Memorandum submitted by the National Federation
of Fishermen's Organisations (C1)
We see the cetacean bycatch issue as having
two distinct aspects. The first is the bycatch of dolphins in
the South Western approaches caught in fast moving mobile gear
fisheries. The second is harbour porpoises caught in static nets.
The scale, and significance of the problem and solutions are different
in each case.
DOLPHINS
It has been reasonably well established that
a significant cause of mortality of dolphins in South Western
approaches at certain times of the year is attributable to the
bass pair trawl fleet. Primarily, although not exclusively French,
the pair trawlers by virtue of speed of tow, size of net, target
species and interaction of dolphin with the target species, catch
significant numbers of dolphins.
Not least because of EC Treaty obligations to
integrate environmental considerations into the CFP, this fishery
and its consequences for dolphin populations as well as public
reaction to carcasses washed up on the shoreline, this is a matter
that will have to be dealt with as a priority. Our view is that
every attempt should be made to quickly establish whether acoustic
deterrent devices and/or escape windows are effective in reducing
dolphin bycatch. In the absence of rapid progress we would not
oppose a more restrictive approach, up to and including a prohibition
of this fishing method for bass.
HARBOUR PORPOISES
The deep water static net fishery for hake also
has a cetacean bycatch problem but for harbour porpoises not dolphins.
For some years now our constituent organisation, the Cornish Fish
Producers' Organisation, has been working collaboratively and
successfully with the Sea Mammal Research Unit to establish the
scale of the problem and identify remedial measures.
A voluntary on-board observer programme from
the mid 1990s to present concluded the following:
(1) the deep water fixed net fishery did
not catch dolphins on a scale that would threaten the stock, although
there were occasional entanglements;
(2) there was an irregular but measurable
problem with regard to harbour porpoise;
(3) acoustic devices potentially offered
a solution to this problem although a number of technical and
cost obstacles remain to be overcome.
It is significant that for reasons of quota
reductions and generally more restrictive fisheries management
regime, the fleet of Cornish hake netters has been reduced from
around 50 vessels in the early 1990s to 12 to 15 vessels at present.
Cetacean bycatch in this fishery is, therefore, a problem of limited
scale, and is reducing in magnitude and is potentially resolvable
through mitigation measures.
HARBOUR PORPOISE
BYCATCH IN
SHALLOWER WATERS
There is some evidence to suggest harbour porpoise
bycatch in other gill net fisheries but it is reasonably clear
that incidental capture is:
(b) varied in time and place;
(c) is potentially open to mitigation measures
such as pingers where necessary.
The priority here must be to collate reliable
information in order to establish where and when it would be necessary
to require pingers. A targeted and proportionate approach is necessary
if we are to avoid the problem accustoming porpoises to the acoustic
deterrent devices thus minimising their effectiveness.
STEWARDSHIP
There is potentially a significant role for
fishermen as stewards of the marine environment parallel to the
role afforded to farmers as stewards of the countryside. It would
be useful if the Committee could explore how effective incentives
could be put in place to secure fishermen's involvement in stewardship
projects. It would also be helpful if the government was urged
towards consideration of this type of approach.
The fishing industry has demonstrated that it
can work collaboratively to jointly find workable solutions to
problems of cetacean bycatch. This is an approach we would wish
to develop and expand within a broader stewardship approach.
I hope that the Committee find these points
useful.
B C Deas
Chief Executive
18 August 2003
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