This afternoon the #FisheriesBill returns to the Commons, where the #govt has the chance to accept two amendments made in the Lords & stay true to its ‘world leading’ ambition on the #environment. We'll be live tweeting what should be a very interesting debate 1/
Second, the #govt can support the roll out of cameras on boats to document catches. As it stands we don't have the data to make fully informed decisions when it comes to #overfishing; this ‘Remote Electronic Monitoring’ amendment can change this https://www.mcsuk.org/blog/post/rem-five-reasons /3
Will the #govt support these amendments and support more #sustainable fishing?

@PatricKilloran will be on the keys for us from 2pm - do check in for our live thread #FisheriesBill #HouseofCommons /ends
And we're off, a later than expected start. Sec. George Eustice kicks things off saying the EU's Common Fisheries Policy has failed on environmental grounds
He moves on the amendments outlined above. He says the government will attempt to strip the amendments from the bill owing to 'flexibility'
Disappointingly, he says the power to roll out cameras on boats is already in the bill and government will be using said powers in the future. So why not keep the amendment?
Eustice told Peers early this year: "We are strong advocates of fully documented fisheries and [remote electronic monitoring] is the most effective way to be able to monitor what is happening with the catches." Unfortunately he appears to have changed his opinion
He goes on to say that environmental objectives have already been given priority due to the requirement for plans to recover over-fished stocks. However, these plans are riddled with get out clauses and are why Peers amended the bill making sustainability the prime objective
@LukePollard responds for the Opposition. He says Labour will support the amendments made to the bill, including the vital changes described above. The bill needs "a firm focus on viability and sustainability"
He makes the crucial link to trade deals with other countries. No deal would rightly be a disaster for domestic fishing as they lose market access to the EU, and risks countries setting their own quota and increasing over-fishing
@DeidreBrock is up next, she and other parties have tabled an amendment to reject the bill. She says UK powers in the bill to grant access to foreign vessels via trade deals could undermine devolved administrations protecting the environment
@alancampbellmp says the bill should enshrine the principle of not taking more than can be naturally replenished
A lot of speeches are criticising the EU's sustainability credentials then calling for sustainability amendments to be stripped from the bill...
@RosieDuffield1 calls for the amendments to stay in the bill, "the science is staring us in the face"
@KerryMP makes an important point: restoring fisheries now will boost jobs as the extra abundance can support more fishing activity
In closing for the opposition, @Steph_Peacock says a lack of data cripples authorities' ability to set sustainable catch limits, remote electronic monitoring would be a game changing solution
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