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Bay of Biscay: fishermen at the quayside for a month
Bay of Biscay: fishermen at the quayside for a month – (France 2)
Fishermen in the Bay of Biscay find themselves forced to stay at the dock for a month. An unprecedented measure which aims to reduce the number of dolphins accidentally caught in their nets.
Last return from fishing for these Lorient trawlers (Morbihan). Nothing to do with the gale that is coming, they are banned from sea for a month. Objective: to limit accidental captures of dolphins, sometimes caught in these enormous nets which they must fold up this Sunday January 21. The forced shutdown concerns certain trawlers of more than eight meters fishing in the Bay of Biscay, including 450 French vessels. A fisherman’s business could lose up to 600,000 euros.
A victory for environmental associations
This ban is a victory for the environmental associations who petitioned the Council of State. They denounce the stranding of hundreds of dolphins and the deaths of thousands of others, killed at sea by fishing gear. In Lorient, several customers at a market consider this measure justified. “We can’t let the dolphins be massacred like this, it’s not possible”, launched a customer. Professionals in the sector will be compensated by the State between 80 and 85% of their turnover. These fishing bans should be renewed in 2025 and 2026.
