Fisheries

Fishermen blamed for crisis in stocks (The Herald, p.4): "The European Commission will deliver a hammer blow to the remains of Europe's fishing fleet today. New report on the future of the controversial Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) effectively admits that many years of conservation measures have failed - and blames greedy fishermen. Fishermen have been told for years they must endure short-term sacrifices to allow main fish stocks to recover and secure the fishing industry's long-term future .But today's report confirms that stocks are still in dire straits, with fleets accused of prolonging the agony by exceeding annual catch quotas and delaying the time when fish are plentiful once more. he finding is a damning indictment of the CFP, established in 1983 to carve up EU fishing waters between the national fleets." (Geoff Meade)

Ralph's Comment - The EU aren't just wrong but they won't take responsibility or alter their barmy laws - the Fishermen are just the latest scapegoat. EU regulations make fisherman throw back large parts of their catch into the sea dead as they are not allowed to land it but can't avoid trawling it up. We need a system like that of Iceland. They fish a sector of sea for a set period or until they have a set catch tonnage - then that sector is closed for the rest of the year and patrolled. If UK politicians had stood up to the EU like Iceland did to the UK in the cod war then our fishermen could still make a decent living.

Kumarasiri

letter from N. J. Beresford, Calverton in the Nottingham Evening Post, p 14, 21 Apr: "Mr Kumarasiri didn't expect to lose his job? If I was employed to serve customers but instead turned them away to promote my own political agenda I would expect to be shown the door fairly rapidly. Does his next potential employer need to speak perfect English and be aware of, in his own words, his legendary status, and the fact that he is, in his own opinion, the mouthpiece for the majority of ethnic minorities? ... Does our country need another right-wing MEP living it up in Brussels at the tax payers' expense, telling us how to live our lives? Aren't there more important issues than whether people live up to Mr Kumarasiri's patriot standard?"

Ralph's Comment - Mr Kumarasiri simply pointed out that it would shorten queuing times in his post office if immigrants would learn to speak English. When I go to someone else's country I at least try to learn their language and I speak Spanish because I lived in several parts of the Hispanic world. I expect immigrants to my country to make an effort. Given English is our National language in England and a major international language it is clearly of advantage to those immigrants seeking work to learn English. As for accusing Mr Kumarasiri of being right wing he was a Lib Dem councillor before being unfairly ejected - their loss is UKIP's gain. I would happily accept an immigrant of Mr Kumarasiri's calibre and attitude for every white member of the chattering classes who agrees to leave and never return.