INDUSTRIAL FISHING IN SPAWNING COD CLOSED AREAS

That this House notes with both deep regret and serious concern the decision taken by the European Union to allow a derogation for sand eel fishing in the spawning cod closed areas; disputes the assertion made by the EU that the estimated bycatch of cod in the sand eel fishery is less than two per cent. and firmly believes that industrial fishing should be banned altogether in the interests of fisheries conservation and management.