MEPs back driftnet ban

Euro MPs overwhelmingly backed plans today to save the lives of thousands of dolphins and porpoises trapped in fishing nets every year.

They called for compulsory “pingers” to steer the creatures away from driftnets, an immediate 2.5km net width limit and a total ban on such nets in the Baltic Sea by 2007.

About 10,000 harbour porpoises are killed in the North Sea and Celtic Sea every year.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) says the Baltic’s porpoise population could be extinct within 20 years without action.

“We and 1.8 million supporters welcome the European Parliament’s vote as a first step towards protecting harbour porpoises and dolphins from unnecessary death in EU fishing nets,” said IFAW EU director Lesley O’Donnell.

“Indiscriminate driftnets cause this horrendous death toll. The EU has banned driftnets in all other waters but not yet in the Baltic Sea, where scientists believe the accidental killing of just two porpoises might affect the future of the population.”

Neil Parish MEP, Conservative fisheries spokesman in the European Parliament, said: “Unless we take urgent measures to stop the damage inflicted by destructive fishing practices, there is a real possibility that dolphins and porpoises could be wiped out from waters around the UK.

“These proposals are an important first step to protecting the dolphin and porpoise population.

“Phasing out the use of driftnets and requiring the use of pingers could save thousands of animals every year.

“However, it is essential that alternative fishing methods be developed that remove the threat to dolphin and porpoises once and for all.”

Catherine Stihler, Labour’s fisheries spokeswoman in the European Parliament, said: “Very many of my constituents are concerned about the unnecessary killing of dolphins and porpoises in Europe’s seas. We must act swiftly and I am certain these measures will make a real difference.”

She said EU enlargement meant rules banning dangerous netting could and should be extended from the Atlantic to cover Poland and the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

“If these policies become part of the Common Fisheries Policy then they will have the full force of law across 25 member states. That shows just how important the EU, and its enlargement into eastern Europe, is for all of us concerned about our environment.”

MEPs were voting on European Commission proposals, but the final decisions rest with EU government ministers who will discuss the plan later this year.