The British-based conservation group Out of the Driftnet, Into the Trawl, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), fears that despite the imminent New Year introduction of an EU ban on driftnets there will be an increase in dolphin deaths.
According to the WDCS, Irish driftnetters in the north east Atlantic are reported to have successfully converted to pair trawling for tuna.
Studies have shown that pair trawl fishery, which targets sea bass and mackerel, incidentally catches dolphins and porpoises. But at present only a few UK vessels are being monitored by observers.
In a statement, Out of the Driftnet, Into the Trawl, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), warned that although many dolphins will be saved by the end of the "walls of death" in Europe, thousands more will continue to be killed as fishermen turn to gill nets and pair trawling.
The society is deeply critical of the lack of action to address this problem both within the UK and Europe.
WDCS is challenging the UK Government and its European partners to act in 2002 to introduce a formal Bycatch Response Strategy.
This should include strong measures requiring the monitoring and prevention of dolphin and porpoise deaths and closure of fisheries where bycatch reduction targets are not met.
"The ban on driftnets is extremely good news - it's something we have been campaigning for for decades - but that is not the end of the story.
"There are all sorts of others fisheries including pair trawling which involves two boats operating as a team, towing a net together with double the power and at a higher speed - which are equally dangerous to dolphins.
"We want a strict monitoring and categorising system for fishing by an independent observer, as they do in the US. Any problems would be identified and necessary action taken."
PA