Large numbers of dead fish are floating around the coast of France after the trawl on one of the world’s largest fishing trawlers is said to have been destroyed.
The French Minister of Marine Affairs, Annick Girardin, calls the catch leak from the Dutch giant trawler “Margiris” shocking, according to the newspaper The Guardian.
It was last Thursday that the huge blanket of dead fish was discovered. It is estimated that around 100,000 dead fish, probably of the blue whiting species, were found floating in the Bay of Biscay off the coast of France.
–Photos taken by the well-known environmental organization Sea Shepherd, show huge amounts of dead fish in a contiguous area of about 3,000 square meters, according to environmentalists.
Huge fishing vessel
The Dutch trawler Margiris is one of the world’s largest fishing vessels. It uses huge trawl gear that pulls up tons of fish on its voyages, including in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Dutch fishing industry’s interest group PFA (Pelagic Freezer-Trawler Association), which represents the trawler’s owner company, states that the catch leak is due to a damaged trawl gear.
–– PFA fully understands the feelings that these images create, PFA writes in a press release, where it also appears that this type of accident happens very rarely.
The organization also emphasizes that it is not in the members’ interest to lose fish. They regret that the fish will not be used for human consumption.
Investigated – accused of dumping
The French Minister of the Sea Annick Girardin has ordered that the incident be investigated by the French authorities.
The EU Commissioner for the Environment, the Sea and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevicius, has also said that the EU will investigate the special incident, seek information and evidence of what has happened.
The environmental organization Sea Shepherd, accuses the fishing vessel of having dumped the catch with knowledge and will – because it is expensive to go to port and unload so-called by-catch, says Lamya Essemlali, head of Sea Shepard in France, to the Canadian channel CBC.
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