Symbol of failure

A SYMBOL of Britain’s growing Euroscepticism, and disdain for the European Union in spite of the significant economic benefits which continue to be derived from the Common Market, is the strict implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy.

By The Newsroom

Published 8th Nov 2011, 08:35 BST

This has seen a marked decline in the number of trawlers operating out of resorts like Bridlington, Scarborough and Whitby – fishing, for many crews, is no longer viable when so many “discards” have to be thrown overboard because of quota rules.

Given that this waste makes a mockery of ongoing conservation attempts to preserve stocks, and that the EU’s fisheries commissioner open admits that “discards” account for half of the overall catch in some areas, the rules need to be amended.

At face value, there is merit to the Maritime Management Organisation’s compromise – trawlermen should include all the fish they count towards their quotas, and that they do not go out to sea when they reach their limit. There is one catch, however. When do the phrases “European Union” and “common sense” ever appear in the same sentence?