It’s great news that European fisheries ministers in Brussels have finally agreed that the new Common Fisheries Policy must be radically decentralised.
This would give more power to member states and to the fishing industry. It is quite clear to me that the existing system has failed the industry.
Hopefully the new Common Fisheries Policy will mean that less fish are needlessly discarded and more people can be attracted into the industry.
As a Conservative I am committed to a profitable and sustainable fish industry in Newlyn. It is clear that fishermen must have more power if this is to be achieved.
The current Common Fisheries Policy has been criticised both by scientists concerned with dwindling fish stocks, and by fishermen, who say it is threatening their livelihoods.
Targeting 'discards'
The European Commission itself admits the situation created by overfishing is "serious" - and yet in the last decade thousands of trawlermen across Europe have been forced to give up, many blame European regulations for driving them out of business.
EU member states are now being asked for their input on a new fisheries policy - one which officials promise will be radically different from the existing one.
A central aim is to minimise so-called "discarding" - throwing fish back to sea, dead or alive, because quotas have already been reached. For every kilogram of cod that was taken back to port from the North Sea in 2007 another kilogram was thrown back - mostly dead, according to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. It is essential that the fishing industry has a far greater input into creating the new policy and making it work in the long-term. Whatever is eventually agreed, the new Common Fisheries Policy must end the "discards" procedure; it must encourage fishermen to only target the fish they want and provide scientists with precise data on which to base their advice on stock numbers.
In the past year the Fishing Industry in Newlyn has been visited by some high profile Conservative MPs. David Cameron, Conservative Party Leader, met with representatives of the industry last summer to discuss the problem of discard and high fuel costs. In April this year Richard Benyon MP, Shadow Minister for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, joined Derek Thomas to discuss with the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, possible solutions to the problem of the discard problem. During his visit Richard Benyon assured Paul Trebilcock, Chief Executive, that the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation would be included in drawing up a new agreement, should the Conservatives form the next government.
The new European Common Fisheries Policy is due to be completed by 2012 and whilst Fishermen broadly welcome the review many fear it could be too late. Let’s hope this time it takes into account the views of the fishermen and conservation in a mature way.
This would give more power to member states and to the fishing industry. It is quite clear to me that the existing system has failed the industry.
Hopefully the new Common Fisheries Policy will mean that less fish are needlessly discarded and more people can be attracted into the industry.
As a Conservative I am committed to a profitable and sustainable fish industry in Newlyn. It is clear that fishermen must have more power if this is to be achieved.
The current Common Fisheries Policy has been criticised both by scientists concerned with dwindling fish stocks, and by fishermen, who say it is threatening their livelihoods.
Targeting 'discards'
The European Commission itself admits the situation created by overfishing is "serious" - and yet in the last decade thousands of trawlermen across Europe have been forced to give up, many blame European regulations for driving them out of business.
EU member states are now being asked for their input on a new fisheries policy - one which officials promise will be radically different from the existing one.
A central aim is to minimise so-called "discarding" - throwing fish back to sea, dead or alive, because quotas have already been reached. For every kilogram of cod that was taken back to port from the North Sea in 2007 another kilogram was thrown back - mostly dead, according to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. It is essential that the fishing industry has a far greater input into creating the new policy and making it work in the long-term. Whatever is eventually agreed, the new Common Fisheries Policy must end the "discards" procedure; it must encourage fishermen to only target the fish they want and provide scientists with precise data on which to base their advice on stock numbers.
In the past year the Fishing Industry in Newlyn has been visited by some high profile Conservative MPs. David Cameron, Conservative Party Leader, met with representatives of the industry last summer to discuss the problem of discard and high fuel costs. In April this year Richard Benyon MP, Shadow Minister for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, joined Derek Thomas to discuss with the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, possible solutions to the problem of the discard problem. During his visit Richard Benyon assured Paul Trebilcock, Chief Executive, that the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation would be included in drawing up a new agreement, should the Conservatives form the next government.
The new European Common Fisheries Policy is due to be completed by 2012 and whilst Fishermen broadly welcome the review many fear it could be too late. Let’s hope this time it takes into account the views of the fishermen and conservation in a mature way.
