Britain's dolphin's 'are facing extinction'

A rare dolphin could become extinct from Britain's waters within 10 years as threats to marine life intensify.

Bottlenose dolphins in the south-west of England and Scotland are dying out as greater numbers get caught in fishing nets, a report by the Wildlife Trusts warns today.

The organisation is calling for tougher laws to protect species and habitats and a single Government ministry to manage marine resources.

Dr Simon Lyster, director general of the Wildlife Trusts, which represents 47 trusts across the UK, said: "Our marine environment is in much more trouble than people realise.

"We are still fishing in ways that result in the deaths of hundreds of dolphins and porpoises each year, and in the destruction of precious and rare marine habitats."

A record number of 500 dolphins were found stranded on UK shores in the past year, with post-mortems showing the majority had been injured or drowned in nets, the report, called Our Dying Seas?, said. Two-thirds of the Bottlenose dolphins in Cornwall have disappeared over the past 10 years, with only 350 still resident in local waters.

Porpoise populations are also declining, with annual mortality at an unsustainable 6.2 per cent, according to a survey by Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Meanwhile, coral and horse mussels are under threat as their seabed homes are damaged.

Joan Edwards, marine policy director of the Wildlife Trusts, said: "The system of marine conservation in the UK is woefully deficient. The enormity of these problems demands immediate action and commitment from national and local government."

The trusts were urging members of the public to support the campaign by writing to their local MPs.