DATELINE: 23 January 2003

DOLPHINS FACING EXTINCTION FROM 'PAIR TRAWLERS' OFF THE SOUTH-WEST COAST

Concern is increasinging over the number of dead dolphins washed up off Devon and Cornwall, most of which appear to be victims of foreign 'pair trawling' vessels fishing for sea bass.
The RSPCA, Cornish MP Matthew Taylor and local environmentalists have launched a barrage of complaint after increasing numbers of dead dolphins - many showing knife wounds and signs of having been caught in nets - have been washing ashore on the beaches of Devon and Cornwall. 32 bodies came ashore in December, and over 55 dolphin carcasses have been washed up in January so far.
The dolphins are being caught in massive, 2km nets which are slung between two fishing vessels. Most of the trawlers involved in this type of fishing come from France, Holland and Denmark. Once the dolphins stray into the path of the nets there is very little chance of escape.
Attempts to develop an alteration to the nets that would enable the dolphins to escape have so far proved unsuccessful.