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Concerns over dolphin deaths raised with ICES
 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.
Dr Lissa Goodwin (Fisheries & Policy Officer, Marine Connection) and Joana Doyle (Marine Conservation Officer, Cornwall Wildlife Trust) met with the General Secretary, Dr Gerd Hubold, Head of the Advisory Programme, Hans Lassen and Chair of the Advisory Committee on Ecosystems, Mark Tasker.
During the course of the meeting, the wider European problems of common dolphin and harbour porpoise bycatch were discussed. Also high on the agenda was the review of EU Regulation No. 812/2004 and the continuing difficulties surrounding pinger (acoustic alerting devices) implementation. Despite this regulation being in force many fishing fleets here in the UK and within Europe continue to operate without pingers.
ICES were sympathetic to the concerns raised by Marine Connection and The Wildlife Trusts and discussed the relevant areas of their work for the coming year.
Dr Lissa Goodwin said: “We are grateful for the opportunity to meet informally with ICES to discuss the continuing problem of cetacean bycatch, not just here in the UK, but within Europe as a whole. In the future we hope to maintain these links and continue to work with ICES, especially as the European Commission reviews EU Regulation 812/2004 and decides the way forward.”
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