A four-week fishing closure in the Bay of Biscay has significantly reduced accidental dolphin captures, with figures showing a decrease to approximately 1,450 common dolphins from an average of 6,100 annually. While temporary measures have proven effective, the government aims to implement long-term solutions, including technical tools like pingers. However, the fishing industry faces substantial revenue losses, with calls for a balanced approach to protect marine life while sustaining economic viability.
Assessing the Impact of Fishing Closures in the Bay of Biscay
The recent initiative to close fishing activities in the Bay of Biscay for a four-week period, spanning from January 22 to February 20, has shown promising results in safeguarding dolphin populations. A report released on November 21 highlights findings from the Pelagis observatory, which estimates that during the period from December 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, there were approximately 1,450 common dolphins that fell victim to accidental capture along the Atlantic coast and the Manche-West area. This figure represents a significant reduction, being four times lower than the historical average.
Historically, from 2017 to 2023, an annual average of 6,100 common dolphins perished at sea due to similar causes. The current data is deemed reliable, as the favorable winter conditions of 2023-2024 with prevailing westerly winds provided a clearer picture of stranding incidents, accurately reflecting the situation at sea.
Evaluating Future Measures for Dolphin Protection
While this initiative has proven effective, it is not designed to be a long-term solution. The Minister of the Sea and Fisheries, Fabrice Loher, acknowledged the positive impact of this temporary closure in minimizing the accidental capture of small cetaceans by fishing gear. His team noted that the rates of accidental captures have returned to levels seen prior to 2016, a year marked by a surge in dolphin mortality.
According to Pelagis, it is estimated that each year, between 50% and 90% of cetaceans found stranded on beaches exhibit signs of entanglement in fishing nets. The Ministry of the Sea has pointed out that the remarkable drop in mortality rates may not be solely attributed to the fishing ban but also to the implementation of technical solutions aimed at reducing accidental captures, such as pingers. This technology, designed to deter dolphins and other marine life from fishing gear, will continue to be rolled out in the near future.
Looking ahead, the government plans to enhance its “cetacean plan,” focusing more on these preventative measures rather than relying solely on fishing area closures. The current initiative has been extended for 2025 and 2026, but there are no plans for further extensions beyond that. The goal, as outlined by Loher’s entourage, is to potentially lift these monthly closures by 2027, although they emphasize that this remains a hopeful prospect rather than a certainty.
However, the environmental benefits of the “month without fishing” come at a substantial cost to the fishing industry. Approximately 300 vessels over eight meters, utilizing one of the six recognized “at-risk” gear types, were docked for the four-week period, leading to a 40% decrease in landed volumes compared to February 2022 and a 47% drop compared to February 2023. The ministry estimates that the total revenue loss during this closure exceeds 30 million euros, although nearly 18 million euros in public aid has been provided to mitigate the impact on the sector.
The National Fisheries Committee expressed caution regarding the findings shared by Pelagis, advocating for a comprehensive examination of all factors contributing to dolphin strandings. They emphasize that fishing practices alone cannot be singled out as the root cause of this issue.
Ultimately, the challenge lies in developing a fishing approach that is both selective and sustainable, ensuring that accidental captures do not jeopardize dolphin populations. The authorities face the complex task of balancing the protection of marine ecosystems with the viability of the French fishing industry.