Thursday, 23rd October 2008
MEP ‘gutted’ over new fish regulations
In response to queries raised in the EU by Scots Tory MEP Struan Stevenson, it has been revealed that all fishing trawlers classified as ‘factory vessels’ will be forced to inspect fish gutted on-board for signs of disease, before landing.
Under the European Commission’s Animal By-Products Regulation, currently being considered by the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture, fishermen had feared the new Brussels plans would insist on each individual fish gutted on-board being inspected for signs of disease, with suspect viscera being stored and brought ashore for veterinary analysis and safe disposal.
However, reacting to concerns expressed by Struan Stevenson, Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg has said in a letter to the Scottish Tory MEP that the provision will “mainly have an effect on factory vessels which freeze fillets on board. Infestation by nematodes might indeed be a risk here and care would have to be taken regarding disposal. If such material were to be thrown overboard, there could be a risk that the nematodes in question would become more prolific. Factory vessels are a small part of the EC fleet (20-30 vessels), so the impact will be minimal.”
Responding to Commissioner Borg’s letter, Struan Stevenson said:
“I am somewhat reassured to hear that industry fears may be groundless, although the impact on our factory fleet will still be severe.
“Nevertheless we must ensure that these draconian new rules are never applied to our trawler fleet where fish are caught in nets and lifted on board. The catch is then discharged into a hopper and fed along chutes onto gutting tables where skilled crew can hand gut a fish in 3 to 5 seconds. Alternatively, fish are often mechanically gutted and the resulting viscera are washed down a sluice into the sea, where they provide a rich source of food for seabirds and other predators.
“It would be completely impossible to inspect every fish and remove suspect material for storage and later inspection. Our fishermen have conducted their work in a safe and hygienic manner for decades and provide us with a fresh and nutritious source of food. I would be completely gutted if we allowed red tape to strangle them.”
