Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dolphins, porpoises, whales, harbour seals and other protected species have been accidentally caught by commercial fishing vessels operating in UK waters by vessels registered (a) in the UK, (b) in other EU countries and (c) elsewhere in each of the last 10 years.

We do not have information on the exact number of dolphins, porpoises, whales, harbour seals and other protected species which have been accidentally caught by commercial fishing vessels operating in UK waters. Estimates derived from observer data can be found at: http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&ProjectID=18535.

We do not hold data on other EU countries’ vessels which means we are unable carry out robust assessments.