In March 2003, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) published a new plan "to help protect dolphins and other small cetaceans from accidental injury or death in fishing nets." Key recommendations of the plan include:
- a legal requirement for certain UK fishing vessels in the Celtic and North Seas to use acoustic deterrents ("pingers") with their nets;
- an effective observer scheme to monitor cetacean bycatch;
- better cetacean population monitoring; and
- a recognised accreditation scheme for cetacean friendly fisheries.
> Complete plan (PDF format, 369K)
> DEFRA website, with public comments
> DEFRA press release, "New Dolphin Plan Could Limit Fishing Net Deaths"
> UK Guardian, "Hopes Raised of Cut in Dolphin Deaths," March 20, 2003
UK House of Commons Report on Bycatch of Dolphins and Porpoises
In January 2004, the Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the UK House of Commons released a report on small cetacean bycatch in the waters of the United Kingdom. The report summarizes recent policy initiatives and the current state of cetacean populations, with specific reference to the common dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, and harbour porpoise. Emphasis is placed on the government's legal obligation to address bycatch and the need to take action at the level of the European Community.
Core recommendations for the UK Government include:
- mandatory use of acoustic deterrents (pingers) on all bottom-set gill nets in the Celtic Sea;
- emergency closure of the sea bass fishery through the European Commission;
- monitoring of bycatch in other pelagic trawl fisheries; and
- pursuit of long-term management solutions through the European Commission.
> Complete plan (HTML format)
