CETACEAN BYCATCH AND THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Early day motion 52, tabled 13 November 2002 by Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 146 members.

That this House recalls with horror that several hundred dead dolphins were washed up on West Country beaches during the winter and spring of 2002; notes that wildlife experts believe thousands more dolphins, porpoises and whales lost their lives as a consequence of the activities of pelagic trawlers that scoop up the seas' bounty, capturing the dolphins and other cetaceans that are unable to escape and thus suffer traumatic deaths; expects the carnage to resume during the winter and spring of 2003 unless action is taken; notes the recommendation of the scientific advisors to the European Commission that this needs to be addressed urgently and that observer programmes need to be 'fast tracked' on vessels from all EU member states active in the area; and therefore calls on Her Majesty's Government to place the issue of cetacean bycatch on the agenda of the next meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers to implement the above and to work with other EU member states to avoid another season of unnecessary slaughter of these protected species.

Signatures by party: Labour 83, Liberal Democrat 30, Conservative 14, Labour/Co-operative 11, Plaid Cymru 4, UUP 3, DUP 1.