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EU: Common Fisheries Policy

Answer

We are building support for radical reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) through discussions with the EU Fisheries Commissioner and other member state Ministers, along with representatives of the fishing industry—both large-scale and under-10-metre fleets—MEPs, retailers and non-governmental organisations. Our focus is to simplify and decentralise fisheries management, enabling those closest to fisheries to plan for the long term integrating fisheries management and marine conservation and giving fishermen greater incentive to fish sustainably, including the means to end discards. The UK Government, however, are not simply waiting until reform of the CFP to take action on discards. We have already undertaken a number of initiatives that have delivered excellent results. Project 50%, a collaborative project between fishermen and the Government, saw discards in the South West sole fishery reduced by over 50 per cent. We are also pioneering an alternative ““catch quota”” management system that is based on managing and monitoring what is caught, not just what is landed. Cod discards by vessels participating in the 2010 trial were reduced significantly, and we are expanding the trial in 2011 to include more vessels and species. Furthermore, we are taking action through the Fishing for the Market project by seeking to encourage consumption of alternative and sustainable underutilised species that are presently discarded. The aim of which is to provide new opportunities for fishermen, as well as reduce discards.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

6790; 725 c224WA

Session

2010-12

Related items

EU: Common Fisheries Policy
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Written questions
House of Lords

Subjects

Common fisheries policy Fishing catches Reform

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk