Holmes (NI). – Mr President, the Commission's new-found awareness of its responsibility for long-term conservation of fish stocks is to be applauded and encouraged. However, due to the almost total failure of previous policies, I am of the opinion that control of fishing activities should be better returned to the elected governments of Member States with the return of control over their former national territorial waters.

These proposals are unfairly weighted against United Kingdom fishermen with a reduction in tonnage of 29% compared to 20% for France, 12% for Spain and 2% for Greece. Fish stocks are a truly natural resource and should be renewable for all time. With regard to land-based food chains, we have to sow and breed as well as harvest and process. With fish, we merely hunt them down. We must not allow ourselves to fish selfishly or to hunt them down to extinction. It would be an act of cynicism for Member States to dilute these proposals further. We not only need friends of fishing; but more importantly, we need friends of fish.

This is probably the last opportunity for European countries to show a clear determination to deal with these chances effectively. If these proposals fail to be effective, I for one shall campaign for the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the CFP entirely.