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UK claims breakthrough in fish dumping talks UK claims breakthrough in fish dumping talks
(about 1 hour later)
The UK says it has secured new laws with the European Union over the controversial dumping of unwanted fish. The UK says it has agreed new laws with the European Union over the controversial dumping of unwanted fish.
Fisheries minister Richard Benyon said the "reforms" would make discards "a thing of the past".Fisheries minister Richard Benyon said the "reforms" would make discards "a thing of the past".
EU fisheries ministers have agreed to detailed measures, including a ban on dumping pelagic fish, such as mackerel and herring.EU fisheries ministers have agreed to detailed measures, including a ban on dumping pelagic fish, such as mackerel and herring.
Mr Benyon said the next step was for the European parliament to agree on the measures.Mr Benyon said the next step was for the European parliament to agree on the measures.
Ministers have been negotiating the terms of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) for three years.Ministers have been negotiating the terms of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) for three years.
The night-long negotiations drew to a close early on Wednesday, with only Sweden voting against the measures.The night-long negotiations drew to a close early on Wednesday, with only Sweden voting against the measures.
'Key principles' 'Step forward'
Once finalised by the European parliament, a ban on dumping will be introduced on 1 January 2015 for pelagic fish - fish that live near the surface,rather than in deep water. Barrie Deas, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO), said: "It is an important step forward as we near the end game - unless parliament throws any new obstacles the final package should be along the lines agreed."
The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) said the ban had been "put back". It was originally hoped it would be enforced in January 2014. Once finalised by the European parliament, a ban on dumping will be introduced on 1 January 2015 for pelagic fish - fish that live near the surface, rather than in deep water.
The ban was originally planned to be enforced in January 2014 but was put back a year.
Mr Benyon said: "This was a difficult negotiation, and although it is not as ambitious as I would have liked, we have stuck to our key principles."Mr Benyon said: "This was a difficult negotiation, and although it is not as ambitious as I would have liked, we have stuck to our key principles."
The ministers also made provisions to decentralise decision-making from Brussels, allowing member states more regional control over their own fisheries. Mr Deas said the delay was for "logistical reasons", adding that it would be "a point of relief for the industry" who will have more time to adapt.
The new laws will set legally binding limits to ensure sustainable fishing levels, with annual quotas underpinned by scientific advice. The issue of discarding fish to avoid breaching quotas galvanised UK support when celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall launched a Discards Campaign, which has so far attracted nearly 860,000.
"I came here to secure an agreement that would be good for the UK and to head off those who sought to water down the changes we desperately need to make to this broken policy," said Mr Benyon. 'Key reform'
"We have worked hard on these negotiations, and I hope that parliament supports our agreement and brings negotiations to a swift conclusion. The wait is nearly over," he said. Mr Deas said that the "key to a reformed CFP" will be the new rules on regionalisation.
He said he was "very pleased" that ministers have made provisions to decentralise decision-making from Brussels, allowing member states more regional control over their own fisheries.
Scotland's fisheries secretary Richard Lochhead has described the changes agreed as a "significant step forward".
He said: "For decades we have fought to bring more control over our fishing sector out of Brussels to local fisheries."
The new laws will also set legally binding limits to ensure sustainable fishing levels, with annual quotas underpinned by scientific advice.
Mr Deas said that there were "concerns" that this point may be challenged by the European parliament.
"Even scientists sometimes find it difficult to count the number of fish in the sea," he said. The European parliament is under pressure from green activists who want hard biomass targets, which measure the largest maximum sustainable yield (MSY) - or largest catch - by weight.
However, ministers have agreed to go by the fish mortality MSY, which measures the number of fish.
Mr Benyon said: "We have worked hard on these negotiations, and I hope that parliament supports our agreement and brings negotiations to a swift conclusion. The wait is nearly over.".
"I came here to secure an agreement that would be good for the UK and to head off those who sought to water down the changes we desperately need to make to this broken policy," he said.