EU Responds To The Two Grahams Call

10.25.32am GMT Tue 15th Mar 2005

Graham Oakes, Lib Dem PPC for South Dorset and Graham Watson M.E.P. Lib Dem Leader at the European Parliament campaign to save the dolphins has started to be successful.

The European Commission has committed itself to "an early review of the data on bycatch of small cetaceans (dolphins and porpoises) in the English Channel and western approaches.

Member states were required to undertake a series of measures including observer schemes and the use of pingers.

Graham Oakes commented "I am pleased that the EU has agreed to review the data now rather than leave it until 2008. The dolphin watch at Durlston Park will be a key provider of data in that review. I understand that the pingers have not proved to be the solution we had all hoped they would be. Now we must press the EU for further measures including reducing Bass pair trawling."