Graham Watson MEP

Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for South West England and Gibraltar

A local champion with an international reputation

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Home | News | Latest News | Watson – Don’t delay on discards

Watson – Don’t delay on discards

Published on Thursday 28th February 2013

South West MEP for the Liberal Democrats Sir Graham Watson has commented on the deal reached in the early hours of Wednesday morning by EU Fisheries Ministers.

"I am pleased that Ministers have managed to reach an agreement to broadly end the abhorrant practice of discarding. However, I am disappointed that a number of countries still feel it is acceptable to allow their fishermen to throw away edible fish. The European Parliament challenged national governments to meet its wishes for a radical reform of the common fisheries policy. Unfortunately in a number of areas it has failed to meet that challenge, with reform being delayed further than MEPs had hoped.

"However, overall, this is a step in the right direction to ensuring there our fish stocks will remain plentiful for future generations."