Posted on March, 23 2004

Brussels, Belgium – WWF warns that a proposal agreed yesterday evening by the EU Fisheries Council to reduce the accidental catch of dolphins and porpoises in fishing nets will fail to protect these marine species in Europe. WWF is deeply concerned by the fact that the final text is a significantly weakened version of a Regulation submitted by the EU Commission.

"WWF is appalled by the Ministers’ decision. What was agreed last night will do little to protect thousand of dolphins and porpoises that are caught and killed in EU waters each year," said Charlotte Mogensen, WWF European Fisheries Officer. "We seriously question whether EU Member States have fulfilled their obligations under the Habitats Directive
 
The following key issues were amended or missing from the final proposal: 
 
i) Acoustic deterrents ("pingers") were only agreed for vessels over 12 metres: this avoids their deployment for a very important sector of the fleet which is responsible for the death of thousands of porpoises each year;
 
ii) Effective monitoring and the use of observers will only be applicable for vessels over 15 metres: once again this will fail to have an impact on a large sector of the fleet.
 
iii) The scheme for onboard observers was significantly reduced from the original European Commission proposal: this will fail to provide the much needed information from the fisheries activities.
 
iv) No agreements were made on developing alternative fishing gear: this means that there are no alternative solutions to reduce dolphin and porpoise bycatch.
 
v) The commitment to ban drift nets in the Baltic Sea was delayed by one year until 2008: this could mean extinction for the harbour porpoise population in the Baltic Sea.

For further information: 
Louis Bélanger
Press Officer, WWF European Policy Office
Tel: +32 2 7400925
E-mail: lbelanger@wwfepo.org

Charlotte Mogensen
WWF European Policy Office
Tel: +32 2 743 8800
E-mail: cmogensen@wwfepo.org 

Helen McLachlan
WWF-Scotland
Tel: +44 1887 820449
E-mail: hmclachlan@wwfscotland.org.uk