The ban at the start of the year on fishing for a month in the Bay of Biscay divided the fatal catches of dolphins by approximately four, the government announced on Tuesday, which intends to find alternatives to lift “from 2027” this very costly measure for the sector.
“The first elements of the assessment of the space-time closure show a significant reduction in mortality by capture (around 76% less mortality compared to previous winters)”indicated Fabrice Loher, Minister Delegate for the Sea and Fisheries, in a press release.
The press release does not specify whether this figure corresponds to the number of stranded corpses found on the shore (130 in 2023), which only represent a small part of the deaths of cetaceans injured or killed in the nets.
Around 9,000 common dolphins die each year by accidental capture on the French Atlantic coast, well above the threshold of 4,900 from which the cetacean population is endangered, according to Ciem, the international scientific body of reference.
Forced by court decisions obtained by animal rights activists, the government closed the Bay of Biscay from January 22 to February 20, 2024 to vessels over 8 meters equipped with certain nets, to protect dolphins and other small cetaceans during the period identified by scientists as particularly at risk.
As planned, this measure will be renewed from January 22 to February 20, 2025 and is in the process of becoming an obligation of the European Union, therefore imposing on ships flying foreign flags.
However, “closing the Bay of Biscay is not a long-term solution” et “the common objective must be to work with the entire sector to achieve the lifting of this temporary closure from 2027”continues the minister’s press release.
He calls on the sector to “collectively implement” the government action plan to combat accidental catches, in order to “demonstrate its effectiveness”. This plan includes “by equipping ships with scaring devices (pingers) and cameras, which will concern a sample of ships”reminds the government.
The industry experienced this first closure like an electric shock, from the fishermen remaining at the quay to the auctions, deprived of hundreds of tonnes of sea bass, monkfish, sole or turbot caught during this period.
In France, around 450 vessels are affected and the losses estimated at tens of millions of euros, which the government has undertaken to compensate up to “80 to 85%” of turnover depending on the type of fishing.