Europe Refuses to Pay up for Dolphins and Porpoises

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

Here is the latest on our efforts to protect dolphins and porpoises. New

regulations were watered down after European Council negotiations.

 

Let me know if you need more information.

 

Kerry

 

Kerry Branon

Communications Coordinator

International Fund for Animal Welfare

75 Attucks Lane

Hyannis, MA 02601

508-744-2068

kbranon <kbranon

www.ifaw.org <http://www.ifaw.org/>

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Immediate Release<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =

" urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office " />

 

 

 

 

Contact:

 

Gaia Angelini (IFAW) - Tel: + 32 (0)2 237 60 52 or 0473 985165; Email:

gangelini <gangelini

 

Ursula Woodburn (IFAW) - Tel: +32 2 282 0692 or 0498 114859; Email:

uwoodburn

 

 

 

Editors: For more information visit www.ifaw.org

 

 

 

Europe Refuses to Pay up for Dolphins and Porpoises

 

 

 

(Brussels - 23 March 2004) - The EU has missed a crucial chance to protect

dolphins and porpoises from dying in fishing nets by caving in to economic

interests, IFAW (the International Fund For Animal Welfare - ifaw.org) said

today.

 

 

 

European Council voted for a compromise solution to this issue, after eight

hours of negotiations yesterday. Only Italy and Spain voted against the

political compromise, but other countries argued successfully to water down

the original proposals.

 

 

 

Bycatch in fisheries presents the most acute threat to the survival of

dolphins and harbour porpoises, with populations such as the Baltic harbour

porpoise now heading for extinction. On average it has been estimated that

27 harbour porpoises are killed in EU fishing nets every day, along with

high numbers of dolphins.

 

 

 

The original Commission proposal offered a first step towards reducing the

killing of legally protected, non-target species in EU fisheries and

reflected requirements set out in the EU Habitats Directive over 10 years

ago. It recommended widespread observer schemes and the use of pingers to

alert porpoises to nets, as well as a swift ban on the use of drift nets in

the Baltic Sea.

 

 

 

But Member States have yet again ignored their obligations to protect

dolphins and harbour porpoises and caved in to economic interests. Even

though the situation is critical, many of the proposed dates for

implementing these measures have been delayed by several years, and the use

of pingers and observer schemes has been reduced.

 

 

 

The key points of the Commission proposal were the phasing out of driftnets

in the Baltic Sea by 2007 with an immediate restriction in length to 2.5

km., the compulsory use of pingers (acoustic deterrent devices attached to

nets) in certain fisheries for all vessels, observers on board a proportion

of vessels to monitor bycatch, and the mandatory reporting of bycatch

elsewhere.

 

 

 

In the new adopted Regulation vessels under 12 meters will not be subject to

the use of pingers and any fisheries using pingers will not be covered by

the on-board observer scheme. However, evidence shows that the effectiveness

of pingers is strictly related to the presence of observers.

 

 

 

As the Regulation now stands, there will be no bycatch observers on boats

below 15 meters and the envisaged monitoring scheme will be implemented

either through a sampling strategy based on existing knowledge, or initial

pilot projects where there is an absence of information on bycatch.

 

 

 

But, vessels under 15 meters represent a large block of fishing activities

and it is known that they do cause bycatch in coastal waters. The Proposed

European monitoring scheme, which was based on scientific advice from the

International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES), has now been

replaced by piecemeal national strategies.

 

 

 

The new Regulation delays the ban on driftnets in the Baltic Sea by one year

to 1 January 2008 and replaces the expected limitation in net length with a

progressive reduction in fishing effort.

 

 

 

Lesley O'Donnell, Director of IFAW-EU said: " We are extremely disappointed

that this crucial chance to save porpoises and dolphins has been missed,

although we welcome the ban on driftnets in the Baltic Sea. "

 

 

 

 

 

About IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare)

 

Founded in 1969, IFAW works to improve the welfare of wild and domestic

animals throughout the world. With offices in 15 countries, IFAW seeks to

motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote animal

welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of both

animals and people. To learn how to help IFAW protect animals, please visit

www.ifaw.org.

 

###

 

 

 

Note to editors:

 

 

 

See our media kit on the IFAW Website at:

<http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=80804>

http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=80804

 

 

 

See IFAW's response to the Report on a Council Regulation on measures

concerning incidental catches of small cetaceans in fisheries at:

http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=80804

<http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=80804>

 

 

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The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW -- <a

href= " http://www.ifaw.org " >www.ifaw.org</a>) works to improve the welfare of

wild and domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial

exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in

distress. IFAW seeks to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to

promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of

both animals and people.

 

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