An Early Day Motion (EDM) tabled in the House of Commons by Austin Mitchell in support of a responsible British fishing industry has secured the support of more than fifty Members of Parliament, it was revealed last week.
The EDM calls on the House of Commons to recognise the work done by the British fishing industry to improve its environmental record, and the contribution made by the whole seafood industry to Britain’s industrial and skills base, as expressed in the recent Seafish report, “The Price of Fish?”
Among those signing the motion is Richard Benyon, Conservative Shadow Fisheries Minister. This is a significant move, as it underlines the Conservatives’ support for the fishing industry in the context of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill which is currently before parliament.
John Rutherford, Chief Executive of Seafish, said: “Our Early Day Motion has garnered more support than any other EDM tabled this year with regard to the Marine Bill. Despite all of the pressure on this industry, it’s good to know that many MPs are aware of how fishing has changed to improve its environmental record.
“We would invite anyone who is passionate about the future of the industry to contact their local MP and urge them to sign EDM 1658 in support of the “Price of Fish?” report.”
A recent YouGov poll for Seafish revealed that 83% of the British public support fishermen in their work, and that 61% were concerned about Britain’s capacity to secure enough seafood for its needs in the future.
