Fish from European waters will be distributed to the poor as an alternative to throwing them away at sea, the EU fisheries chief told MPs on Thursday, as part of a sweeping reform of marine policy.
Maria Damanaki, the European commissioner for fisheries, said that as part of a proposed new deal with fishermen aimed at ending the wasteful practice of discarding edible fish at sea, lower value fish could be distributed to charities and other public organisations.
A few years ago a certain Mike Mahon tried to do the just this when he was overrun with haddock fishing in Mount's Bay .........
- and despite pleading his case with Fisheries minister Benyon at the time, was threatened with legal action if he did so! - how times change.
