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Letter's and emails.

Things begin to happen in the EU.

A copy of my email to Richard Corbett MEP

Hello Richard

Thank you for your return email, was pleased to hear from you and even more pleased to here someone is actually going to do something about the needless and pointless deaths of dolphins. Dont take this the wrong way, I am more concerned about the deaths of our dolphins around the Uk which is all down to the greed of the Sea Bass fisheries.

Scottish boats include "The Ocean Star and Ocean Crest they are part of the sea bass pair trawling fleet which is estimated to kill thousands of dolphins in the Channel every year."

Dolphin Care Uk 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. This is not acceptable in any way what so ever. 2000 killed for a few tonns of Sea Bass? These figures are of the Scottish and French boats. What about the others? English,Irish,Spanish how many are they killing?

Ben Bradshaw, the Fisheries Minister, has consistently failed to take the necessary measures to protect dolphins around the UK. A ban set to 12 miles from the coast? What kind of a joker is he?

"All the evidence proves that pair trawlers are killing massive amounts of dolphins every year, yet Bradshaw continues to refuse to ban this destructive form of fishing". An outright ban is called for if it is to stop the needless deaths occuring. Let them carry on fishing for Sea Bass by all means, but make them use lines instead of the gigantic nets they trawl between these boats.

At least the dolphins would stand a better chance of survival.

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. That is almost a quarter of all they catch. Totally unacceptable..

This estimation may be well below what it actually is.

But 300.000 a year dying needlessly, for a few hundred tonnes of Bass and Tuna.

As I mentioned above I am very grateful you are going to do something about the deaths.

With kind regards.

Chris Lowes.

Richard Corbett : replied

Dear Chris,

Thank you for your further email. I share your concerns about the needless death and injuries caused to dolphins by fishing activities. As part if my follow up to your original correspondence, I pursued the issue with the European Commission and told you I would inform you of their response.

In their reply to my question, the Commission confirmed that they initiated infringements procedure against eight member states in December 2005 for failing to fulfil their obligations as regards to the protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises. The Commission services are now examining the formal response of Member States to the allegations. They are assessing whether an effective surveillance system has been established in these States for the protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises as obliged by Article 11 of the Habitat Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC). If the Member States are found to have breached their obligations they could be taken to court.

I will continue to monitor the issue and will inform you of further developments.

Yours Sincerely,

Richard Corbett

Richard Corbett MEP for Yorkshire and Humberside

Richard Corbett MEP and Robert Kilroy Silk MEP are putting on the pressure on our behalf

A reply from their questions has come from Joe Borg Head of the Fisheries Commission

E-2287/06EN Answer given by Mr Borg on behalf of the Commission (4.7.2006) The Commission is aware of issues related to by-catch of cetaceans in fisheries, particularly about the stranding of dead dolphins and the numerous concerns triggered by such events. Regarding the rules for dolphin protection, all cetacean species are granted strict protection under Community legislation. Council Directive 92/43/EEC , the so-called "Habitats Directive", stipulates that Member States shall take the requisite measures to establish a system of strict protection for these animals, including in particular the prohibition of all forms of deliberate killing, and shall establish a system to monitor the incidental capture or killing of these animals in view of further research and conservation measures as required. Measures taken by Member States pursuant to this Directive shall be designed to maintain or restore such species to favourable conservation status, including also therefore undertaking surveillance of their conservation status. The Commission is following and assessing the level of compliance with the provisions of the Habitats Directive, including by taking specific contacts with Member States where necessary. The Commission is also addressing more horizontal issues on the basis of independent advice on specific questions, such as the possible effects of low frequency active sonar on cetaceans or of the incidental catches of cetaceans in fisheries. On the latter issue for example, such advice served as a basis for a Commission proposal to take additional and coordinated action at Community level, which led to the adoption of Council Regulation (EC) No 812/2004 specifically dedicated to the incidental catches of cetaceans in fisheries . This Regulation adds to other measures that also benefit cetaceans, either through a reduction of fishing effort or through restrictions on some specific fishing methods. In addition, the Commission continues to support scientific studies and research to conserve cetaceans. Such projects include the so-called "NECESSITY" research project, which began in 2004, with the aim of developing mitigation measures for by-catch of cetaceans in pelagic trawl fisheries, as well as the so-called "SCANS 2" project, co-financed under LIFE - the financial instrument for the Environment- which aims at updating the scientific estimates of small cetacean abundance in European Atlantic waters. These studies and research projects, in combination with other information necessary to undertake surveillance of the conservation status of cetaceans, may also serve as a basis for possible additional targeted and effective measures to limit the effects of human activities on cetaceans, where such measures would appear justified.

Please keep on the pressure, guys, whilst they debate - More Dolphins die...