TV chef leads demo for more marine conservation
by Bob ConstantineDevon farmer and TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has led a campaign to Parliament demanding the creation of more marine conservation zones off our coast.
Live updates
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall leads fish demo
Devon-based broadcaster and food campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is marching to Westminster today.
He's calling for the creation of Marine Conservation Zones around the English Coast.
Best known for the television programme River Cottage, which is filmed in Axminster, Fearnley-Whittingstall says our sea life is being destroyed by trawling and dredging for fish.
Advertisement
Fishing industry welcomes ban on discarding surplus fish
The West Country's fishing industry is welcoming a ban on the controversial policy of discarding dead fish caught accidentally. Fisherman have had to do it to stop them exceeding their quotas set by Europe.
But after 24 hours of negotiations, fisheries ministers in Brussels have approved a plan to overturn those rules and allow fishermen to keep the extra fish.
It was also decided that regions should be given more control over managing their fisheries.
The change follows pressure from the UK government and a long public campaign, which has included Westcountry TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
It's not definite when the ban will come in but it could be two years for mackerel and herring, and more like six years for cod, haddock, plaice and sole.