Fishing industry chiefs today branded the government's latest suggestions for protecting our declining cod, hake and halibut populations "complete rot", says a report in The Scotsman.
Fishing industry chiefs today branded the government's latest suggestions for protecting our declining cod, hake and halibut populations "complete rot", says a report in The Scotsman.
Ten politicians, including every current and former Secretary of State for the Environment signed a letter to The Times, which said that the "nightmare" of the collapse of UK's fish stocks was becoming a reality.
The politicians emphasised their support for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) which is trying to establish a widely adopted green labelling scheme so consumers can differentiate between common fish and those species that are in decline. The independent organisation was established by Unilever, the world's largest seafood buyer.
Hamish Morrison of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation told The Scotsman: "The MSC is about commerical objectives, not conservation. It has absolutely no democratic or scientific legitimacy whatsoever.
"Fishermen have to act within the law, which allows them to catch precious little. The MSC wants to intimidate consumers and fishermen into buying fish which will give its backers a market share advantage."