Dolphins killed: Sea Shepherd calls for a halt to pelagic activity in the Bay of Biscay

Charles Guyard (in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie), edited by Laura Laplaud 3:09 p.m., February 24, 2023

Since the beginning of winter, several dozen dead dolphins have been discovered at sea or on the beaches of the Atlantic coast.

A carnage denounced by several NGOs, including Sea Shepherd, which accuses fishermen of being responsible.

They are calling for a pure and simple cessation of pelagic activity in the Bay of Biscay.

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Fishermen accused by Sea Shepherd

In Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, in Vendée, Natacha and two Sea Shepherd volunteers start their day at 9 a.m. patrolling a beach.

On the program, 20 kilometers of walking on the sand, in search of corpses of marine animals rejected by the sea even if it is rather offshore that a slaughter of dolphins was noted.

"On 14 sea trips, we saw 12 dolphins in the nets and one that had been scarified with a message insulting the association. We disturb them," says Natacha.

Unjust attacks according to a fisherman

The NGO disturbs the fishermen, accused of being unconcerned about this excess mortality of dolphins.

For Nicolas Rivalin, skipper of a boat, these attacks are unfair.

"It's madness. It can happen that there are accidental catches, but it's very, very rare on our part. It hurts our hearts but they are not endangered, it there are really, really many."

This is not the opinion of several NGOs, which are demanding in particular to stop fishing for several months in the Bay of Biscay to save the species.

A measure that would put the entire industry at risk.

"We just have to close the business. All the boats and all the fleets, all the ports are going to be in distress, from the sailor to the wholesaler to the fishmonger, it fucks everyone up," he laments.

The Council of State must consider this Friday on the question.