Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)

I probably know less about fish than Deputy Ross, although I love to eat all kinds of fish. As long as it is dead, I will eat it.

I am amazed by the discarding of fish and that there is no better way of dealing with this issue, especially for smaller boats fishing off our coast. Could some accommodation not be found? It is being said the landing of cod will not be allowed and that boats will either have to throw it back into the sea or pay a penalty for bringing it ashore. No one will land cod if a penalty awaits them onshore. Surely a scheme could be organised, whereby a fisherman would not receive the full value for cod and it would go to a depot where local people could buy it at a reduced rate. This would be better than throwing it back into the sea. Seemingly, cod do not survive very long out of water. There is a way around every problem. Forcing fishermen to discard fish is a simple way to regulate catches. However, it would make much more sense to devise a scheme in order that fish, of which we are short, would not be wasted.

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