Examination of Witness (Questions 80-84)
3 NOVEMBER 2003
MR NICHOLAS
TREGENZA
Q80 Mr Mitchell: I thought you were
arguing that the evidence so far is far from conclusive?
Mr Tregenza: Yes. It is far from
conclusive, but it is encouraging.
Q81 Mr Mitchell: The fact that Defra
is banging on about Scottish fishermen keeping them, having tried
them out, and that far fewer dolphins are caught, this is not
the end of the story, we need still more research?
Mr Tregenza: We do, because the
fishermen do have an interest in saying, "Okay, chaps, problem
solved, we've all got the grid, you can all go home." It
may not be solved. It may be working because the noises associated
with it scare the dolphins away from the net anyway, and, if so,
they might stop being scared after a year or two.
Q82 Mr Mitchell: Are the noises the
clanking of the grid, or what?
Mr Tregenza: The clanking of the
grid and the sort of electronic surveillance equipment on it transmitting
information back to the boat, at very loud intensities that make
these pingers seem very quiet, so it is a very, very noisy system.
If it is just noise that is doing it, they may habituate to it,
whereas if the grid works it probably carries on working.
Q83 Mr Mitchell: Your concern is
that they do not work, or they kill animals, or what?
Mr Tregenza: I think it is very
promising, but it does have to be observed over a period to check
that it delivers its early promise. I do not have any objection
to it.
Q84 Mr Mitchell: Thank you very much.
We are very grateful to you for coming along and sharing your
expertise, which is very impressive. If anything else occurs to
you that you might like to put to us, given the fact that you
have now seen the pattern of questioning and thinking on the Committee,
please do not hesitate to do so, because we are just starting
out on the area and any help is very useful?
Mr Tregenza: I appreciate your
work on it. I think this was an exceptionally good document, it
had integrity and depth and was much appreciated.
Mr Mitchell: Thank you very much.
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