UK to start withdrawal from London Fisheries Convention on Monday

The UK is withdrawing from the London Fisheries Convention on Monday which will return control of fishing between 6 and 12 miles from the coast to the British government.

Under the Convention, trawlers from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden have the right to fish in the 6-12 mile zone around the UK. In two years they will lose that right and the estimated 10,000 tons of fish that are landed from that zone annually can be landed by UK fishermen again.

The UK has almost 70% of Europe's fishing grounds but only 13% of the quota

EU Commission risks bankrupting the North Devon fishing fleet

The Marine Management Organisation has removed nearly all fishing rights from the Bristol Channel over fears that the EU will fine them if they continue to allow fishing of Skate and Rays.

The ban will bankrupt the North Devon fleet which relies on Skate and Ray fishing in the channel and will cost hundreds of jobs. Belgian and French fishing boats are continuing to fish for Skate and Rays outside the 6 mile inland fisheries boundary where the British government has given up its sovereignty to the EU.

UKIP's Fisheries spokesman, Ray Finch MEP, has requested a meeting with the EU Fisheries Commissioner to demand action be taken to save the North Devon fleet and stop Belgian and French fishermen from exploiting fish stocks.