Scilly MP criticises dolphin deaths

The MP for the Isles of Scilly has criticised fishing practices that saw hundreds of dolphins die last year.

Andrew George the Liberal Democrat Shadow Fisheries Minister says that the Government needs to take action as more dead dolphins are expected to be found around the south west in 2004. Already thirty of the dead mammals have been found on Cornish shores since the new year began.

Physical features on the animals such as missing skin on their body indicates that they have been caught in nets from fishing trawlers.

He told Scilly News ‘The Government should if necessary act unilaterally to make sure that this is the last winter when these strandings occur. We know that pair trawling for bass is a major cause of the deaths and DEFRA should also be looking closely at the effects of industrial fishing.The present situation is totally unacceptable and we cannot allow it to carry on drifting like this.?

In 2003 220 dead dolphins were found on South West beaches.