MacNeil urges Scottish MPs to back "national interest" – Fishupdate.com

SNP MP Angus MacNeil has called on Scottish MPs to act in the “national interest” and back an amendment to the European Union (Amendment) Bill that would return fisheries and marine conservation to national control.

The amendment will be debated in the Commons today and the Fishermen’s Association has already written to all Scottish MPs urging them to support it.In the letter, Association secretary Roddy McColl underlines that the amendment, which has secured cross-party support, would restore responsibility over fisheries and marine conservation to UK control.He goes on: “We urge you to stand up in the national interest for our fishing industry and fishing communities.

“While we were disappointed that the UK Government did not make this a red line issue at the time of negotiating the Lisbon Treaty, it is not too late, and this amendment is the best chance we have to abandon the disastrous CFP and secure a sound and sustainable future for our fisheries and marine environment by the restoration of national control.”

Mr MacNeil said: “The CFP has been an unmitigated disaster, and Scottish MPs must now act in the national interest and back national control.It is no exaggeration to say that this amendment is crucial for the future of the fishing industry, and indeed our coastal communities.Control of fisheries and marine conservation should have been a red line issue when the Lisbon Treaty was negotiated, but instead the Prime Minister betrayed the national interest.The CFP has caused so much damage, and the SNP amendment is the best chance we now have to build a sound management policy and sustainable future for fishing.”

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