Dolphin protection plan attacked

Over 300 carcasses were found on South West beaches in 2002-03

A conservation group has criticised new fishing practices off Cornwall aimed at minimising dolphin deaths.

Under a new code of practice, if cetaceans are seen in areas where fishing is taking place, fishermen will pull their nets and warn other boats.

The deal was agreed by the Cornwall Sea Fisheries and the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation (CFPO).

But Lindy Hingley of Brixham Seawatch said dolphins followed fish and would always appear in fishing areas.

Deflect attention

More than 300 dolphin and porpoise carcasses were found on beaches in the South West in the year 2002-2003.

Ms Hingley added that porpoises generally stuck to one area, so warnings of their presence would be useless.

She said that the code of practice was a ruse by the fishermen to deflect attention away from the deaths of cetaceans in their nets after the announcement of an end to inshore bass fishing.

Bass fishing by pair trawlers has been blamed for most of the dolphin deaths.

Ms Hingley said: "They know that they catch dolphins in their nets, they know that they are being looked at and they know that the finger will be pointed at them when bass fishing stops.

"The type of fishing they do is always going to catch dolphins and porpoises and there is nothing they can do about that except stop fishing with gill nets."

The fishermen maintain that the code of practice will be effective.