The Bay of Biscay, a large gulf off the western coast of France and northern Spain, is home to a rich biodiversity of marine life, including dolphins. However, these dolphins are also facing a serious threat from fishing activities, which often result in their accidental capture and death. To protect the dolphins, the French government has imposed a temporary ban on almost all commercial fishing in the bay, starting from January 22 and lasting until February 20. This is the first time such a ban has been enforced since the end of World War II. But how effective is this measure, and what are the impacts on the fishing industry and the local communities?
The plight of the dolphins
According to CIEM, a scientific body that tracks North Atlantic ecosystems, around 9,000 dolphins die each year in the Bay of Biscay after being accidentally caught in fishing gear. This is one of the highest rates of dolphin bycatch in the world. Dolphins can become entangled or wrapped in nets, ropes, and lines from fishing vessels, which prevent them from reaching the surface to breathe. Smaller species often die immediately, while larger ones can suffer from injuries, infections, and exhaustion for weeks, months, or even years before their deaths.
The main fishing methods that pose a risk to dolphins are pelagic trawlers, demersal pair trawlers, gillnetters, set nets, and purse seines. These methods target various species of fish and shellfish, such as hake, mackerel, anchovy, sardine, squid, and shrimp. However, they also catch dolphins as unwanted bycatch, especially during the winter months, when the dolphins are more abundant and active in the bay.
The high mortality rate of dolphins in the Bay of Biscay has raised concerns among environmentalists, scientists, and animal welfare groups, who have been calling for better protection for the marine mammals. They argue that the dolphins are not only important for the ecosystem, but also for the cultural and economic value they bring to the region. Dolphins are popular attractions for tourists, who enjoy watching them in their natural habitat. They are also considered as indicators of the health of the ocean, as they are sensitive to changes in water quality, temperature, and pollution.
The response of the government
In response to the pressure from conservation groups, the French government decided to implement a temporary ban on almost all commercial fishing in the Bay of Biscay, covering an area from Finistere in Brittany to the Spanish border. The ban affects fishing boats longer than eight meters, which account for around 450 French vessels. The ban also applies to foreign vessels, regardless of their origin. The government said that the ban was ordered by the country’s top administrative court, the State Council, which ruled in favor of a petition filed by environmentalists last year.
The government claimed that the ban was necessary to prevent further dolphin deaths, and to comply with the European Union’s regulations on the conservation of marine resources. The government also promised to compensate the fishermen and fishmongers for their losses, and to pay them as quickly as possible. The government said that it would cover up to 75% of the losses, depending on the type and size of the vessel, and the duration of the ban.
The government also said that it was working on other measures to reduce dolphin bycatch, such as improving the monitoring and reporting of fishing activities, developing and testing new gear and devices that can deter or release dolphins, and raising awareness and training among fishermen and consumers. The government said that it hoped to find a long-term solution that would balance the protection of dolphins and the sustainability of the fishing industry.
The reaction of the fishermen
The fishing ban in the Bay of Biscay was met with strong opposition and criticism from the fishermen and the fishing industry associations, who said that the ban was unjust, unfair, and ineffective. They argued that the ban was based on inaccurate and outdated data, and that it did not take into account the efforts and investments they had already made to reduce dolphin bycatch. They also said that the ban would have severe economic and social consequences for them and their families, as well as for the local communities that depend on fishing.
The fishermen said that the ban was absurd, as it targeted the wrong vessels and the wrong fishing methods. They said that the boats that were affected by the ban were not the ones that caused the most dolphin deaths, and that they had already adopted selective and responsible fishing practices. They said that the ban should have focused on the industrial fishing fleets that use large and indiscriminate nets, and that operate in the international waters of the bay, where the regulation and control are weaker.
The fishermen also said that the compensation offered by the government was insufficient and delayed, and that it did not cover all the costs and damages they would incur. They said that the ban would make them lose millions of euros in revenue, and that it would jeopardize their livelihoods and their future. They said that the ban would also affect the quality and availability of the seafood products for the consumers, and that it would harm the reputation and competitiveness of the French fishing industry.
Some fishermen hinted that they might defy the ban and go out to sea despite the threat of prosecution, while others said that they would protest and demand the lifting of the ban. The local authorities said that they would intensify the patrols and inspections to ensure the compliance with the ban, and that they would impose sanctions on those who violated it.
The opinion of the experts
The fishing ban in the Bay of Biscay has also sparked a debate among the experts and the stakeholders, who have different views on the effectiveness and the impacts of the measure. Some experts and conservationists welcomed the ban as a positive and necessary step to protect the dolphins, and to comply with the international and European obligations. They said that the ban was based on scientific evidence and recommendations, and that it was a response to a public demand and a legal obligation. They said that the ban would help to reduce the pressure on the dolphin population, and to allow them to recover and thrive.
However, other experts and stakeholders questioned the validity and the feasibility of the ban, and said that it was a hasty and disproportionate decision that would not solve the problem of dolphin bycatch. They said that the ban was based on incomplete and unreliable data, and that it did not consider the diversity and the complexity of the fishing activities and the dolphin behavior in the bay. They said that the ban would not prevent the dolphins from being caught by other fishing methods or by other vessels, and that it would only shift the problem to other areas or other times of the year.
They also said that the ban would have negative impacts on the fishing industry and the local communities, and that it would create conflicts and distrust among the fishermen and the authorities. They said that the ban would undermine the efforts and the cooperation that had already been established to reduce dolphin bycatch, and that it would discourage the innovation and the adoption of new technologies and practices. They said that the ban would also affect the ecosystem and the food chain, as it would alter the balance and the distribution of the fish stocks and the predators in the bay.
They suggested that instead of imposing a blanket ban, a more effective and sustainable solution would be to adopt a more flexible and adaptive approach, based on the real-time monitoring and management of the fishing activities and the dolphin movements in the bay. They also suggested that instead of penalizing the fishermen, a more constructive and collaborative solution would be to support and incentivize them to use more selective and responsible fishing methods and gear, and to educate and inform them about the importance and the benefits of protecting the dolphins.
Conclusion
The fishing ban in the Bay of Biscay is a controversial and unprecedented measure that aims to protect the dolphins from accidental capture and death. The ban has been praised by some as a necessary and positive step, but criticized by others as an unjust and ineffective one. The ban has also raised questions and concerns about the impacts on the fishing industry and the local communities, and about the alternatives and the solutions to the problem of dolphin bycatch. The ban is expected to last until February 20, but it is unclear whether it will be extended or modified, or whether it will achieve its objectives.