§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dolphins have been drowned through being caught in fishing nets in each of the last three years in the EU; and if she will make a statement. [38073]
§ Mr. MorleyInformation on the full extent of dolphin casualties caused by fishing is not available.
Sample surveys of the incidental capture of cetaceans have demonstrated that there is a significant bycatch problem in the bass fishery off South West England which is why we are urgently conducting trials of mitigation measures to reduce bycatch in this fishery.
In my recent letter to Commissioner Fischler on the bycatch problem and the need for EU action, I also pressed the Commission to institute an observer programme across the EU to broaden the information available on bycatch.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what plans she has to press for the compulsory introduction of new fishing nets with an escape hatch for dolphins across the EU; and if she will make a statement; [38071]
(2) what plans she has to require new fishing nets to have an escape hatch for dolphins within the UK; and if she will make a statement. [38072]
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§ Mr. MorleyI have written recently to Commissioner Fischler explaining the trials on separator grids which the Sea Mammal Research Unit will be undertaking on our behalf in the offshore bass fishery in March. I urged the Commissioner to be ready to take action to address the problem of cetacean bycatch in this EU fishery, either through compulsory introduction of this gear if the trials are successful, or by other means if they are not.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to the(a) French, (b) Spanish and (c) Portugese Governments on the issue of dolphins being trapped in fishing nets; and if she will make a statement. [38282]
§ Mr. MorleyFor international fisheries implicated in the bycatch problem, action is required at EU level. This is why I have written recently to Commissioner Fischler alerting him to my concern on this issue and urging EU action to resolve the problem. We will also be briefing other member states about the evidence we have and the state of progress of trials on mitigation methods. As a start I have written to M. Glavany, the French Minister with responsibility for fisheries, drawing my concerns to his attention and seeking support for my approach to the Commission. Spain rarely fishes in the mouth of the Channel where the current problems seem to be focused. We are not aware of any Portuguese activity in this area.