And they called it conservation - have discards died a death?
A meeting of European fisheries ministers in Brussels concluded with a consensus for a new Common Fisheries Policy to be radically decentralised.
Ever since fish and sheep were swapped by the Heath government for EEC entrance tokens back in the 70s - the introduction of the Common Fisheries Policy has grown into a huge carbuncle on the back of the UK's fishing industry while it tried to match catches to quotas - in every sense an amoral means of conservation - the CFP has caused thousands of tons and millions of pounds worth of fish to be dumped dead needlessly in the name of conservation - an impossible goal in any mixed fishery. At last it seems that the grossly simplistic policy, at best designed to create accord and appease EU member states at various times, is in the process of being written out of existence which should see the end of prosecutions all round the UK for landing black fish.
Next week, the latest victims of these prosecutions are due to be fined at Plymouth Crown Court according to their gain from selling 'over quota' fish - the future will hopefully see something different - a more regionalised fisheries management process brought into being where responsibility for fish stocks is devolved down to those whom think they know best - the fishermen involved from each member state - should be interesting to see what form and how this is implemented! Hopefully industry excesses of the past will, with the benefit of hindsight, serve as a reminder what happens when there are no controls - think herring and cod or, for local examples, crayfish, ling and skate.
The EU has called on all for thoughts and ideas - now anyone can have their say it seems.
Listen to the SFA's spokesperson, Bertie Armstrong here:
Ever since fish and sheep were swapped by the Heath government for EEC entrance tokens back in the 70s - the introduction of the Common Fisheries Policy has grown into a huge carbuncle on the back of the UK's fishing industry while it tried to match catches to quotas - in every sense an amoral means of conservation - the CFP has caused thousands of tons and millions of pounds worth of fish to be dumped dead needlessly in the name of conservation - an impossible goal in any mixed fishery. At last it seems that the grossly simplistic policy, at best designed to create accord and appease EU member states at various times, is in the process of being written out of existence which should see the end of prosecutions all round the UK for landing black fish.
Next week, the latest victims of these prosecutions are due to be fined at Plymouth Crown Court according to their gain from selling 'over quota' fish - the future will hopefully see something different - a more regionalised fisheries management process brought into being where responsibility for fish stocks is devolved down to those whom think they know best - the fishermen involved from each member state - should be interesting to see what form and how this is implemented! Hopefully industry excesses of the past will, with the benefit of hindsight, serve as a reminder what happens when there are no controls - think herring and cod or, for local examples, crayfish, ling and skate.
The EU has called on all for thoughts and ideas - now anyone can have their say it seems.
Listen to the SFA's spokesperson, Bertie Armstrong here:
posted by Laurence Hartwell at
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
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