Sprat fishing has disrupted the food chain and diverted humpback, minke and fin whales as well as dolphins
||| FROM THE GUARDIAN |||
A whale-watching company has abandoned tours off Ireland’s southern Atlantic coast and declared the waters an empty, lifeless sea.
Colin Barnes, who ran Cork Whale Watch, announced he was closing the company because overfishing of sprat has disrupted the marine food chain and diverted humpback, minke and fin whales as well as dolphins.
“Sadly, our world-class whale watching is now a thing of the past,” Barnes said in a post this week. “A small number of greedy fishermen with huge trawlers have overfished the sprats to the point of near extinction. There is nothing left for the whales to prey upon so they have moved on in search of prey elsewhere.”
The company, based in the coastal village of Unionhall, had thrived for most of its 25 years, but only a few minke whales and small groups of dolphins now appeared in its search area, he said. “Over the last couple of years our trips have become totally disappointing. In this light I am truly sad to say we are closing down for good.”
The announcement prompted a public outcry and a promise from the government to do more to protect fish stocks and marine biodiversity.
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