§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the 149W (a) extent of use and (b) effectiveness of drift nets with Dolphin doors relative to drift nets without such doors; and if he will make a statement. [8485]
§ Mr. MorleyIn 1996, five of the eight United Kingdom vessels participating in the high seas drift net fishery for tuna used dolphin doors. The industry's estimate of dolphin casualties caused by the UK fleet in this fishery was approximately 90. It is not clear how far the use of dolphin doors affected the level of casualties or effectiveness of the drift nets in catching other species.
I am currently considering our policy towards high seas drift nets.