Fishing Vital To UK Economy

Mr Irranca-Davies met fishermen and fish processors to see how fish get from “net to knife”, and discuss why fishing is so important to Britain and the British economy.

The government today launched country’s first food security assessment. The assessment shows that the UK is doing well in many areas which make up a secure and sustainable food system, such as a diverse food supply, which includes UK production, and a strong distribution system

Mr Irranca-Davies also discussed with the Mallaig and North-West Fishermen’s Association their views on how UK and European Union (EU) fisheries policy can be shaped to ensure a sustainable future for the wider fishing industry and what priorities the UK should have for the forthcoming autumn negotiations.

The UK successfully resisted the EU closing the important West of Scotland fishing grounds for cod, haddock and whiting at last December’s negotiations, introducing as a more appropriate alternative the introduction of a new management regime for these stocks.

Mr Irranca-Davies said:

“Fishing is worth more than £620 million a year to the UK economy and seafood is an important part of our diet, so we need a fishing industry that has a long-term future.

“It has been good to meet people from Mallaig and the West of Scotland, knowing how central fishing is to their communities, and hearing what they think about the future of fishing.

“I want a stronger role for all of Britain’s fishermen and their communities including those in the west coast of Scotland in protecting fish stocks and livelihoods under a reformed European Common Fisheries Policy.

“We want to move away from the annual haggling over quotas and look at the long-term sustainability of fish stocks in a healthy marine environment. Fishermen like those I’ve met today are leading the way in new conservation measures.”