14 DAY TRIAL // The New Economics Foundation recently released a report warning that, for the time being, UK's citizens eat significantly more fish than the ecosystems in their waters can provide them with, meaning that they need to rely heavily on imports in order to keep this branch of the food industry up and running.
In plain numbers, the people in the UK only have enough local fish to last them for about 233 days per year. Therefore, in order to meet demands, they must have fish sent over to them from various regions outside the European Union.
However, it seems that UK's dependence on nations such as China in order to augment its fish stocks could very easily be put an end to, provided that both the citizens, and the country's high officials agree to implement better management policies and allows the fish presently found in British waters to restore their population.
Speaking on behalf of the New Economics Foundation, Rupert Crilly explained how, “Consumers understand that we import tuna which is virtually non-existent in its in waters; but it will wonder why we need to import cod and haddock from China when our cod and haddock stocks could deliver five and three times more catches with better management.”
Furthermore, “The UK is an island nation with access to some of the richest and most productive fishing grounds and has moderate levels of fish consumption compared to Spain and Portugal. It could produce as much as it needs but instead it is a net importer of fish.”
Seeing how restoring national fish stocks is bound to yield both financial and environmental benefits, implementing such conservation measures seems to us something that needs be done, more so if this country is to move forwards with its plan of becoming self-sufficient.
Interestingly enough, it seems that people living in other European Union countries are facing similar problems, as several other nations also depend heavily on imports so as to satisfy their citizens' fish cravings.