'Campaigners are making a difference on fish rules' - Euro MP

MEPs and others demonstrating outside the offices of the European Commission

A campaign backed by thousands of people in the North West to change European fishing rules and prevent the collapse of fish stocks in British waters has been boosted by an announcement of reform plans in Brussels.

Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki has unveiled proposals designed to end discarding of dead fish at sea, requiring fishermen to land everything they catch.

The commissioner is also proposing a reduction in the size of the fishing fleet and for fisheries management to take place at a more local level with fish being caught in smaller numbers until stock levels recover.

North West Euro-MP Arlene McCarthy, said: "The public campaign is having an impact, with the European Commission now recognising that the status-quo is not an option.

"The fact that the European Commission is talking about major changes is thanks to the efforts of campaigners across the North West, who have joined hundreds of thousands of others in piling on the pressure."

Ms McCarthy added: "This is an important first step on the road to reform, but there is still a long way to go until we have a fisheries policy that is fit for purpose.

"We must now look at the proposals in detail and see how they can be built upon through the coming months of negotiations to deliver a fisheries policy that is good for fish, for consumers and for the long-term interests of our fishermen."

Chris Davies MEP, secretary of the European Parliament's cross-party 'Fish for the Future' group said: "The Commissioner has made a good start with these proposals, but we need to go further. Our seas are capable of supporting many times more fish than now exist, and it is not too late for the situation to be reversed, but we have now reached a crisis point.

"First we must stop overfishing, then we must put more fish back in the sea. That way we can ensure a future for fish and a future for fishermen."

“Powerful vested interests want to keep fishing in depleted seas until there are no fish left.

“It is as if we have declared war on fish and we’re winning.

“There will need to be some short term pain in Europe’s fishing industry to lead to sustainable fish stocks and a long term future for communities that live off the sea.”