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Now is the time to regain control of Britain’s seas, say Scottish MPs

Fisheries minister George Eustice
Fisheries minister George Eustice

The UK Government’s renegotiation of Britain’s membership of the European Union represents an “unprecedented opportunity” to regain control of the nation’s waters for the benefit of the fishing industry, Scottish MPs argued yesterday.

Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael urged David Cameron to prioritise Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform in his talks with other member states ahead of the referendum.

The former Scottish secretary said the system had not worked for fishermen, fishing communities, conservationists or scientists.

Leading a debate in Westminster Hall, the House of Commons’ second chamber, he said: “Surely this is the time to take a blank sheet of paper and say we can do this differently?

“This is an opportunity where I would suspect the Government would find progress rather easier to make.

“In that way, he (the prime minister) could actually deliver change which would make an enormous difference to the industry and the communities we represent.”

Mr Carmichael, who said UK ministers could become “heroes” if they acted, told MPs the policy had its roots in the earliest days of the European community and was understandable in the context of six member states.

But it made “no sense whatsoever” for a grouping of 28 member states, he added, many of which are landlocked.

The SNP’s Eilidh Whiteford, Banff and Buchan MP, said there was an “unambiguous consensus” the policy had been a disaster and branded it “unworkable”.

She also identified it as a major driver of the degradation of the marine environment.

She added: “Over the years we have seen a pernicious combination of want and neglect and political ineptitude and bureaucracy undermine our fleet and cause enormous damage, untold damage to our fishing communities.

“There is an unprecedented opportunity to right the historic wrongs of the Common Fisheries Policy.”

Despite reform over the years which had improved the situation, she said, the equal access to waters regulation remained intact.

Fisheries minister George Eustice highlighted a Tory manifesto commitment to ensure the latest CFP reforms that were “hard-won” are implemented.

But he said the prime minister would not thank him if he added something else to his renegotiation list.

He also told MPs there was a “natural timetable” for reform, in that the CFP is looked at every 10 years.

After the debate Mr Carmichael said he was disappointed at the UK Government’s “reticence and reluctance”, adding: “The minister was essentially telling us David Cameron doesn’t think this is important enough.”