A flotilla of fishing boats, accompanied by Greenpeace activists, is sails up the Thames to the Houses of Parliament.The fishermen and Greenpeace are sending a message to the government that without urgent action to stop industrial fishing, fishing communities and marine ecosystems will suffer irreparable harm.
Fishermen and Greenpeace are protesting about key Brexit promises for fishing communities that have not been delivered. They say urgent action is needed to stop industrial fishing, and to implement better protections for UK waters to save jobs and support fishing communities.
The flotilla arrived at Westminster accompanied by Greenpeace activists, displaying banners reading “No fish, no future” and calling for stronger marine protection measures in solidarity with fishing communities. Testimonials of fishermen struggling because of industrial fishing will be played over loudspeakers.
Fishermen and Greenpeace protest undelivered Brexit promises
Neil Whitney, a south coast fisherman who is part of the flotilla, said:
“Brexit was meant to save us, but instead we’ve been left high and dry. These big factory boats keep fishing in our waters, devastating fish populations. There’s nothing left for us local fishermen. We need the government to do what it promised, and ban industrial fishing to protect us fishermen and our fishing communities.”
Another, Martin Yorwarth, said:
“Fishermen like me care deeply about our oceans. We’re custodians of our seas, and we need them to stay healthy to keep us in the job. It hurts me to see these huge factory ships and fly-shooters plundering our waters, hoovering up fish, destroying habitats and leaving nothing left for us. If our government doesn’t do something to stop the industrial fishing that’s destroying our oceans, then there won’t be another generation of local fishermen like me.”
See the full report from Greenpeace HERE.
