France has announced a temporary ban on almost all commercial fishing in the Bay of Biscay to protect dolphins, APA reports citing BBC.
It will start on Monday and run until 20 February affecting fishing grounds off the country's Atlantic coast.
French marine experts CIEM estimate around 9,000 dolphins die in the bay each year after being accidentally caught in fishing gear.
Some in the industry estimate they could lose millions of euros in revenue but the French government has promised compensation. Minister Christophe Béchu told TF1 TV that up to 75% of losses would be covered and paid "as quickly as possible".
Others say compensation promised by officials is insufficient while French fishing industry body CNPMEM denounced "extremist NGOs" and claimed the marine mammals are "not endangered".
Environmentalists say animals can become entangled or wrapped in things like nets, ropes and lines from fishing vessels. Smaller species often die immediately, says the International Whaling Commission, as they are unable to get to the surface to breathe.
Larger animals can end up towing heavy ropes, buoys or nets for weeks, months or years before their deaths, the IWC added.
Philippe Garcia, head of marine conservation group Défense des Milieux Aquatiques, said fishermen should observe the ban.
"If the fishermen don't play along, it's counter-productive for them," he said, as dolphin deaths would strengthen the environmentalists' case.
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on TikTok
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X
