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Proceeding contribution from Rob Marris (Labour) in the House of Commons on Monday, 26 October 2009. It occurred during Debate on bill on Marine and Coastal Access Bill [Lords].


Marine and Coastal Access Bill [Lords]

There we go, that is another red herring, as it is not in the Bill. If we look at the Bill, we find that clause 117(6)(b) refers to""enabling or facilitating …recovery or increase"" of stocks. Clause 129(3)(b) talks about "prohibiting or restricting entry", so there could be a prohibition, but the word "restricting" also appears in the Bill, which is of course different from "prohibiting". Clause 123(3)(a) refers to measures contributing to "the conservation or improvement" of stocks. The red herring is in amendment 44 and new clause 8, which my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby tabled, because he sees things as one or the other, as do elements in the fishing industry. Yes, I will demonise the fishing industry, although not individual fisher folk, because the industry has an appalling record. Sadly, that record has been maintained for many years, although, gradually, it is getting a bit better. Historically, it has an appalling record of fishing stocks out: we see that all over the world—we see it in the North sea; we see it in the collapse of the Canadian cod fishery off the Grand banks of Newfoundland; we see it in the collapse of the Pacific fishery off the west coast of Canada. By the way, that did not happen under a common fisheries policy, as that fishery is not covered by the North American Free Trade Agreement under national legislation.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
498 c104 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Access Common fisheries policy Conservation Coastal areas Cooperation Countryside Fisheries Environment protection Land use Inshore fishing Environment Agency Isles of Scilly Isle of Wight Estuaries Planning Public bodies Public footpaths Marine animals Wales Sports Rights of way Seas and oceans Welsh Government Angling Natural England Marine Management Organisation Marine conservation zones Inshore fisheries and conservation authorities
Legislation
Marine and Coastal Access Bill (HL) 2008-09
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk