Bycatch News

Photographic evidence of dolphin deaths
(Added:- 19 March 2008)
New Zealand Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick recently released photographs of dead dolphins killed in trawl nets off the west coast of the North Island. Although it is not uncommon for dolphins to be captured in nets, it is unusual to have such a high number of reported deaths over a one month period. The Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Fisheries are working together to investigate why so many dolphins died in this short time, and how dolphin-safe fishing practices can be improved. Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick says the photographs are horrific and deeply upsetting.

Dolphin freed from rope entanglement
(Added:- 21 January 2008)
A common dolphin was spotted off a beach at Swanage in Dorset this weekend with a piece of knotted rope - thought to have come from fishing pots, wrapped around its head. Rescuers who managed to free the animal said that although it was badly disorientated, had sustained a cut behind its eye and was bleeding from the mouth, the dolphin eventually became much stronger and swam back out to sea. It is unusual to see common dolphins so far inshore as, they tend to inhabit deeper waters, unlike bottlenose dolphins which frequent our inshore coastal areas.

Dolphin deaths increase
(Added:- 10 January 2008)
The number of hector's dolphins dying increased by two thirds in 2007. The New Zealand Department of Conservation figures show 25 hector's dolphins, which are an endangered species, were found dead in 2007, up from 15 in 2006.
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Concerns over dolphin deaths raised with ICES
(Added:- 18 December 2007)
With entanglement in fishing gear representing the number one cause of death in stranded dolphins, immediate action is needed at both a European and UK level. Following a meeting with the EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg in Strasbourg in July 2007, Marine Connection and The Wildlife Trusts met with International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) on December 11 to present the findings of the South West Dolphin Report and to discuss potential mitigation measures.
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2007 Safety Nets ball to help address bycatch issue
(Added:- 04 November 2007)
As part of the Marine Connection's work to address the ongoing problem of cetacean bycatch, the 2007 Safety Nets Ball was held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane on 31 October 2007.
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Dolphin found with amputated tail
(Added:- 12 October 2007)
A young bottlenose dolphin has been found with its tail amputated off the coast of Cornwall. The animal was recovered from St Ives harbour and Dr Nick Tregenza, a local cetacean expert who examined the dolphin confirmed that the dolphin is one of the small groups of bottlenose dolphins that frequent the area. Fisherman often cut the tail of a dolphin to get it out of his gear after it drowned; this one had a net mark on one of its flippers.

Bycatch issue addressed with EU Commissioner
(Added:- 11 July 2007)
Following the publication of the South West Dolphin Report by Marine Connection and The Wildlife Trusts in May this year, Lissa Goodwin (Fisheries & Policy Officer, Marine Connection) and Lisa Browning (Marine Development Manager, The Wildlife Trusts) met with European Fisheries & Maritime Affairs Commissioner, Joe Borg, South West England MEP, Neil Parish, and Struan Stevenson MEP in Strasbourg on 11 July to discuss the findings of the report highlighting an increase in dolphin deaths in UK waters.
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New rules on whale entanglement
(Added:- 11 July 2007)
New US rules to protect endangered whales including the North Atlantic right whale from fatal fishing-gear entanglements will be in place by 1 October 2007. Marine gear entanglements and ship strikes are the top human causes of right whale deaths.

EU Commission meet to address bycatch
(Added:- 06 July 2007)
Following the publication of the South West Dolphin Report by Marine Connection and The Wildlife Trusts in May this year, Lissa Goodwin (Fisheries & Policy Officer, Marine Connection) and Lisa Browning (Marine Development Manager, The Wildlife Trusts) have been invited to meet with European Fisheries & Maritime Affairs Commissioner, Joe Borg in Strasbourg, France on 11th July. Joining them will be South West England MEP, Neil Parish, who was instrumental in arranging the meeting and Struan Stevenson MEP.
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