The French government is not doing enough to protect dolphins in the Bay of Biscay, a vast maritime area in the west of the country, which extends from the northern coast of Spain to Brittany. This is what the Council of State estimated on Friday September 22, which tightened the “no fishing month” introduced last October.
1 min
Every winter, from next year, from January 22 to February 20, boats of 8 meters or more, equipped with certain types of nets, will not be allowed to fish in the Bay of Biscay. This is what the government decided. But in order not to offend the fishermen, he had also established a whole series of exemptions. Exemptions rejected by the Council of State.
The Council of State considers the government plan not restrictive enough if we really want to reduce the number of dolphins who die by being accidentally caught in nets. Nature defense associations welcome “ a historic victory “, Who ” will provide respite to cetaceans “.
Every year, around 9,000 accidentally captured common dolphins die on the French Atlantic coast, according to the International Center for the Exploration of the Sea.
The National Fisheries Committee is alarmed by the consequences for the sector. 500 boats will not be able to work for a month, says its president Olivier Le Nézet.
The Council of State recalls that fishermen will be compensated for the shortfall. The National Fisheries Committee regrets that indirect jobs are not taken into account.
Read alsoStranded dolphins: after the decision of the Council of State, a difficult compromise between NGOs and fishermen