More than two fifths of England’s quota for the fish it can catch is held by foreign-controlled fishing businesses, according to an investigation by Greenpeace.
The environmental campaign group is urging the Government to give more quota to smaller-scale, local fishermen whose activities have a lower impact on the environment, benefiting coastal communities and marine wildlife.
Research by Greenpeace shows much of the quota allocated to the UK by Brussels under the European Common Fisheries Policy is concentrated in the hands of a small number of industrial fishing companies, many of whom are controlled by foreign firms.
The head of oceans campaign, Sarah North, said: The Government must reclaim our quota from the vice-like grip of big business and give more of it to local low impact fishers to rebuild fish stocks and revitalise our crumbling coastal communities.
The study found the five largest foreign-controlled vessels hold almost a third of the quota managed by English marine authorities, and that 43 per cent was held by foreign-controlled businesses. Across the UK, five vessels hold a fifth of the fishing quota, and while small scale fishing vessels make up four-fifths of the fleet, they have just four per cent of the quota available to the UK.
Greenpeace has linked with sustainable fishing businesses to urge the Government to reform the Common Fisheries Policy.
Yorkshire Post