The UK’s House of Lords caught up with the UK Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon MP, on 5 June, to talk about the deal reached a few days earlier.
Richard Benyon has been a champion of reform. He’s pushed the fight forward, often in a way that seemed more progressive than the ministry would have opted for.
Fishing has fortunately been a bi-partisan issue.
Wins
Richard Benyon noted the wins from the reform, in particular:
- A legally binding commitment to fish sustainably
- Regionalisation
- Discard Ban
- Reduce the footprint of Europe’s fleet abroad
Losses
However he recognized that not everything that could be done had been done.
- ITQs
- Fleet capacity reduction
The exchange with British Peers is informed and worth listening to.
You can watch the exchange
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=13237