A quiet day today. We're out scanning the seas for pair trawlers, but so far nothing on the radar.

So I thought I'd write a blog about another aspect of the pair trawl sea bass fishery - aside from the high numbers of dolphins being killed in their nets - that I've learned about since I've been onboard and chatting with the crew and oceans campaigners.

I hadn't realised until I came out here that these trawlers are in the Channel at this time of year because it is the sea bass spawning, or breeding, season.

Responsible fishermen, who want to be able to fish in the long term, avoid fishing in spawning grounds during the breeding season. This is because if you fish in this way you will catch pregnant fish and small immature fish, who if left to grow will themselves reproduce and replenish stocks. So they know they'd be shooting themselves in the foot.

Francois, the French oceans campaigner onboard, tells me that some French fishermen are supporting the campaign to ban sea bass pair trawlers for this very reason. For instance, local line fishermen from North Finistere have added their voice to those calling for tighter controls on sea bass fisheries. Recently they even undertook a protest against the pair trawlers Mary Christo and Thomas-Nicholas when they came into the port of Roscoff to unload six tonnes of sea bass.

And certainly when we've gone into port during this trip we've had a lot of support from the local boating and fishing communities. One moment that sticks in my mind is a harbour master giving us a friendly wave and a 'you take care of yourselves - keep up the good work!' as we left the dock.

So don't forget - if you love eating seabass, only buy it if it's guaranteed not to come from pair trawlers. Otherwise you're not only subsidising a fishery that kills huge numbers of dolphins - but longer term you're risking not being able to buy your favourite fish supper.

Louise, Press officer

Actually the sea bass spawn like nearly all of the other fish in uk waters, so the boats are not catching "pregnant fish" and the "small immature fish" don't go out to the spawning grounds until they are old enough to breed, and anyway what do you think all the dolphins are doing there ??? they are there for the same reason that the fishermen are out there to catch sea bass........ Any way you talk about line fishing for sea bass being better. but else where on your site you campaign against line fishing, because it kills sea birds. The whole point of your campaign is to get headlines for yourself and then move onto the next cause!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but never mind maybe the scottish fishermen will get some practice in with the tatties and carrots for next year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!