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A BRANCH OF the European Union has voted to allow an untested type of fishing that sends electric shocks through the seabed.
The European Parliament fisheries committee decided to allow “electric pulse” fishing to be considered conventional, a move which would allow EU states to licence it like any other type of fishing.
The technique was invented in the Netherlands in 1992, and because of this mostly Dutch ships use the technique.
The fishing method replaces the chains of traditional “beam” trawling with a series of electrical drag wires mounted into the net. The wires send electrical pulses into the seabed which cause the muscles of fish to contract and forces the fish upwards and out of the seabed and into the net.
It’s also been alleged that the practice uses 46% less fuel and reduces the number of areas ships need to go to catch the fish.
The Dutch have remained the biggest advocates of pulse fishing, claiming that it ensures that more of the target species caught, less damage to the seabed and fish that are caught are in better condition.
But critics have raised concerns about the lack of testing the technique has, and called the method destructive and “the marine equivalent of fracking”.
Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada, who’s a member of the EP fisheries committee, said that although the technique isn’t used in Ireland, “it’s only a matter of time” if the technique becomes legal.
She says if Dutch ships that use the technique were to fish in Irish waters, the practice would impact on Ireland that way.
As the legislation was passed, it’s likely that the practice will be allowed in Ireland. Ní Riada’s amendment would mean that greater responsibility is given to the local fishermen and fishing organisations on how fishing practices are used.
The Irish Wildlife Trust had urged the committee’s members to resist the measure. In a statement it said:
“The development of industrial electrocution of marine life is a further indicator of chronic overfishing of our waters, which requires ever more destructive modes of capture to target what’s left of fish and invertebrate populations for commercial exploitation.”
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If I were the iranian delegation I wouldn’t give an inch until the talks become all inclusive. How is it that Israel, the greatest threat to regional and world peace, has a carte blanche to develop and maintain a nuclear arsenal and Iran can’t even develop a civilian nuclear programme.
because Israel are big allies with the US
i think he knows that aaron,it was more rhetorical !!
Nothing Controversial about their ‘Nuclear’ ambitions, Pakistan have nukes (I’d be far more concerned here but they are (were) a former ally of Uncle Sam and no threat to Israel) India have Nuclear arms, Israel have nuclear arms so why not Iran?
I don’t see how increasing the amount of countries with nuclear arms can be a good thing whatever their motive.
If they want nuclear power all well and good but do we really want a world where this kind of thing is not carefully controlled and policed?
Over 2,000 nuclear bombs have been detonated to date by countries such such as the US, France, UK etc. Why is it that they are allowed to keep their nuclear weapons?They have shown themselves to be irresponsible. Iran has repeatedly said it will not go after nuclear weapons and it has not detonated a single one.
There are persistent reports of late of Pakistan helping Saudi Arabia to acquire nuclear weapons. There is no mention of this in the corporate media. Let’s also bear in mind that the US actively helped Pakistan acquire nuclear weapons and turned a blind eye to Pakistan to helping North Korea with its nuclear weapons programme. So there are precedents.
There have been many proposals to date which the US gave repeatedly rejected to have all of the Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction but the US has repeatedly stood by Israel.
Let’s have a little objectivity in the reporting.
Well said Horgay. As for increasing the number of nuclear weapons, no one even suggested that. Iran is playing brinkmanship, hoping to get a level playing field, one based on a nuclear free middle esst. Good for them, at least someone in the region is being pragmatic.
As long as the AIPAC is still a strong voice in congress agreement will be very hard to reach.
They know no nuclear nation has ever been invaded by another. Yet the don’t speak about Israeli bombs and the disregard to international treaties and law it consistently shows
It means nothing to me!
Obviously not fans of vltravox.
have your say