Results from a study of common dolphin numbers in the English Channel during winter months have caused renewed concern for the future survival of these animals. WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, and Greenpeace are calling for a ban on sea bass 'pair trawling' in the Channel.
In a new report, researchers from WDCS have given a provisional estimate of 9,700 common dolphins in part of the Channel that overlaps the main fishing ground last winter when the survey was conducted.
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)
The release of the report by WDCS, Cetaceans and Pelagic Trawl Fisheries in the Western Approaches of the English Channel, coincides with the departure of the Greenpeace ship Esperanza from Falmouth today. The Esperanza will investigate both UK and French pair trawlers and continue the campaign to ban pair trawling for sea bass. An independent team of researchers from WDCS will be on board to further assess the conservation and welfare threats to whale, dolphin and porpoise populations.
The population survey, the first of its kind conducted in winter during the height of the pair trawl fishing season, was carried out by WDCS researchers onboard the Esperanza during January and February 2004.
Last week, Greenpeace launched a legal challenge in the High Court against the government seeking a ban on all fishing boats from pair trawling for sea bass within 200 miles of the UK.
The release of the report along with the legal challenge is expected to pile yet more pressure on Ben Bradshaw, the Fisheries Minister, who has consistently failed to take the necessary measures to protect dolphins around the UK.
Sarah Duthie, Head of Greenpeace's oceans campaign, said:
"If pair trawling is allowed to continue, then dolphins could be wiped out in the English Channel. Your children might never see dolphins off the south coast unless the government bans pair trawling for sea bass now."
"Bradshaw has consistently failed to take any meaningful action to protect dolphins from being caught and drowned in huge fishing nets. He's legally obliged to stop these fishing nets pushing dolphins towards extinction. I assume that Bradshaw is like everyone else and prefers live dolphins to dead ones, so he must act immediately to ban pair trawling."
Ali Ross, WDCS's Fisheries Expert, said:
"The sea bass trawl fishery has been monitored and found to be highly destructive to dolphins - this cannot be allowed to continue. We also suspect that other fisheries in the area are guilty and these must be assessed and urgent preventative action must be taken where problems are found."
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 percent of the global fisheries catch is returned, dead, to the sea.
Notes
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 five times greater than the UK fishery (based on bass landings).
Download Cetaceans and Pelagic Trawl Fisheries in the Western Approaches of the English Channel
For more information please contact:
Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255
WDCS on 01249 449 509
Photographs and broadcast quality footage available from the Greenpeace press office.
