 More than 250 dolphins have been washed up on the region's beaches |
International agreement could be reached this week to put a stop to the dolphin deaths in South West waters. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is meeting to consider the so-called Berlin agreement.
Dolphins are currently being destroyed in their hundreds and giant trawler nets are being blamed.
More than 250 have been found washed up on the region's beaches so far this year.
The measures being considered by the IWC in Germany this week would put dolphins and porpoises in the same protection category as whales.
That would mean the IWC, which was initially set up 60 years ago to manage the exploitation of whales, would have a far wider conservation remit.
To be passed, a simple majority vote is needed from the 50 member countries.
The UK is planning to back it, but fishing countries like Japan and Norway are expected to be hostile.