Stop dolphin deaths

Between January and March last year, 120 dolphins and porpoises were washed up on the beaches of Devon and Cornwall. This year the figures are even worse.

Post mortems have shown that the majority of deaths are caused by bycatch. The dolphins swim in to the trawls to feed on the fish caught inside but then become trapped in the net. They are unable to come up to the surface for air and therefore drown. Experts fear that common dolphins in British waters could be wiped out in just ten years.

If the Government and the European Commission do not act soon, there may be no dolphins left in our waters to save.

I raised the issue of dolphin deaths through bycatch in a special Parliamentary debate in 2002, but so far no effective action has been taken.

I will continue to press the Government to take action, but you can help by signing the petition below.