Callous government ignores dolphin deaths - Sanders

Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay Adrian Sanders today slammed the Government for turning its back on the deaths of hundreds of dolphins caught up in trawler nets.

Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw refused an immediate ban on pair trawling despite evidence that the practice is killing hundreds of dolphins whose bodies end up on British shores. Pair trawling for Bass, which is largely carried out by French and Danish boats, is not only decimating the Bass population, but is doing immeasurable damage to dolphins and porpoises who get caught up in the nets.

Adrian Sanders contacted Mr. Bradshaw to request his support for a Ten Minute Rule Bill banning pair trawling in the Bass fishing industry. Ben Bradshaw refused to support the Bill being presented to Parliament on Wednesday 31st March, saying he "does not believe that an immediate ban on pair trawling is justified".