Strasbourg, 10/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has approved measures proposed for reducing the accidental catches of cetaceans, by adopting on Tuesday, the report by Heinz Kindermann (SPD) on the subject. The proposal aims to gradually ban drift-net fishing in the Baltic Sea (a ban which has applied since 2002 in the Mediterranean and Atlantic) and the use of acoustic dissuasion techniques (echo sounders) in their fishing where the risk of accessory catches of crustaceans is particularly high.
Amendments to the proposal introduced by the EP essentially aim for: negotiations with Russia so that the latter bans drift nets; greater monitoring of use of echo sounders (scientists fear that sonar pollution could drive cetaceans away from their traditional habitats; the inclusion of technical adaptations required for banning drift nets, together with funding from FIFG.