measured just over two metres.
Greenpeace's flagship the Esperanza left Falmouth on the 17th February to campaign for a ban on pair trawling for sea bass in the Channel, a fishing method that could be responsible for the deaths of more than 2000 common dolphins every year. An independent team of researchers from WDCS is on board to further assess the conservation and welfare threats to whale, dolphin and porpoise populations.
The environmental groups are concerned that Government observers on UK sea bass trawlers last year recorded 169 dolphins killed in the huge net dragged between two boats. Government figures estimate that the UK fleet alone was responsible for the deaths of 439 dolphins last year. The UK and French fleets combined could be killing over 2000 dolphins a year (1).
Sarah Duthie, Greenpeace oceans campaigner onboard the Esperanza said: "This dolphin is just one of thousands that are killed by huge fishing nets every year in the Channel. It's another one that your kids won't be able to see, and that's why the Government must ban pair trawling before it's too late."
Greenpeace and WDCS want the government to investigate, which other fishing methods are also killing dolphins and porpoises and take action. Worldwide, the unintentional capture in fishing nets of dolphins, porpoises and other marine species is recognised to be a major problem. It is estimated to kill some 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises a year. Overall it has been estimated that 23% of the global fisheries catch is returned, dead, to the sea.
Further information
Contact Greenpeace Press Office on 0207 865 8255, or WDCS on 01249 449 509.
Notes
(1) This estimate assumes that the French boats are killing dolphins at a similar rate to the UK boats and that the French bass fishery is between 5 times greater than the UK fishery (based on bass landings)
