An increasing number of mutilated carcasses of Harbor Porpoises, on average 1.50 meters in length, have stranded in recent months on beaches at Texel, an island north east of the Dutch mainland. Ecomare, the centre for the Wadden- and North Sea, says the killings of the animals found in a total of 120 strandings in recent months can be contributed to the Danish fishing vessels which operated along the Dutch coast over the winter period.
Fishers will often kill and cut the Porpoises out of their nets, instead of cutting the nets around the animals to free them from being trapped. According to Ecomare director Just van den Broek many reports have come in of stranded carcasses from which the insides were cut out, apparently in an effort to make the carcasses sink to the bottom of the sea quicker.
Although the sea mammals are protected by law, those operating fishing vessels will often choose the cheaper and easier methods of getting rid off so called "by catch" in order to protect their investments and profits. In the last 3 months over 100 killed Harbor Porpoises have stranded on Dutch beaches, compared to a total of 46 in all of 2008. About half of those found were cut open and/or had been mutilated.
Although the Royal Netherlands Institute For Sea Research (NIOZ) has sent a letter to the Dutch Minister for Fisheries and the Environment about the situation, it is clear that an alarming situation as this needs a quick and concise response. International agreements as well as Dutch law give clear opportunities for prosecution of those responsible. If the Dutch authorities as well as marine protection groups join forces to get to the bottom of this, hopefully these beautiful yet unfortunate creatures will get the justice they deserve.
Although the sea mammals are protected by law, those operating fishing vessels will often choose the cheaper and easier methods of getting rid off so called "by catch" in order to protect their investments and profits. In the last 3 months over 100 killed Harbor Porpoises have stranded on Dutch beaches, compared to a total of 46 in all of 2008. About half of those found were cut open and/or had been mutilated.
Although the Royal Netherlands Institute For Sea Research (NIOZ) has sent a letter to the Dutch Minister for Fisheries and the Environment about the situation, it is clear that an alarming situation as this needs a quick and concise response. International agreements as well as Dutch law give clear opportunities for prosecution of those responsible. If the Dutch authorities as well as marine protection groups join forces to get to the bottom of this, hopefully these beautiful yet unfortunate creatures will get the justice they deserve.
