Greenpeace take action over pair-trawling
Greenpeace “declared war” today on pair-trawlers – the vessels they blame for killing thousands of dolphins in giant nets strung between them.
The environmental pressure group – conducting their maritime operation from their flagship Esperanza said today they would disrupt as many pair-trawling vessels in the English Channel as possible in an attempt to save dolphins from being pushed towards extinction.
So far this month divers from the environmental pressure group have taken to the water in two successful operations to stop pair-trawling.
Today they were again in action against another pair of UK trawlers, attaching buoys to nets in a bid to force the craft to stop fishing for sea bass.
Today’s engagement between Greenpeace volunteers and the trawlers happened soon after 9am, around 32 miles south-west of Plymouth.
Last year, Government observers found that just one pair of UK trawlers killed more than 150 dolphins, said Greenpeace.
The UK fleet alone is estimated to be responsible for the deaths of 439 dolphins last fishing season.
The UK and French fleets combined could be killing over 2,000 dolphins a year, said Greenpeace.
According to the environmental group, fisheries minister Ben Bradshaw has consistently failed to take the necessary measures to protect dolphins around the UK.
Sarah Duthie, Greenpeace oceans campaigner onboard the Esperanza, said today: “We will attempt to stop as many pair trawlers as possible. This destructive form of fishing is killing thousands of dolphins every year.
“Bradshaw has not done anything to save dolphins from these huge nets, so at the moment it is up to us to stop these trawlers from driving them to extinction.”
The Esperanza left Falmouth on February 17 to campaign for a ban on pair trawling for sea bass in the Channel.
An independent team of researchers from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) is on board to further assess the conservation and welfare threats to whale, dolphin and porpoise populations.
Greenpeace want the British government to investigate, which other fishing methods are also killing dolphins and porpoises and take action.
