A ban on inshore fishing, dolphin risk hotspots, and 80km of abandoned nets
Big Blue Bulletin #61
Welcome to the latest edition of the Big Blue Bulletin – things have changed just a little bit around here as featured stories will now focus on whales, dolphins, and porpoises, with a little bit of commentary from me thrown in as well. Still, you can expect good news, bad news, and a cute creature in your inbox every week.
Let’s dive in 🐬
Ocean news
🗞️ Big news of the week -
⛔ Ban on inshore fishing of sprat to protect whales, birdlife and other sea mammals
The Irish Government has approved a phased ban on industrial sprat fishing within six nautical miles of the coast, aimed at protecting whales, dolphins, seabirds, and broader marine biodiversity. From October, large vessels will face strict quotas, with a full ban on trawling set for 2026. Sprat is a key forage fish, and the move marks a major shift in how Ireland manages its inshore waters.
⛵ British sailors warned after killer whales ram boat off coast of northern Spain
A French sailboat was struck by killer whales off the coast near Deba, prompting a rescue by Spanish coastguards. The two sailors were unharmed, but UK authorities have advised caution for vessels in the area. While such encounters are rare this far north they’ve become more frequent in recent years, especially in the Strait of Gibraltar’s so-called “orca alley”.
🗽 Interpol takes whaling activist, Sea Shepherd founder off wanted list
Interpol has dropped its red notice for Paul Watson, the founder of Sea Shepherd, who was wanted by Japan over a 2010 clash with a whaling ship. The global policing body deemed the notice “disproportionate”, ending years of legal limbo for the veteran anti-whaling activist. Watson simply said: “Finally I am free.”
🔍 Research to identify risk hotspots for dolphins
PhD students from the University of Plymouth are identifying threat hotspots for dolphins and other marine animals in the Channel Islands and wider south coast—an important marine mammal area. Early findings highlight how disturbance from boats, like a RIB cutting through a bottlenose pod, can interfere with communication. They stress how important it is to keep at least a 100m distance to protect these vulnerable populations.
💙 Pod of dolphins captured soaring alongside Waverley paddle steamer
A pod of dolphins was captured swimming alongside the iconic Waverley paddle steamer as it left the dock in Largs, North Ayrshire. The drone footage, filmed by local photographer Pix by Pedro, shows the animals keeping pace with the vessel.
💀 Fishing boat off Shetland abandoned 80km of nets in seas for almost a month
A vessel operating north of Shetland abandoned more than 80km of gillnets at sea for nearly four weeks—well beyond the legal three-day limit—raising concerns about harm to marine life and weak enforcement of key regulations. Despite the breach, the crew received only a warning, and the Scottish Government closed its investigation after being told the nets were being retrieved, though they remained in the water for another 10 days. Local fishers and politicians are now calling for stricter gillnet regulations and better monitoring.
Have a great weekend! 📸
Cover image by Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision.
Re: the dolphins and the paddle steamer - I experienced the pleasure of dolphins bow-riding ahead of a 40 ft private trawler with friends on Puget Sound some years ago. We could lay on the short bowsprit and basically look straight down at them from about 4-5 feet above the waterline. Almost could touch them! What a memory.