Statement by Liam Aylward MEP on the Reform Common Fisheries Policy

Published on: 06 February 2013


Today in Strasbourg, the European Parliament voted by 502 in favour to 135 against to amend the Common Fisheries Policy.
Liam Aylward MEP stated today “The seafood sector is very important to Ireland, employing 11,000 people and worth 700 million euro to the economy. The Common Fisheries Policy has not served Ireland or Europe well in the past and urgent reform is required.”
“I welcome the decision of the European Parliament to back a radical reform which seeks to end over-fishing.  The Parliament also supports a ban on discards: the practice of throwing unwanted, dead fish back into the sea.”
“From an Irish perspective, I am very pleased that the European Parliament decided to support the amendment tabled by my colleague Pat the Cope seeking to enshrine the Hague agreement into the reform. This will have significant benefits for the whitefish sector in Wexford and Waterford.”
The Ireland East MEP warned however that these recommendations by the Parliament are “not written in stone just yet as the final package of measures will now have to be agreed between the European Parliament and European Fisheries Ministers. This is a new procedure in place since the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009”.

Today in Strasbourg, the European Parliament voted by 502 in favour to 135 against to amend the Common Fisheries Policy.

Liam Aylward MEP stated today “The seafood sector is very important to Ireland, employing 11,000 people and worth 700 million euro to the economy. The Common Fisheries Policy has not served Ireland or Europe well in the past and urgent reform is required.”

“I welcome the decision of the European Parliament to back a radical reform which seeks to end over-fishing.  The Parliament also supports a ban on discards: the practice of throwing unwanted, dead fish back into the sea.”

“From an Irish perspective, I am very pleased that the European Parliament decided to support the amendment tabled by my colleague Pat the Cope seeking to enshrine the Hague agreement into the reform. This will have significant benefits for the whitefish sector in Wexford and Waterford.”

The Ireland East MEP warned however that these recommendations by the Parliament are “not written in stone just yet as the final package of measures will now have to be agreed between the European Parliament and European Fisheries Ministers. This is a new procedure in place since the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009”.

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