Figures obtained by the Conservatives reveal fishermen are forced to throw away millions of tonnes of dead fish back in the sea every year.

Eric Ollerenshaw, prospective Conservative MP for Lancaster & Fleetwood, said: “It is staggering that Labour have failed to deal with this total scandal of fishermen forced to throw back parts of their catch.  You would have thought they could at least pull this one nail out of the coffin they have created for what is left of Fleetwood’s fishing industry.”

Between 2001 and 2006, the number of fishermen at Fleetwood fell from 206 to 127.

End Fish Discards

Shadow Fisheries Minister Bill Wiggin has met with EU Fishing Commissioner Joe Borg this week to discuss Conservatives proposals to end fish discards.  In the North Sea, English and Welsh fishing vessels have thrown back five million cod in the last three years.   In 2007, they were forced to throw back three out of every four plaice caught.

For every cod we buy in our local fish and chip shop another fish is being chucked back into the sea dead.

Bill Wiggin, Shadow Fisheries

Commenting, Shadow Fisheries Minister, Bill Wiggin said: “For every cod we buy in our local fish and chip shop another fish is being chucked back into the sea dead.  Our fish stocks are in a perilous state and most people will be shocked at the amount of fish wasted each year due to a system that is immoral and environmentally wrong.

“We want fishermen to land all their catch so that we can build a true picture of our fish stocks and make informed decisions based on scientific evidence.

“This will means better quota allocations and marine conservation measures.   Funds raised from over-quota fish will be used to help the fishing industry invest in targeted and sustainable gear.  Unless we urgently change our fishing practices our marine biodiversity faces further serious decline along with our fishing communities.”