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, who is based in Plymouth) and Lisa Browning (Marine Development Manager, The Wildlife Trusts) met with Dr Borg, South West England Conservative MEP Neil Parish and Struan Stevenson MEP in Strasbourg, France.

Presenting the Commissioner with 371,000 signed petitions collected by the two organisations calling for immediate action to end cetacean bycatch, Mr Parish said south west residents were growing ‘impatient’ at the level of inaction.

During the course of the meeting, the main findings of the South West Dolphin Report were discussed, with the European problem of common dolphin bycatch in pair trawling operations for bass high on the agenda.

Mr Parish said: “We were encouraged by the meeting. The Commissioner is in a difficult position because the French are unwilling to accept they need to change some of their fishing practices.

“I told the Commissioner we are all growing impatient at the lack of action on dolphin deaths in recent years. There is enormous support for a ban on bass pair trawling and stricter control of the fishing methods that result in cetacean bycatch.

“The European Commission will need to ensure the scientific evidence is conclusive so that the French have no wriggle room. I think we still have a way to go but this meeting was definitely a positive step forward for our dolphins, whales and porpoises.”

Lissa Goodwin said: “The Commissioner was very sympathetic to the problem and our concerns. He has said that he will facilitate a meeting with ICES and the North West Regional Advisory Council in order to disseminate the findings further and permit the evidence to be taken onboard by the Commission.

“He outlined some of the current difficulties within Europe and the need for evidence before action can be taken. He did however state that he hoped action would be taken in this session before 2008. The Commissioner additionally promised to review The Wildlife Trusts’ proposal for an alternative acoustic deterrent device, the TAD."

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