The UK Government has recently licensed 12 new vessels designed to use 'electric pulse' gear in the name of science.

One of the biggest issues in conservation is the Japanese government's claim to be engaged in "scientific whaling". Much of the killing by its harpoon fleet takes place under the guise of "research", as this is the only justification available, under international rules.

While we focus our anger on a country on the other side of the world – the mass slaughter of the creatures of the sea under the guise of "scientific research" – is now being deployed by our own government, alongside the European commission and other member states.

Fishing in Europe with poisons, explosives and electricity is banned. But the commission has gradually been rescinding the ban on using electricity. It began with one or two boats, then in 2010, after ferocious lobbying by the government of the Netherlands, 5% of the Dutch trawler fleet was allowed to use this technique. In 2012 the proportion was raised to 10%. Eighty-five massive Dutch supertrawlers have now been equipped with electric pulse gear, at a cost of around £300,000 per ship.

Over the past few months, the UK government has licensed a further 12 ships. These are registered in the UK and fly the Union flag, which means that they are allowed to fish within our 12-mile limit, but according to some in the fishing industry at least some of the boats have been financed and equipped by Dutch companies.

Pulse trawling, as the technique is known, uses electricity to flush flatfish or shrimp out of the sediments in which they hide. The electric shock makes them convulse and flip upwards, into the net.  Electric fishing can greatly increase the catch of these species.

Read more here http://bit.ly/1ERSu06