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MP 'delighted' over EU fish discards reform





He added: "I'm glad that all the hard work appears to have paid off but we still need to do a lot of work to ensure it is ratified in full."
The package includes measures to protect endangered stocks and end discards - the practice of throwing unwanted dead fish into the sea.
In January 2011, fisheries minister Mr Benyon was filleted by TV chef Hugh Fearnleigh-Whittingstall during a televised quiz.
Mr Benyon took a battering when asked to name a range of Britain's most popular fish – and was only able to correctly identify cod and monkfish, according to the programme.
The telly chef was highlighting the fact that half of all fish caught in the North Sea is thrown back overboard, dead, due to the current quota system imposed by the European Union (EU) Common Fisheries Policy.
Mr Benyon - who has since brushed up on his species identification skills - said at the time: “I think perhaps he thought I was just a suit who was going to defend the status quo but I don't because it's indefensible. The fisheries system is managed, top down, in a very centralised way by the EU and will be reformed in 2012. It will be decentralised if we get our way. But I'm not waiting around for that and that's why we're bringing forward a number of initiatives to cut the ‘discards.'
After the European Parliament vote this week, Mr Benyon said: “I was fairly confident but now we can go ahead and start working on the details. There’s much more work to be done and we must ensure it doesn’t get watered down.”
Green MEP for the South East, Keith Taylor, said: “This legislation takes us a big step closer to a sustainable fisheries policy for the EU.
“For too long we’ve been fishing at such a rate that stocks can’t be replenished. This historic change gives us a chance to secure fisheries for future generations and guarantee long-term jobs for our fishermen.
“The parliament has sent a strong signal on reforming our fisheries, now EU fisheries ministers must heed this vote and move forward with the radical and sustainable changes we so badly need."
And Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who galvanised much of the nation with his campaign to end discards, tweeted: “MEPs have voted for what you all asked for: a decent #discard ban and real change! We need to check the details but congrats all of you!”



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