Helston MP Andrew George has called for immediate action to be taken to ban fishing methods believed to be responsible for the large number of dead dolphins washing up on Cornish shores.

Some 35 carcasses have been found on the county's beaches since January 1 and conservationists fear the death toll for 2004 could exceed last year's total of 255.

Speaking in a Commons debate this week, Mr George, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Fisheries Minister, called on the Government to take action to end pair trawling for bass - a practice blamed for many of the cetacean deaths.

Mr George also urged Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw to investigate the effects of industrial fishing and to introduce restrictions on fishing areas.

The Lib Dem MP is now seeking a meeting with French fisheries officials in an attempt to bring about better co-operation on the issue and greater compliance with EU rules.

Speaking after the debate, Mr George said: "Already this year large numbers of dolphins are being washed up dead on the beaches of my constituency.

"The Government should if necessary act unilaterally to make sure that this is the last winter when these strandings occur.

"We know that pair trawling for bass is a major cause of the deaths and DEFRA should also be looking closely at the effects of industrial fishing.

"The present situation is totally unacceptable and we cannot allow it to carry on drifting like this."

Dolphins become trapped in the two kilometre-long nets towed by bass pair trawlers. Escape hatches, which could help reduce the death rate, are not yet widely used, although the Government is monitoring boats, which are using the device, in order to record their efficiency.

Conservationists have questioned whether such hatches, and the audible "pingers" used in nets, do actually work.

Marine expert Nick Tregenza said the county was heading for a heavy death toll in 2004.

He said: "If the dolphins found good feeding here last year, we might get even more animals this year. If it turns out that the dolphins and the fishermen are targeting the same shoals of fish we are in for a heavy mortality again."

David Ball, owner of the Silver Dolphin Marine Conservation and Diving Centre in Porthleven, agreed more dead cetaceans than ever were likely to be washed up this year.

He warned that porpoises could disappear altogether from Cornish waters if the carnage continued.