Neil Carmichael - MP for Stroud

My response to the fish fight campaign

In recent months I have been asked my position on Fish Discards and the Common Fisheries Policy and what I'll do to further the Fish Fight campaign. This is an open letter I have sent to those concerned:

 

You will be pleased to hear that I am supportive of the motion, and was a signatory to EDM 1123 supporting the campaign earlier this year. Throwing dead fish back into the sea is wrong and a terrible waste. It is disruptive to marine ecosystems, ethically wrong and damages the viability of the fishing industry. The Common Fisheries Policy needs to be overhauled to overcome this problem.

A special meeting of EU ministers was held in March 2011 on fish discards - the UK is keen to lead the way in seeing an end to this disgraceful waste of huge amounts of fish. The European Commission is aiming to finalise its proposals this year.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has various initiatives to tackle the problem of fish discards. Projects include funding "Project 50%" to get participating fishermen to design more selective nets. This has resulted in dramatic reductions in discards. The Government has also been testing a new catch quota system which reduces discards of small, juvenile fish and ensures that fishermen do not continue to fish once they have caught their quota. Another project, "Fishing for the Market", is seeking to encourage consumers to try a wider range of fish, to reduce discards of unpopular species.

Also, in April Defra launched a public consultation on fisheries management reform in England. More information and details about how you can respond to the consultation can be found here:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2011/04/05/fisheries-1104/

The Government is working hard to find long term solutions to this problem. The solution to discards will most effectively be achieved with Member States working together at European level, so that the same rules apply to all. Ending the waste of discards is a high priority. I hope you have also contacted the Members of the European Parliament for the region as they are part of the EU law making process and their support in bringing about any change is vital.

I can confirm that I attended and spoke in support of the motion last week as you requested and you can view my contribution by following the links on my website at www.neilcarmichael.co.uk

NEIL CARMICHAEL

Tags: Berkeley Vale | Cam and Dursley | Stonehouse | Stroud East | Stroud West | North Stroud | Upton St. Leonards | Bisley and Painswick | Rodborough | Nailsworth and Painswick | Chalford

This entry was posted on 17 May 2011 at 10:15 and is filed under Local Business | Local Policy | The Environment | Jobs and Welfare | The Community.