Closure of the Bay of Biscay:

 

From Les Pêcheurs de Bretagne whoae aim is to promote the professions, women and men of fishing and encourage consumers to choose responsible fishing products from the PO. 

Today marks the start of the month-long closure of the Bay of Biscay, affecting around 300 fishing vessels (pelagic trawlers, gillnetters and purse seiners).

This measure, validated by the Council of State on December 30th last for the winters 2025 and 2026, follows the decree taken urgently in December 2023. It raises numerous questions and worries a sector already under pressure.

Despite the closure, the 2024 data shows that the number of strandings remained within the average of recent years. An observation that invites us to question the real effectiveness of this measure and the other factors that can influence these phenomena.

How have fishermen mobilized in recent years to meet the challenges related to this issue? 

• What are the real stakes of this decision? 
• The Fishermen of Brittany wish to shed light on the debate by taking a step back.

Since 2016, the first year marked by an increase in strandings of marine mammals, Breton fishermen have never ceased to be proactive, to develop concrete and sustainable solutions allowing the coexistence between cetaceans and fishermen.

Over the next few weeks, we will publish a series of thematic posts to decipher the major issues related to this decision and the issue of strandings.

Dolphin population in the Bay of Biscay: an increase in interactions does not necessarily lead to a decline in populations. * Fishermen/scientists research programs: a look back at initiatives since 2017 (PIC, LICADO, DOLPHIN FREE, OBSCAMe…).

Closure of the Bay of Biscay: a short-term decision that threatens the sustainability of the sector, and results to be nuanced. 

Projection after 2026: the expectations and proposals of professionals to get out of this situation.