I have been following Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's Fish Fight and have signed my name to the campaign to change the EU laws that result in over half the fish caught in the North Sea to be thrown back, dead. Everyone should see that such practices are outlandish. Not only is it a waste of perfectly good fish, disrespecting this quality food source, but it is polluting our waters with tonnes of dead fish.
Last week a Wexford trawler owner gave away 130 boxes of fresh monkfish on Kilmore Quay in Co. Wexford, rather than obey the EU rule that requires over-quota fish to be thrown back in the sea. It was a bold move, and one that I'm sure upset some fishmongers who are trying to make a living, but it was a necessary move to further highlight the urgent need for reform in this industry. The photo in The Irish Times of the boxes of fish on the quayside illustrated just how much is being discarded.
In the UK 50% of the fish consumed is made up of cod, tuna and salmon. This small group of favorites means that other, less popular, fish are the ones being discarded while the trawlers work to make up their quotas with high demand fish types. This is why we should be eating a broader range of fish, to discourage the discarding of perfectly tasty and nutritious fish. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has a helpful guide to buying sustainable fish (here).
Last week's fish giveaway reminded me of how ridiculous the legislation is and I would like to show my support to Séamus and John O'Flaherty, owners of the Slatees Quest, and its skipper, Jimmy Byrne, who decided to take the Law into their own hands and discard it, rather than the tonnes of fresh monkfish, last Thursday morning.
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