๐จ๐จ๐ฌ๐ง๐ช๐บ๐๐๐โดโด๐ช๐บ๐ฌ๐ง๐จ๐จNEW: remember how Govt said #brexit would lead to sustainable fishing? Mmmm ๐ค now fishing NGOs accuse govt of reneging on those promises. This doesnโt look good. Stay with me/1
on.ft.com/3ueGkv4
on.ft.com/3ueGkv4
First those pledges. When the Fisheries Bill was tabled in Jan @MPGeorgeEustice and Theresa Villiers promised fishing policies that would be "sustainable", protect our "wonderful blue belt" and based on "*health of our fish stocks* not vested interests"/2
gov.uk/government/newโฆ
gov.uk/government/newโฆ
@MPGeorgeEustice But now me and @jimbrunsden learn that in negotiations in Brussels the UK is pushing for "flexibility" to transfer catches of Haddock, Hake, Monkfish from the better-stocked North Sea to the areas West of Scotland - Area VIa in this chart /3
@MPGeorgeEustice @jimbrunsden Why does this matter? Because is shifts pressure from well-stocked area to a poorly-stocked area.
In this case Haddock fishing into an area where sciences says there should be ZERO cod/whiting fishing...but guess what, when you catch Haddock you get those species as bycatch /4
In this case Haddock fishing into an area where sciences says there should be ZERO cod/whiting fishing...but guess what, when you catch Haddock you get those species as bycatch /4
@MPGeorgeEustice @jimbrunsden The UK wants to "flex" up to 40% of its 27,000 tonne haddock quota from North Sea to West of Scotland where haddock quota is 3,800t....that could lead to a quadrupling of Haddock catch AND associated by-catch of cod and whiting. Even a possible compromise position cd double it/5
@MPGeorgeEustice @jimbrunsden The Government says it is still committed to sustainability while "delivering stability" for fishing businesses, and notes that the "overall" catch remains the same -- which you may/man not think is a red herring. See below. But what of conservation groups? /6
@MPGeorgeEustice @jimbrunsden Well...
@CRHClover of Blue Marine Foundation says the govt is "sacrific[ing] sustainability for short-term profits.โ
And Andrew Clayton @bejustnfearnot of Pew Trusts and @ClientEarth lawyers all say the move risks contradicting Fisheries Bill pledges /7
@CRHClover of Blue Marine Foundation says the govt is "sacrific[ing] sustainability for short-term profits.โ
And Andrew Clayton @bejustnfearnot of Pew Trusts and @ClientEarth lawyers all say the move risks contradicting Fisheries Bill pledges /7
@MPGeorgeEustice @jimbrunsden @CRHClover @bejustnfearnot @ClientEarth But fishing groups are clear that they need the fish and that sustainability has to be taken in the rounds -- and they argue these are single stocks and they can be fished manageably.
As @obe_park @elspethmac_fss says, the industry has to balance economic sustainability too /8
As @obe_park @elspethmac_fss says, the industry has to balance economic sustainability too /8
@MPGeorgeEustice @jimbrunsden @CRHClover @bejustnfearnot @ClientEarth @obe_park @elspethmac_fss The worst of all this, is that if no deal is reached in Brussels, BOTH sides can unilaterally set catch limits, leading to overfishing as -- per one official involved -- everyone moves to "grab their fair shares". /9
@MPGeorgeEustice @jimbrunsden @CRHClover @bejustnfearnot @ClientEarth @obe_park @elspethmac_fss This story should put everyone on watch about how exactly this govt will honour (or not) its expansive pledges on sustainability, food standards etc etc.
#Brexit reality is like to increase pressure for 'flexibility' over time -- the devils will always be in the detail. 10/ENDS
#Brexit reality is like to increase pressure for 'flexibility' over time -- the devils will always be in the detail. 10/ENDS
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