Fishermen and scientists can work together on Marine Bill - George

Speaking in a Commons debate yesterday evening, local MP, Andrew George, highlighted the recent drama in which four marine biologists were saved by local fishermen when their boat overturned off Land’s End - saying that it symbolised the shared interest in mutual support which could improve marine conservation and secure a more sustainable fishing industry.

Mr George, who was speaking from his Party's Front Bench and who will lead for the remaining stages of the Bill through the House of Commons, referred to the capsizing of an 18 ft vessel at the Runnel Stone near Land's End where local marine biologist, Dr Nick Tregenza, and three colleagues were thrown into the sea but were saved by local fishermen, Andrew Pascoe and Jesse Walter, before being taken by the Penlee Lifeboat into Newlyn.

The Marine Bill proposes the creation of new Marine Conservation Zones which would control aggregate extraction, dredging, some types of fishing activity and other exploitation of the sea's resources.

Mr George welcomed the Bill but emphasised to the Commons that "it would be wrong to characterise fishermen as interested only in plundering the stocks of the sea". Mr George highlighted some local examples to demonstrate that fishermen have been becoming increasingly keen to work with scientists to aid stock recovery and to promote sensible marine conservation.