Despite strict European rules aimed at saving the intelligent marine mammals, thousands are still suffering lingering deaths around our coastline after become entangled.

A new report today shows how only the UK among 15 EU nations is doing its best to stop cetaceans enduring terrible wounds and suffocating as “by catch”.

According to a Whale and Dolphin Conservation report, the Spanish government “persistently ignores” the EU regulations aimed at preventing these tragedies.

Details of the study were released today in the run up to a Brussels vote on the incidental catching of cetaceans after the conservation group looked at nine years of data from the 15 EU Member States that fish commercially in the North East Atlantic.

WDC says its reviews shows the current “bycatch” regulation is being flouted by member states and is also too weak to reduce the problem.

Spain, Finland and Sweden are singled out for being “notably poor” while only the UK has implemented their obligations fully.

Additionally, more than a decade after the regulation was introduced, “wholly inadequate” monitoring and use of mitigation measures – such as acoustic deterrents – across fishing fleets mean bycatch rates may be higher in some areas, creating population level impacts.

The study’s author, WDC’s Dr Fiona Read, said today: “What this study shows is shocking. The UK is way above the others, but this is not a level playing field. 

"The EU needs to strengthen not weaken bycatch meaures. Better compliance measures are urgently required.

“Despite the repeated evidence and recent reviews by scientific experts, and the EU Commission itself, that monitoring and mitigation measures are not currently fit for purpose, we are gravely concerned that bycatch measures will not be improved and might actually be weakened when MEPs vote.”

The report comes in the lead up to a European parliamentary vote on replacing the regulation, with WDC warning that efforts led by Spain, which has Europe's biggest fishing fleet, could mean the existing rules are weakened further.

WDC is calling for EU countries to be compelled to comply with the rules and to implement any future measures that replace them, in an effort to reduce bycatch.

Among a series of recommendations, the report also calls for vessels to have observers onboard or remote electronic monitoring to check on bycatch, and to put in more measures to prevent the mammals being caught up in nets and gear.