HC Deb 06 December 2001 vol 376 cc495-6W
Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's fisheries policies, and in particular on the common fisheries policy of the EU. [20752]

Mr. Morley

Our primary objective for the Common Fisheries Policy must be for a policy which is both economically and environmentally sustainable and one which involves stakeholders more closely in management decisions affecting them. Only in that way will the CFP attract support and credibility from fishermen, ensure responsible stock management and give the promise of a viable future. I strongly agree with the Commission's conclusions in their Green Paper on the operation of the CFP that it is not meeting its objectives. It is failing to provide an adequate living for many fishermen and is failing to conserve fish stocks. The forthcoming review of the CFP will give the opportunity not only to put right what has gone wrong but also to consider how the CFP should develop over the coming years.