Laura Sandys, MP for South Thanet, welcomed yesterday’s announcement by the Minister for Fisheries on the reform of EU fishing policy. The proposed changes to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) will mean a better deal for smaller fisherman, decentralising the decision-making process and bringing an end to discards.
Laura said: “I have been campaigning for a better deal for our Thanet fisherman for a long time. I have made strong representations to the Fisheries Minister and today had the opportunity to meet with him to discuss this. I also had the opportunity to ask the Minister in Parliament yesterday about what these reforms will mean for the localisation of management in Thanet and have been reassured that our fisherman will be closer to the decision-making process and will play a crucial role in this.”
“Between the campaigning of our fisherman, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s campaign and the dedication of the Minister, discards will now be a thing of the past.”
The reforms will:
· Put a ban on discarding fish that is edible and should not be wasted;
· Create a legally binding commitment to fishing at sustainable levels;
· Allow decision-making to take place by Member States so they are able to decide measures that are most appropriate for them;
Please find Laura’s questions to the Minister below:
Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (Con): The Minister is very self-effacing and really deserves the commendation of the fishermen of Ramsgate for his determination and persistence throughout some very difficult negotiations. My fishermen were very interested in what the localisation of the management of fisheries will mean in the long term. That means using the expertise of my fishermen to help manage their fisheries sustainably.
Richard Benyon: My hon. Friend will be coming to see me with a leading member of her local fishing community to discuss how we can introduce a better system of management for fishermen in her area. They will be closer to the decision-making process when they are part of that regionalised system of management, but I hope that they will also benefit from a rising biomass that will make them more prosperous. We are doing a great deal of work with stocks that they target in terms of survivability, and we are trying to ensure that the discards ban works not just for them, but for the marine environment.