Fishing is banned on the French Atlantic coast for a month. The measure serves to protect dolphins and will now also apply for the next two winters. French fishermen sharply criticized the measure.
To protect dolphins, France has banned fishing off the Atlantic coast for a month. The ban affects around 450 French and foreign fishing boats longer than eight meters. Environment Minister Christophe Béchu has promised the affected fishermen state aid of 80 to 85 percent of their usual turnover.
The country’s highest administrative court imposed the fishing ban from Brittany to the Spanish border after several animal protection organizations drew attention to the threat to dolphins. According to an international institute, around 9,000 dolphins are killed in the Bay of Biscay every year because they are accidentally caught in fishermen’s nets and are then no longer able to come to the surface to breathe. The organizations referred to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. In view of the population and the number of 9,000 dead animals, the council recommends banning fishing for three months in winter and one month in summer.
Industry estimates losses at more than 60 million euros
French fishermen sharply criticized the protective measure. “A ship that stays in port means a loss of income of 250,000 to 300,000 euros in lost sales per month,” said Franck Lalande from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine fishing association to the AFP news agency. The fish processing industry estimated its losses due to the ban at more than 60 million euros.
“French people already eat 80 percent imported fish. Do we want to further reduce the 20 percent share of French fish and replace it with fish that lives in unacceptable conditions on the other side of the world?” said Olivier Le Nézet, chairman of the national fisheries association. The fishing ban applies until February 20th. It should also be imposed in the next two winters.
Julia Borutta, ARD Paris, tagesschau, January 22nd, 2024 2:59 p.m