Greenpeace loses dolphins case

Greenpeace has failed in its attempt to overturn a government ban aimed at reducing dolphin deaths.

The environmental campaign group had launched legal action after Defra introduced a ban on the use of pair trawls to catch sea bass within 12 miles of the south west coast of the UK.

The ban was aimed at preventing the deaths of dolphins who can become ensnared in fishermen’s nets.

Greenpeace had argued that the ban was meaningless and would actually lead to more dolphin deaths, because it would drive fishermen into deeper waters, where there were more dolphins.

However, the government said that, since the introduction of the ban in December last year, the number of dolphin deaths had reduced from 429 in 2003/04 to around 140 in 2004/05.

Greenpeace’s claim was dismissed in full at the High Court on Monday, although the group was granted permission to appeal the decision.

The Minister for Fisheries, Ben Bradshaw, welcomed the court decision. He said: “I am delighted the court has rejected Greenpeace’s action in full. It always seemed odd to me that Greenpeace was wasting its supporters’ money trying to reverse a decision aimed at saving dolphins and porpoises. No country has done more than the UK under this government to protect small cetaceans. Greenpeace’s time, energy and resources would be better spent campaigning in those countries that don’t take this problem seriously.”

Greenpeace has argued that the government has a legal obligation, under European law, to protect whales and dolphins in the English Channel and described the 12-mile ban as a “political gesture,” which would likely lead to more dolphin deaths.

(KMcA/SP)