EU fisheries policy 'costs families £200 a year'

Published on Friday 30 January 2009 00:37

EUROPE'S fisheries policy is adding nearly £200 a year to the average family's food bill, it was claimed yesterday.

A report published by the Taxpayer's Alliance and Global Vision said the 25-year-old EU deal, which carves up annual fish quotas between the member states, has cost more than 97,000 UK jobs – 9,000 in fishing and 88,000 onshore in dependent industries.

As the report was unveiled, banner-waving protesters paraded around the European Parliament's London headquarters in Westminster, dumping dead fish donated by Essex fishermen and demanding the return of fisheries policy to national control.