Wildlife under threat by illegal driftnets
Friday 4 November, 2011, 21:45, by
One of the worst types of fishing gear, which poses a major threat to marine wildlife, is the driftnet. This destructive and cruel fishing method kills hundreds of thousands of animals annually by 'accident' and although its use has been banned by the United Nations for nearly 20 years, the practice of driftnetting continues, even right here in Europe.
French driftnet vessel pulls in a trapped swordfish.
Photo by Carlos Suárez/Oceana
Driftnets are nets which are lowered into the water, floating from the surface and forming an impenetrable wall for most animals which seek to pass. The nets, often referred to as 'curtains of death', can be up to 20 kilometres long and are so damaging to wildlife that the United Nations banned their use on the high seas in 1992. Especially for cetaceans, such as whales and dolphins, which need to be able to swim to the surface in order to breathe, the nets often cause their death.
At least 70 vessels are believed to continue the illegal practice off the west coast of Italy in area's known as the Ligurean and Tyrrhenian Sea. Other driftnet fishing fleets are believed to operate from Morocco, Turkey and Algeria. France has also been notorious for the use of 'thonailles', a French version of the driftnets, and although its use has decreased since the implementation of new EU regulations in 2007, independent research will have to prove whether or not the practice is actually halted.
One area in particular has been badly hit by driftnet fishing. The Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean Marine Mammals, previously known as the Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary, is the largest protected area in the Mediterranean Sea. The sanctuary was established in 1999 and covers parts of the Mediterranean seas of France, Italy and Monaco. It measures approximately 87,500 km², lies north of Sardinia and completely surrounds the island of Corsica. Various species of cetaceans inhabit the sanctuary: fin whales, sperm whales, Cuvier’s beaked whales, pilot whales, striped dolphins, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins and Risso’s dolphins.
The Pelagos Sanctuary is believed to be the main feeding ground for fin whales in the Mediterranean, with water currents creating conditions that favour phytoplankton growth and the consequent abundance of krill. Various report from NGO's and the fisheries management body ICCAT concluded that an estimated 100 driftnet vessels continued to operate illegally inside the sanctuary area. This number is thought to have dropped after new regulations were passed in 2007, thanks to mounting public and political pressure over the driftnet issue. However, every driftnet out in the Mediterranean Sea is one too many and The Black Fish is preparing to join other organisations in their effort to investigate the current situation and take action to put a final stop to this cruel and criminal activity.
Besides the continued over-exploitation of the threatened bluefin tuna, the illegal fising with driftnets in the Mediterranean Sea will now become a second focus for The Black Fish in the coming years. We simply cannot allow this activity to go on much longer. The Mediterranean is one of the most unique yet fragile marine eco-systems in the world and the use of driftnets must simply end. Please keep an eye on our website, Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates and announcement regarding this upcoming campaign.
