June 13, 2012

EU's fisheries ministers to discuss fish discards ban

European fisheries ministers will determine whether fish should be sold to consumers instead of being discarded, even as the UK is undecided in its position, due to Scotland's doubt over banning discards by 2014 or 2015.

It is expected that France, Portugal and Poland are among the countries that may object to a discard ban while Spain is undecided.

UK Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon, said the UK would work to end the policy of discards "as soon as possible."

"Britain is at the forefront of calling for radical reform," he stated, BBC reports.

Experts believe that if discards are not banned, what remains of Europe's dwindling fish stocks will disappear.

At the meeting, ministers are expected to discuss the proposed ban and how to approach the EU's fishing quota to ensure stocks are managed while respecting scientific advice. According to the plans, quotas must come under a system of "maximum sustainable yields" by 2015.

If the ministers agree with these aspects of the reforms, they will be moved on to the European parliament to be submitted into law. Otherwise, it will be hard for the European parliament to restore the proposals to life, The Guardian reports.

Maria Damanaki, the EU's fisheries commissioner, has said the widespread popular support shown especially in the UK for the FishFight campaign has been a vital factor in pushing the negotiations forward.