By Gemma Lougheed - 8th June 2005
The EU has taken a step closer to ‘dolphin-safe tuna’ following a vote in the European Parliament on Thursday.
MEPs endorsed the International Dolphin Conservation Programme by 473 to just six against with 11 abstentions.
The EU is now set to sign up to stricter standards for tuna fishing aimed at preventing guarantee dolphin deaths and danger to other species such as turtles and sharks in fishermen’s nets.
Previous dolphin friendly labels have certified tuna caught by fishermen aiming to reduce dolphin deaths but stopped short of guaranteeing that dolphins would be safe.
UK PES MEP Catherine Stihler hailed a victory for “people's purchasing power”.
“Consumers will not accept unnecessary deaths or damage to the environment to catch their food,” she said.
“This is another step forward in our fight for an ethical food industry that ensures fair and safe practices and minimum damage to our environment.”
Europe consumes 530,000 tonnes of canned tuna every year, half of which is imported, from areas such as the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
1,500 dolphins were killed in 2002 compared to 150,000 in 1989 under other 'dolphin friendly' schemes.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation certification is the only dolphin safe scheme that guarantees consumers tuna is captured without death or serious injury to dolphins.
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