Meridian Fishing News

A celebrity chef led an army of frogmen and marine campaigners to Westminster today calling on the government to do more to create wildlife friendly zones around the UK.

127 areas off the English coast were recommended to the Government as being in need of protection. Along the south coast 17 zones were considered but only six made the shortlist, in the south east there were 14 but only five chosen. None of the zones around the Isle of Wight were selected.

Conservationists say dredging and trawling is damaging fish stocks - as Phil Hornby reports, speaking to Hugh Fearnley-Wittingstall and fellow campaigners Tim May and Christine Chester.

• UK
• Marine Conservation Zone
• Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall said it was "vital" that the Government did more to protect UK seas as he led hundreds of campaigners in a march to Westminster in London.

The presenter has urged ministers to increase the number of "marine conservation zones" after more than £8 million was spent on identifying 127 areas where dolphins, seahorses and other rare species most need protection - many zones covering the south east and southern shorelines.

• UK
• Marine Conservation Zone
• Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

The Green MEP for the South East is backing a radical overhaul of EU rules on commercial fishing. It could see a ban on the 'dumping' of dead fish into the sea to meet quotas.

• UK
• European Union
• Fishing

Kent fishermen fear their livelihoods are under threat as building projects have turned the Thames estuary into one of the biggest construction sites in the world. But the builders insist they're not to blame. David Johns reports, talking to fishermen Eddy Temple and John Nichols.

• UK
• Kent
• Fishing

Plans have been unveiled today to create dozens of conservation areas around the region's coastline. New marine conservation zones will limit not just the amount but the type of fishing that can take place in our waters. But how will they affect the south's already struggling fishermen?

Andy Dickenson has been finding out. In his report, we hear from Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon MP, and fisherman Gareth Rice.

• UK
• Richard Benyon
• fishing

RSPCA inspectors came to the rescue of a goose caught up in fishing line at Leybourne Lakes near West Malling in Kent. The goose had become entangled in the fishing line and was trapped on a tree branch in the water. The bird was released after a check-up

• UK
• fishing
• wildlife

A group of Dutch trawler men who have been fishing with electric nets off the Kent coast are expected to examine the impact of their methods on local fishing stocks later as a row over depleted fish reserves continues.

While the Dutch fisherman say that their method of using pulse trawlers and electrified nets are an environmentally-friendly method of catching the fish. Some of their Kent counterparts say the electrified nets have reduced the local fishing stock.

• UK
• Environment
• fishing