Illegal nets a scourge of the seas

Donal Hickey on the soaring rate of cetacean deaths.

IMAGINE the outcry if Fungi, the money-spinning Dingle dolphin, died a horrible death after being trapped in an illegal net somewhere off the Kerry coast. But other dolphins have died without much notice in such nets, not very far from where Fungi performs for the pleasure of tourists.

Whales, dolphins and porpoises — collectively known as cetaceans — are increasingly falling victim to illegal nets and other fishing activity, according to expert groups.