UK: Fishing Rights? Fish stocks, EU, Fishing politics.

[Mr. X]

On TV this week [BBC Question Time, Conservative leadership debate] Tory leadership contender David Davies spoke of re-claiming Britains fishing rights (ironically & disasterously given up to the EU by late Tory leader Edward Heath after the Cod Wars & gun boat diplomacy of the 70's).

Any opinions of whether or not this will help preserve fish stocks? Bearing in mind we did contribute to depleting herring stocks in the 1950's & cod in the 1970's.

[My personal feeling is that it would likely be a VERY GOOD THING for Britain to re-establish control of its fishing grounds -- so that sustainable fishing practices can be enforced. Cornish fisherman were apparently devastated by the change. BUT our government also have a nasty habit (like the EU) of being over prissey, over controlling and over taxing...with a propensity to stealth tax anything and everything. So I have a few reservations too.]

[dave]

EU bashing always makes for good soundbites
Fishermen will always blame someone else for a lack of fish, its human nature, and the EU is an easy target. I dont believe the UK government would be any more likely to do a good job of managing the marine environment than the EU. Fishermen are too powerfully politically in certain key seats to allow some of the tough decisions which need to be made
The current political flavour of the month seams to be consulting commercial fishermen about the regulations they believe are needed. I was at a meeting recently where a commercial fishing rep stood up and said she didn't see the need for addressing Cetacean bycatch in inshore gill net fisheries, as dolphin and porpoise numbers needed reducing!Her reasoning was that as they eat fish they are therefore in competition with commercial interests who should be the first priority
Fisheries management needs to be based on sound science, not short term political expediency, unfortunately this is unlikely to happen, whoever is in charge.
cheers
dave
www.spearo.co.uk