Discussing the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the UK fishing fleet, Mr Benyon outlines how the industry is pushing for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, which is unfit for purpose, and talks about the UK's proposals to make the inshore fleet more sustainable.
"With the CFP reforms coming up in 2012, the UK is at the forefront of dramatic and radical change. At the moment fisheries are centralised and controlled by the EU.
"The industry wants to get local fishing communities involved to increase regionalised management. In fact, we are doing this now," he said, "through catch quota trials, fishing for the market and the 50% project.
"We are not waiting until 2012, we are actively addressing the disparity in the UK fishing industry now. We are working towards a united fleet, one that fishes in a sustainable manner and one that works together with the help of localised management.
"In the next few weeks, DEFRA will be putting out a proposal for reforms of the English fishing fleet, in a bid to seek industry opinion. We want to ensure the survival of the English fishing fleet," he said.
"The whole industry must get involved, including fishermen, and those onshore, as it is apparent that it is not just our fishermen who are concerned with the future of our marine environment.
"It is vital that there is a profitable and sustainable future for the next generation and those thereafter."
Finding A Better Way To Fish
UK - Conservation and a thriving fishing industry should go hand-in-hand but, as Channel 4s new fish season shows, the broken European quota system makes this almost impossible, says UK Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon.
