Fisheries reform ‘will raise income’

The biggest shake-up in the history of the EU’s fisheries policy will massively boost fish stocks and fishermen’s incomes and create a third more jobs in the sector, it was claimed last night.

Efforts to rewrite the controversial Common Fisheries Policy have been given a boost by new decision-making powers expected to be used by MEPs today to force change on ministers accused of years of failure to get to grips with excess fishing and dwindling supplies.

On the eve of the vote, EU fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki told a European Parliament debate in Strasbourg: “We have to change the policy to stop over-fishing. We have a chance to create a decent living [for fishermen].”