Greenpeace in court bid to protect dolphins from nets

Environment pressure group Greenpeace is today launching a legal challenge in a bid to save dolphins from being drowned in large fishing nets.

The group is seeking court orders forcing the Government to completely ban "pair trawling" for sea bass within 200 miles of the UK.

The controversial fishing method, which traps dolphins, involves two boats dragging a net between them.

Greenpeace says Government observers witnessed just one pair of UK trawlers killing more than 150 dolphins last year.

The group reports UK and French fleets are estimated to drown more than 2000 common dolphins a year.

Greenpeace lawyers will argue before Mr Justice Stanley Burnton, sitting at the High Court in London, that the Government is obliged to take swift and effective action to protect the dolphin population under the EU Habitats Directive.

Source: news.scotsman.com