Mass Dolphin deaths shock France, over 1,100 wash ashore in 2019

In a heartwrenching development, France has been witnessing what is being called ‘Dead Dolphin Mystery.’ Over 1,100 dead dolphins have washed ashore on France's Atlantic coast since January. unprecedented deaths have been blamed on aggressive industrial fishing which has alarmed several Animal Welfare groups and has even prompted France’s ecology Minister to launch a national plan to protect m.

At mass beaching site, many were mutilated by fishing nets. French Ecology Minister Francois de Rugy on March 22, Friday rushed to La Rochelle in an attempt find a solution. French President Emmanuel Macron already has a pro-ecology stance and has often quoted slogan “Make Planet Great Again.”

READ: France’s EU Minister Takes A Dig At Britain, Names Her Cat 'Brexit'. Here’s Her Reason

French ecology minister has come up with some plans, including bolstering research into existing acoustic repellent devices that are in place in around 26 two-vessel trawlers off Bay of Biscay, an industrial fishing hub in Atlantic Ocean. devices will send unpleasant signals to nearby dolphins and cause m to swim away once activated. But critics, like Sea Shepherd, an environmental group, say that it will t go far eugh, calling this plan of action, ‘futile.’

Lamya Essemlali, Director of Sea Shephard in a recent interview with Bloomberg said, “ number is a record, highest number since past 40 years. But we have seen an increase in bycatch for past three years and right w, it’s such an alarming rate that scientists estimate that it can drive dolphin population to extinction. “

Sea Shepherd has also said that number of devices is t a long-term solution for underwater mammals because move would make ocean an unhabitable area of ise pollution.

People are t sure of reason behind causes for this spike in deaths, but some believe that it is because of fishing trawlers catching Sea Bass off Atlantic coast that are responsible for deaths. Autopsies indicate that dolphins sustain catastrophic injuries attempting to escape nets or when trawler crew attempt to cut m loose after y are caught.

“Extreme levels of mutilation,” said experts at Observatoire Pelagis, a marine research station at La Rochelle.

increasing deaths of dolphin population, global seafood consumption, and reasons for ir deaths are t just becoming a grave concern for welfare groups and environmental activists, but for entire population of France.