Ocean charity sues UK govt for overfishing

Ocean conservation charity, Blue Marine Foundation, has brought the case, arguing that the UK is failing to follow scientific advice as set out in fisheries management law, endangering the environment and the livelihoods of fishers.

“By continuing to allow exploitation above sustainable limits the government is not only putting fish populations at risk but also everything that relies on them including marine ecosystems and the fishing industry itself,” said Charles Clover, co-founder of Blue Marine.

Blue Marine approached the government in January accusing it of excessive secrecy and suggesting it admit liability for failing to conserve stocks. It says the government failed to respond satisfactorily and has now filed legal proceedings.

The charity highlights in particular the setting of the mackerel limit which it says is contributing to overfishing and was allocated in secret to the already richest parts of the UK fishing industry.

Some of the companies involved make significant profits for their private shareholders, alleges Blue Foundation, with one fishing company paying £16m in dividends to its nine directors out of a turnover of £40 million in 2022. Others are making similar scale profits, says the charity, all the while employment in the industry is plummeting, with job numbers falling 25% since 2016.

“In terms of transparency, it is not remotely clear what benefit the public is getting from over-allocating this very valuable resource, the mackerel, to a handful of multi-millionaires,” said Clover.

“It is time that the distribution of fishing opportunities is reformed to make it clear that natural resources are being distributed according to scientific advice to protect the marine environment and food security and in ways which benefit our struggling coastal communities.”