"This weekend was a hecatomb, the worst since the beginning of the year," says Hélène Peltier, biologist at the Pelagis observatory, a public institute specializing in the study and conservation of birds and marine mammals in La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime). Since January 1, 600 carcasses of cetaceans - mainly common dolphins and some porpoises - have been discovered on the coasts of the Atlantic coast.
At the same time last year, 470 corpses were counted. A record, already, which had led to this estimate: of the 200,000 dolphins recorded in the Bay of Biscay, 11,500 perished between January and April 2019 near the French coast (more than 80% of the bodies disappear at sea without leaving any traces). The current count could thus lead to a macabre threshold never reached before at the end of the winter period.
Acoustic repellents on trawlers
First targeted, fishermen say they are "mobilized" against accidental catches. The fifteen pairs of pelagic trawlers that regularly cruise in the Bay of Biscay are now equipped with "pingers". These acoustic repellents supposed to scare dolphins have shown a 65% reduction in accidental catches, according to Pelagis. The observatory is also working with Ifremer (the French research institute for the exploitation of the sea) to improve this system. "The idea is to orient the acoustic repulsion at the entrance of the trawl and only trigger the pingers when approaching the dolphins," explains Hélène Peltier.
How to end the carnage of dolphins on the French coast
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Eyes are now turning to the 400 or so spinner who dump thousands of kilometers of nets into the area every day. Pingers are currently being tested on these boats, but only when the nets are put into the water. "The objective is not to generalize repellents, but to understand interactions with dolphins," warns Perrine Ducloy, project manager on accidental catches with the National Committee for Marine Fisheries and Marine Breeding (CNPMEM).
"Ban non-selective and destructive fishing methods"
"That's enough! Let's stop with the pingers, they were already talking about it in the 1990s, these are elements of language ", insists Lamya Essemlali, the president of Sea Shepherd France. The NGO is currently carrying out a fishery monitoring mission in the Gulf with two vessels to "alert the public". Sea Shepherd calls for "prohibiting non-selective and destructive fishing methods".
At the end of January, his images showing fishermen cutting a dolphin to eat its flesh went around the world. "Black sheep, a minority of fishermen, an unacceptable practice", repeats for its part the National Committee for Fisheries. "Omerta and lack of transparency," retorts Lamya Essemlali who calls for the installation of cameras on board ships. "This would allow us to see more clearly and transmit reliable data to scientists," she believes. "We have no official position on this subject," explains Perrine Ducloy. But it seems quite intrusive and difficult for professionals to accept. ”
Reconnaissance flights to follow small cetaceans
Since the start of winter, the Pelagis observatory has been conducting reconnaissance flights in the Bay of Biscay. Objective: better understand the distribution of small cetaceans. “We have already seen seasonal variations. Since mid-January, dolphins have been closing in closer to the coast to track their food. But if they come there, the fishermen too, ”decrypts Hélène Peltier. The biologist calls for "taking more restrictive measures" to rise to the challenges. A national plan is being developed by government.