the rapporteur for the Council of State is in favor of temporary closures of certain fisheries

The public rapporteur of the Council of State spoke on Friday February 24 in favor of the establishment within six months of closures of certain fisheries deemed responsible for the death of many dolphins on the Atlantic coasts. The decision of the highest French administrative court, which generally follows the opinion of the rapporteur, is expected within three weeks.

The Council of State had been seized in 2021 by several associations for the defense of the environment which demanded suspensions of fishing in the Atlantic for a period of three months in winter and one month in summer. “Given the shortcomings identified and the risk that this represents for the sustainability of these protected species (…) we invite you to urge the government to (…) combine the use of acoustic deterrent devices with measures of space-time closures (…) within six months”said the rapporteur in her opinion.

Nearly 400 cetaceans found dead

“The public rapporteur recognizes that we have an unsustainable dolphin mortality rate for the survival of the population and that the measures taken by the State are insufficient, it is a good thing”, welcomed Lamya Essemlali, president of Sea Shepherd France at the end of the hearing. The boss of the NGO claims “a demanding scenario” on closing times.

According to the Pelagis observatory, which specializes in the conservation of marine fauna, 395 small cetaceans were found dead on the French Atlantic coasts between December 1 and February 15. The huge part (90%) concerns common dolphins, and a “large majority” present “traces of capture in fishing gear”.