Press Releases

MEP WILL TAKE NORTH EAST FISHERMEN'S CONCERNS TO THE TOP

9 July 2008

Stephen Hughes, Labour MEP for the North East will have an emergency

meeting with EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg tomorrow in

Strasbourg. Mr. Hughes will be making a plea on behalf of the

fishermen in the region who run vessels under 10 metres. These

fishermen have been unfairly hit by the unrealistic quota allocation

which Mr. Hughes believes needs immediate redressing.

At a recent meeting in Amble, Mr. Hughes learned that as a result of

the quota allocation being based on unreliable historic data, bad

weather which restricted the start to spring fishing and

unprecedented fuel price increases, the plight of the North East's

inshore fishing fleet is in dire straights.

Speaking today from Strasbourg, Stephen Hughes said:--

"The livelihoods of these fishermen and the communities they are a

part of are hanging in the balance. The desperate social and

economic conditions need to be brought to Commissioner Borg's

attention. I am hopeful that the Commissioner will have some positive

advice on how the European Union might offer support to the North

East's fishermen, their families and their communities."

ENDS

For further information, please contact Stephen Hughes on 07770914526

or his researcher, Cyndi Beaver on 07764198400.

Stephen Hughes MEP

Room 4/38 County Hall

Durham

DH1 5UR

Tel: 0191 3849371

Fax: 0191 3846100