Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Austin Mitchell (Labour), on Thursday, 5 February 1998, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 45 members in total.

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COASTAL STATES AND THE COMMON FISHERIES POLICY

That this House, concerned at the failures of the Common Fisheries Policy, welcomes the Joint Position Paper developed by the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation and endorsed by the All Party Fisheries Group; considers that its proposals for coastal state management and zonal management committees offer the best way to change fundamentally the over-centralised, lowest common denominator approach of a common fisheries policy which damages conservation and puts fishermen in intensifying competition with each other, rather than working together to protect and build stocks; urges that fishing policy be based on relative stability, sensible international co-operation and national conservation measures developed and enforced by the coastal states, on all vessels in their waters so as to reward those who co-operate to rebuild stocks by increased catches; considers that a system which involves fishermen in management and gives them a stake in their own fishing future is the best way forward to develop a fisheries policy to work for fishermen, protect the stocks and eliminate the follies of overfishing and dumping born of inflexible rules which bear no relation to local circumstances; and requests that fisheries ministers should meet urgently the two federations to make this strategy the centrepiece of the British EU presidency and of the negotiations beyond it, since reform of the cumbersome Common Fisheries Policy is essential and can only be achieved with the strongest possible backing from Her Majesty's Government.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received an amendment.

COASTAL STATES AND THE COMMON FISHERIES POLICY (747A1)

The Early day motion has received an amendment sponsored by John Wilkinson (primary, Conservative) and tabled on Thursday, 26 February 1998. It has been signed by 1 members in total.

leave out from 'policy' to end and add ' to conserve fish stocks in British Waters and to secure the livelihoods of British fishermen and those who work in related industries in the United Kingdom, urges Her Majesty's Government to withdraw from the Common Fisheries Policy and to ensure national responsibilty for the conservation of stocks and for the regulation of fisheries within the waters recognised in international maritime law as British out to 200 nautical miles from the coast of the United Kingdom, or where nearer to the median line with neighbouring states.'.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

747 

747A1 

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Common fisheries policy Conservation Fish National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations Scottish Fishermen's Federation All-Party Fisheries Group

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk