Members from the Deep Blue Diving Centre in Dubai were horrified when they recently came across the body of a dead dolphin entangled in discarded fishing net. It appeared that the female dolphin had been desperately trying to give birth before she died.

Owner of Deep Blue, Fawaz Fares Alterkawi said they were on their way back from their trip when they saw the dead dolphin floating in the sea. It was bleeding and had fishing net wrapped around its body.

Owner of Deep Blue, Fawaz Fares Alterkawi said they were on their way back from their trip when they saw the dead dolphin floating in the sea. It was bleeding and had fishing net wrapped around its body. Alterkawi also said that discarded fishing nets are now being seen more regularly off Dubai waters and although they see a lot of things underwater, this is the first time a dead dolphin has been sighted floating on the surface of the water. Some of the nets are from the wreckage of abandoned ships, whilst other nets apparently are being thrown overboard once they are not of any use. The sight of them is becoming a common occurrence.

Hamad Al Rahoomi, consultant to Dubai Fishermen's Association, told Gulf News the sighting of the dead dolphin was an 'abnormal situation' and that fishermen in the area were not reposnsible for the death of this animal. He also commented that the discarded fishing net could have come from the direction of the Iranian border .

Marine Connections' Director of Operations, Liz Sandeman states; "This is a very sad situation and it is our hope that with the loss of two animals in this way, both the mother and her unborn calf, that the authorities in Dubai will do all in their power to investigate this incident. Regulations covering fisheries in the UAE are controlled jointly on land and at sea by the Dubai Municipality and the Coast Guard, and it is they who should be ensuring that Federal Law 23 (1999) is adhered to by fishermen to stop this type of incident escalating in the future."

image (c) Fawaz Fares Alterkawi
source: MC/Gulf News