UKIP fisheries spokesman slams EU efforts “to usurp democracy” by keeping electric fishing method blamed for making the seabed “a wasteland.”
Mike Hookem MEP has described EU efforts to keep electro-pulse fishing until 2022 as “a dangerous and greedy delaying tactic, that usurps democracy and could see huge areas of UK’s coastal ecology destroyed,”
Mr Hookem’s comments came after official documents showed the EU is proposing to keep electro-pulse fishing until at least 2022, despite MEPs voting for an outright ban on the practice in January this year.
Fishermen working the UK’s South-Coast, where Dutch vessels widely use electro-pulse – a beam-trawling method that involves live electrodes being trailed along the seabed to ‘stimulate’ flatfish from the sand – blame the practice for making the “seabed like a desert with nothing left.”1
An outraged Mr Hookem – who campaigned for a pulse-fishing ban in the run-up to January’s vote – slammed, “who are these people that think they can ride rough-shod over the only democratic body in the EU bloc?”
“For me, the move to keep electro-pulse fishing shows that the EU couldn’t care less for democracy; only for profit and justification of their flawed actions!
“The EU’s move to keep pulse fishing until at least 2022, is inspired by the influential Dutch fishing lobby, who have ratcheted up their promotion of electro-pulse to fever-pitch since January’s vote. There have also been suggestions by campaign groups of EU malfeasance in issuing scientific licences knowing they are to be used for commercial activities; for irregular investments in the practice, and for ignoring scientific advice.
“If the European Parliament had voted to keep pulse fishing, you can guarantee there would have been no opportunity for a second vote on the issue. For me, the push to keep electro-pulse is nothing more than profit-driven greed!
Mr Hookem continued, “The impact of electro-pulse on the livelihoods of small-scale British fishers is becoming increasingly evident. Fishermen tell me little is left in the wake of the pulse trawlers and once abundant species are now non-existent across the South East coast.
“French, Belgium and non-pulse Dutch fishers are seeing similar issues wherever the Dutch pulse trawlers operate. Recent media reports also claim that electro-pulse vessels were now targeting conservation areas such as Britain’s Dogger bank in the North Sea*.
“This issue also highlights why the UK must regain control of its waters a soon as possible following Brexit. Under the Mrs May’s Chequers proposal, Britain will continue to abide by the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), and pulse fishing will continue in our waters.
“According to the small-scale fishers I speak to, it would seem there will be little left to reclaim if we allow electro-pulse fishing to continue in our waters.
“The simple fact is, the EU should honour the democratic decision by the European Parliament, stave off a growing environmental disaster, and implement a ban on this highly-destructive practice!”
Several reports have criticised electro-pulse fishing for breaking the backs of cod caught in the electric field; burning fish touched by the electrodes, and eradicating gastropods. Electro-pulse fishing is already banned in many countries worldwide for being ‘too efficient’ including the USA, Brazil, Japan, Korea and China.”
Please also read Norfolk based small-scale fishing skipper, Paul Lines:
Dutch devastate marine life with electric shock fishing
And please watch this video of Mike Hookem speaking on the electro-pulse fishing issues! Warning: disturbing images!
Here’s the screenshot of the Email to MEPs outlining the proposals to keep electro-pulse fishing until at least 2022:
Well done Mike. Keep going.Keep doing your speeches to fishing and dependent communities. Speeches and articles to UKIP are valued as information for UKIP. But those to normal people are the gold.Keep fighting.
We are not normal??
In August of last year, Hookem resigned the UKIP whip in the EU parliament and gave statements to the press critical of the party.
Doe anyone know when he resumed the whip or indeed if he has? Is it just MEPs who get away with this sort of behaviour? Can ordinary members make statements to the press criticising the party with the same apparent impugnity?
The party website shows Mike Hookem as: ‘Mike Hookem MEP is the Deputy Leader of UKIP and the Spokesman on Defence and Fisheries.’ There is no mention on when he was appointed to the post.
IIRC, Mike was appointed by Gerard when Gerard took on the job as Leader of UKIP.
If I remember correctly Mike resigned the whip because of the then leader, not because he has fallen out with UKIP and its aims. It makes absolute sense for Gerard to work in close alliance with Mike and Margot.
SECOM has set up a new business club, The Patriots Business Club (open to members and non-members) We have 3 counties, Hants, Sussex & Kent where fishing is important and wanted a fishing themed meeting with the likely Government betrayal.
Delighted to report that Mike has agreed to speak at our November club meet at the Best Western, Dover Marina Hotel. All welcome, Mike knows his stuff.
That was in January 2018 over Bolton. I’m referring to August 2017 when he said in The Times: ““I strongly disagree with the views of Ms Waters and Mr Agnew,” Mr Hookem said, “and I would like to put as much distance between me and them as possible. ….. While I do believe in controlled immigration, this position is about ‘space rather than race’, and I am not prepared to support someone who seeks to single out a section of our society simply due to their religious beliefs.” which statement he also gave to Sky News.
Just too angry to make much of a coherent comment…
Just more proof that power within the EU does not lie with the EU Parliament.
This article needs to be put on MSM to reach as many people as possible – we are being sold down the river by this government. T