TV chef, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall leads Fish Fight campaign to EU victory
TV celeb chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall of River Cottage has helped secure a ban across the European Union (EU) on discarding fish caught by accident.
The decision among EU ministers follows Hugh’s long Fish Fight campaign. The campaign launched in January 2011 after Hugh found half of fish caught in the North Sea is thrown back into the sea, dead. ‘Hugh’s Fish Fight’ aimed to change EU laws so fish caught by accident isn’t discarded.
Hugh thanked supporters, calling the decision ‘a massive result’. He said, ‘After 24 hours of seriously tough talks, we finally have a plan for a discards ban, and an EU commitment to follow scientific advice on fish stocks. It’s a massive result – this would really not have happened without your incredible support.’
According to the BBC, the agreement still has to be passed by parliament and commission. However, a provisional date for a ban on discarding mackerel and herring before 2014 has been agreed.
Hugh was named local food hero at the 2012 food reader awards.
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