Greenpeace observers pull in dead dolphin bycatch

The Court of Appeal today (Monday 31st October) ruled that it was legal for the government to make an order to limit pair trawling despite the fact that scientific evidence suggested the order would kill more dolphins than it would save.

Greenpeace was appealing an earlier decision in the High Court on the 10th October by Mr Justice Burnton. Justice Burnton had dismissed the environmental group's challenge to the lawfulness of a decision by Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw to ban pair trawling for sea bass by British boats within British coastal waters. However the Judge had given Greenpeace leave to appeal stating that the matter involved a question of public interest and had real chance of success.

During this earlier hearing Government measures to conserve dolphin populations in the English Channel had been exposed as merely a hollow political gesture. Despite refusing to quash Ben Bradshaw's decision, the Judge had concluded that the Fisheries Minister had made decisions based on 'no substantial scientific basis'. He cited Bradshaw's own admission that the ban is 'more of a gesture really than anything that would actually help the dolphin and porpoise population'.

Greenpeace Ocean's campaigner Willie Mackenzie said,

"We are disappointed that the Appeal Judges didn't find in our favour despite the fact there was no scientific evidence for the 12-mile ban and it was purely a hollow political gesture. Greenpeace's campaign to get the UK Government to take real action to protect dolphins will continue. Every fishing season that pair trawling is allowed means the needless deaths of hundreds of dolphins, pushing us closer to a time when you may no longer be able to see common dolphins in the English Channel."

Pair trawling, a fishing method normally used to catch sea bass, involves two boats dragging a huge net between them. Dolphins are trapped in the nets and drown. Last year, government observers witnessed just one pair of UK trawlers killing more than 150 dolphins. The UK and French fleets combined are estimated to drown more than 2000 common dolphins a year.

Greenpeace is calling on Ben Bradshaw to ban pair trawling up to the mid-point of the English Channel (the limit of British sovereignty) and work with the European Commission to achieve a total ban on this fishery.

ENDS

For more information, contact the Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255.

Broken and bleeding dolphin beak caused by trawling nets

Government measures to conserve dolphin populations in the English Channel were exposed as merely a hollow political gesture in the High Court today.

Mr Justice Stanley Burnton concluded that decision-making by Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw was based on 'no substantial scientific basis'. However, the Judge refused to back Greenpeace and quash Bradshaw's decision to ban pair trawling up to 12 miles from Britain's coasts, despite citing Bradshaw's own admission that the ban is 'more of a gesture really than anything that would actually help the dolphin and porpoise population'.

The Judge granted Greenpeace leave to appeal and noted that it was in the public interest to bring the case, and that there should be no order for costs against Greenpeace.

The ban was announced in September last year despite advice from government-funded scientists and conservation groups that it would be ineffective and, by forcing fishing vessels into areas with more dolphins, could even lead to an increase in dolphin deaths.

Greenpeace oceans campaigner Willie Mackenzie said:

"We always knew that the 12 mile ban was a political fig leaf to try and placate those people who want dolphins protected, while allowing fishing to carry on as normal. Now this High Court ruling has exposed this conservation measure as a sham."

Pair trawling, a fishing method normally used to catch sea bass, involves two boats dragging a huge net between them. Dolphins are trapped in the nets and drown. Last year, government observers witnessed just one pair of UK trawlers killing more than 150 dolphins. The UK and French fleets combined are estimated to drown more than 2000 common dolphins a year.

Research by Government scientists has found that there is a higher rate of dolphin bycatch beyond 12 miles and population studies suggest that common dolphins are more frequently observed further out at sea than 12 miles. Therefore any legal measure that displaces fishing vessels beyond the 12-mile coastal zone is likely to lead to more dolphins being trapped and drowned in nets.

Greenpeace is calling on Ben Bradshaw to ban pair trawling up to the mid-point of the English Channel (the limit of British sovereignty) and work with the European Commission to achieve a total ban on this fishery.

Willie Mackenzie added:

"The Government has the power to protect dolphins in half the English Channel but instead they've been hiding behind meaningless conservation gestures and putting fishermen before dolphin populations."

For more information, contact the Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255.

Publication date: June 2005

Summary
This year the International Whaling Commission (IWC) is meeting in South Korea. South Korea has a history of whaling and its waters are an important habitat for the Korean Gray Whale, one of the most critically endangered whale populations in the world.

Greenpeace is concerned that as human activities continue to degrade the world's oceans, species and populations of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) are under increasing threat.