Caught in the net : by-catch of dolphins and porpoises off the UK coast, third report of session 2003-04, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

Many small cetaceans are threatened by incidental capture in the UK.

Harbour porpoises (and bottlenose dolphins) are easily caught in wide-meshed nylon gill and tangle nets, principally bottom-set nets Common dolphins are susceptible to being caught in pelagic (mid-water) trawl gear, in non-coastal waters fisheries.

The UK Government's ability to act is constrained by the provisions of the European Community's Common Fisheries Policy.

Proposals were made in 2003 both by DEFRA (the consultation paper) and the EC (the draft Regulation).

DEFRA's proposals are commended, but they do not go far enough.

Pingers (acoustic deterrent devices) should be be made mandatory on all bottom-set gill nets in the Celtic Sea and the North Sea, regardless of the distance of the fishery from the coast.

If by-catch in the sea bass fishery is to be addressed effectively, action is required at EC level, because the fishery is prosecuted by several member states.

If other governments fail to act, the Government should ask the EC to close this fishery for six months as an emergency measure.