Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall & Fish Discards

Primrose

Did anybody watch his programme last night and feel as angry as I did about the sheer waste of food, because of EEC regulations that require perfectly good fish to be be thrown back into the sea dead because they exceed quotas?

What on earth can be done to stop this madness? I wish we could put members of this forum in charge of fishing policies at the EEC. We'd soon get things changed! I gather he's taking on Tesco in tonight's programme as a follow-up. What makes me particularly angry is that that any sensible person would see that this is a crazy policy yet as individuals we feel helpless to get things changed.

Katie-Kat-Kins

I didn't see the program, but I agree that the policies on fishing are crazy.

I don't eat fish (because I don't like it) but with the over fishing and bonkers quotas I don't think I could on ethical grounds if I did like it!

It is terrible in my mind that huge numbers of people have an issue with a farmed cow being kept and slaughtered humanely and go veggie as a result but then say "oh but I eat fish" completely ignoring the fact that they are being fished to extiction with no attempt to farm (as opposed to just ripping them out of the sea willynilly) for most species and no attempt at humane treatment.

ginnyknit

I was absolutely fuming and signed on to the protest page. Something has to be done to keep the British fisherman earning a good wage and not sliding down the same slippery slope as the poor small farmers. All that dead fish could have been feeding people, even if they were only allowed to sell it at half price its better than throwing it back. Its morally wrong and I hope lots of MSE members join the campaign as we abhor waste and work so hard to be better citizens as well as saving money.

Primrose

ginnyknit wrote: »

I was absolutely fuming and signed on to the protest page. Something has to be done to keep the British fisherman earning a good wage and not sliding down the same slippery slope as the poor small farmers. All that dead fish could have been feeding people, even if they were only allowed to sell it at half price its better than throwing it back. Its morally wrong and I hope lots of MSE members join the campaign as we abhor waste and work so hard to be better citizens as well as saving money.

Oh, must have missed the protest page. Where's the link please?. Will certainly sign up for this one.

MissHiggerty

It's at

http://www.fishfight.net/

There's a petition to sign. I've done it, too.

MissH
xxxxxx

muppet83

Haven't watched the programme yet but know a bit about it. Tesco's have just done a massive 'U' turn and have promised to supply 100% pole and line caught by the end of 2012. For more info try looking on the Greenpeace UK website http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/oceans/tesco-escapes-last-place-new-tinned-tuna-league-table-spectacular-policy-u-turn-20110109 as they've been doing alot of reserch into this lately and are about to roll out a new campaign. for Hugh's protest page look at www.fishfight.net

parsonswife8

I was livid at such a waste of food.:mad::mad::mad::mad:

Have also signed the petition.

Penelope_Penguin

Primrose wrote: »

What makes me particularly angry is that that any sensible person would see that this is a crazy policy yet as individuals we feel helpless to get things changed.

I haven;t seen the programme yet, so can't comment on that.

If I might play Devil's Advocate These rules were introduced so that there could be quotas of fish landed. If we remove quotas and allow fishermen to land and sell everything they catch, what's to stop overfishing, and complete species being wiped out?

Looking forward to watching this, with interest, and the associated recipes being cooked up by Jamie :T

I'll move this to the Green and Ethical Board later.

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

muppet83

But its the type of fishing that often causes the problem. By using Fish aggregating devices (see http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/oceans/catch-passing-fad-20090930) and purse seine nets (http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/oceans/purse-seining-when-fishing-methods-go-bad-20100518) the by catch includes sharks, turtles, dolphins and juvenile fish just as a few examples. Its the method that needs changing more than the quotas.

Seakay

Exactly. Fisherman only have to throw fish back if they catch those that they have already exceeded their quota in. If they used different fishing methods then they wouldn't be catching the 'wrong' fish in the first place.
I don't see that the quota system should be entirely blamed for the fact that some people choose to act within the regulations but way outside their spirit. Presumably fishermen do not want to be prosecuted for catching the wrong fish? It was hoped that if you couldn't sell more than a certain number then you would not catch them. If people find it easier and cheaper to slaughter fish which are already in need of protection tthen perhaps they are the ones who are at fault?

MrsRogers

I SKY+ this and just watched it. What an outrage !!:mad:

I have signed the petition and emailed my MP regarding the Early Day Order.

Clearly the quota was to protect the stocks level... however catching and throwing dead fish away is horrendous.

We need to preserve stocks but throwing them away doesn't help anyone.