Just after lunchtime yesterday we made our first contact with pair trawlers. First, the sight of two parallel blips on the radar some of us are all too familiar with. Then we could see them as a pair of dots on the horizon. Once we'd got closer we could recognise through the binoculars the two UK trawlers, Ocean Star and Ocean Crest (pictured).

This pair was encountered last year fishing here for sea bass, and has been down in this area pair trawling since November this season. Ocean Star and Ocean Crest have been observed over the past few years, and we *know* they kill dolphins while fishing. Last year onboard observers witnessed 169 common dolphins killed as bycatch by UK bass pair trawlers alone.

We made radio contact with the pair trawlers - who didn't seem very keen to respond. We explained to them why were here, and that their fishing operation was endangering the common dolphin population in the area. We asked them to stop fishing and move out of the area. We then started to launch a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) to have a closer look and document their fishing operation.

Just as we launched the RIB the pair started moving together. From experience we know this means they're probably coming together so that one boat can take the net and haul it in. Sure enough they hauled the net, which was completely empty. Then they reset the net and started fishing again, but hauled in a few minutes later, and started steaming off towards Plymouth.

We spent the night at anchor. This morning we're heading out again to look for more trawlers...

Willie, Campaigner

Hi Owain

Sadly the UK government's 'ban' is barely worth the paper it's written on. It was announced at the Labour Party Conference in September 2004,
by Ben Bradshaw, as was the intention to 'licence' vessels operating in the fishery, and force them to use 'mitigation measures'.

The licensing scheme never happened, and the ban only came into force in mid January, months after the fishery started.

In reality very little pair trawling happens within 12nm anyway, and the ban doesn't even apply to French vessels - which can pair trawl up to the 6nm line around the UK with impunity.

The government's own research has shown that rates of bycatch are higher in this fishery further out to sea. By imposing the 12nm ban, and not limiting or lessening the amount of vessels taking part in the fishery, they may actually be INCREASING the bycatch of dolphins by bass pair trawlers.

Willie, Campaigner

I believe the government has announced a unilateral ban on pair trawling for bass effectively immediately.

The ban will be implemented within the 12 mile limit of the UK's waters. A licensing system will also be introduced for UK vessels that operate within the 12 to 200 miles zone. If this is so these pair trawlers were operating illegally.