Gulf of Biscay fishing ban renewed to protect dolphins

The French government has renewed a fishing ban in the Gulf of Biscay for the fourth consecutive year to protect dolphin populations from accidental bycatch. According to an official decree, certain vessels equipped with trawls or nets will be prohibited from fishing for one month in early 2027.

The new regulations offer more flexibility for fishermen, allowing them to choose a 30-day period of inactivity within a six-week window between January 15 and February 27. The ban applies to vessels eight meters or longer using pelagic trawls, bottom trawls, pelagic seines, gillnets, or trammel nets. Specific areas such as the Gulf of Morbihan, the Arcachon Basin, and the Gironde estuary are excluded from this measure.

This decision follows a ruling by the Paris Administrative Court, which ordered the state to develop a national action plan within one year to ensure the long-term viability of dolphin populations. Data from the Pelagis Observatory indicates that previous closures helped reduce accidental captures by 60% during the 2024/2025 winter, with approximately 1,900 common dolphins dying compared to an average of 4,700 per winter between 2017 and 2023.