French driftnetters will not fish in 2008
Driftnets, a fishing gear that can reach dozens of kilometres in length, were prohibited in the European Union in 2002 because they constitute a threat to the conservation of cetaceans, sea turtles and sharks. Oceana has reported that Italy and France continue using this illegal fishing gear to capture bluefin tuna and swordfish, years after the ban entered into force. The European Court of Justice has refused to grant the French fleet a temporary exemption to permit the use of driftnets.