The French government will temporarily ban almost all commercial fishing in the Bay of Biscay to protect dolphins, much to the dismay of the industry. It follows calls by environmental activists to protect the marine mammals, pointing to a surge in dolphin deaths on the Atlantic coast. From Finistere in the extreme west of Brittany to the Spanish border, fishing will cease almost entirely until February 20. On Thursday, the French government broadened the ban to all ships, regardless of origin, while promising to support fishermen and fishmongers. The organisation estimates that around 9,000 dolphins die each year off the French Atlantic coast as a result of accidental capture.