EURO-MPS VOTE TO SAVE DOLPHINS

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 10th Feb 2004

Euro-MPs today (Tuesday) have supported a European Commission proposal which will increase efforts to save and protect dolphins and porpoises from unintentional capture in fishing nets.

Intense lobbying by MEPs and environmental organisations resulted in Commission proposals to take specific action to safeguard the well-loved mammals. Amendments proposed by the European Parliament, several of which were tabled by the Liberal Democrats, will further strengthen these proposals.

Speaking following the vote in Strasbourg, Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne commented:

"According to figures released by Greenpeace in their 'Save the Dolphins' campaign, over 130 dead dolphins and porpoises were found on beaches in the South West of England last year in March alone. Most of these animals had injuries consistent with entanglement in fish netting."

"The European Commission's proposals are welcome but they represent only a small step forward in the right direction. The on-board monitoring schemes introduced by the Commission should allow detailed information on the real level of this calamitous situation to be collected. On top of that, though, there is a need for more research into the use of alternative fishing gear, supported by a guarantee that such gear will be introduced speedily."

"Liberal Democrats pushed several amendments through the fisheries committee promoting research into alternative gears such as separator grids. Such work is already at an advanced stage in the United Kingdom and it is essential that, once the final conclusions of that research have been drawn, appropriate action is taken swiftly by the Commission to table relevant proposals."

"We have a responsibility to promote sustainable fisheries. This includes both preserving an economically viable fishing industry and protecting our environment and the animals within. Dolphins are universally-loved creatures. We must make sure that the only way we see these sea-mammals is in their natural environment, not washed up dead on our beaches."

Ends.

Notes to editors:

The Commission proposals suggest the following measures:

• restrict and phase out the use of drift-nets in the Baltic sea, limiting the length of drift-nets to a maximum 2.5km, associated with a phasing out process with a view to a total ban from 1 January 2007;

• require the use of acoustic deterrent devices, better known as 'pingers', in fisheries where the effectiveness of such devices has been confirmed in reducing incidental catches of cetaceans;

• establish monitoring programmes, using independent observers, for gathering extended information on bycatch of cetaceans for numerous fisheries with a potentially high risk of incidental catches of cetaceans.

Liberal Democrat amendments in the Parliament: 1) Bring the legislation into line with the objectives of the framework Regulation on the CFP; 2) Call on the Commission to encourage and react promptly to the outcome of new research into alternative fishing gear aimed at reducing the bycatch of dolphins and porpoises; 3) Propose a procedure for the Commission's reaction and tabling of new proposals. Amendments tabled by other MEPs include a deadline for a review of the Regulation in 2007; the allocation of funding to fishermen in order to purchase deterrents; and an increase in the targets for monitoring and surveillance.

ENDS