Reducing Harbor Porpoise By-Catch in the Black Sea

Summary

Thousands of dolphins and porpoises die each year in the Black Sea fisheries. The nets they use now would be replaced with dolphin-safe nets.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

“Caught in nets: WWF report identifies dolphins, porpoises most in need of urgent action” – June 9, 2005. Nine dolphin and porpoise populations around the world need immediate action if they are to survive the threat of entanglement in fishing gear. They include harbor porpoises in the Black Sea, where thousands of porpoises are killed each year. Worldwide, fishing gear kills more than 300,000 dolphins and porpoises every year.

How will this project solve this problem?

1) Scientists from the Ukraine will help organize the fishermen. 2) The test would run one season. 3) Recommendations about replacing current nets would be made to all countries fishing in the Black Sea.

Potential Long Term Impact

The objective is to reduce negative human impact on the environment. This will benefit the fishermen because their fishery will not be shut down. Success in the Black Sea should spill over to the Mediterranean.

Project Message

My nets represent the only known solution to dolphin and porpoise capture that are affordable to fishermen in developing countries.
- Norman Holy, President, Better Gear, LLC

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources