North Sea Fisheries Plan ‘pointless’

CONSERVATIVE member of the European Parliament Ian Duncan has called for an immediate halt to all work on the multi-annual North Sea Fisheries Plan.

Duncan, who is a member of the parliament’s fisheries committee, said it was a waste of time making laws, which would become obsolete soon after coming into force.

The plan seeks to manage demersal fish stocks in the North Sea, but with control of around 80 per cent of the North Sea going back to the UK by March 2019, continuing to work on the plan makes little sense, he said.

“Creating European fisheries law for the North Sea is pointless, as British fishermen will not be bound by it come 2019,” he said.

“They are eagerly awaiting the day when the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is consigned to the dustbin of history, and fit for purpose laws can be drafted and implemented in the UK.

“I once again call upon the EU to abandon this nonsense upon stilts, and focus on areas where they will have jurisdiction beyond the next two years.”