SIMPLE, SIGNORA

How Bonino can improve Europe's fisheries policy

This week, not for the first time, Britain and Spain clashed angrily over fish. The collision between Tony Baldry, the Fisheries Minister, and Loyola de Palacio, his hectoring Spanish counterpart (whose tackle derives more from rugby than from fishing), was messy proof of the gulf that still separates this country from other member states of the European Union on fundamental issues.

Radical reform of the common fisheries policy has king been needed. British fishermen have long needed more defence from the British government. Mr Baldry was correct to stand his ground this week on the vexed question of Spanish 'quotahoppers", even if it earned him the Iberian ire of Senor de Palacio. The conservation of Europe's depleted fish stocks cannot be now be properly accomplished without fundamental, and rapid, reform.

Emma Bonino, the EU's Fisheries Commissioner, is right to seek a cut in fishing fleets and the total allowable catch. Far too much fish is caught by far too many fishermen with far too few controls. Yet for Britain to accept a reduction in its fishing: fleet, a way must be found to take account of the large, de facto "reduction which has occurred already: since foreign fishermen control 20 per cent of Britain's off-shore fleet tonnage, this country has operated for the last decade at only 80 per cent of its -legitimate capacity. New fleet cuts would deplete that percentage still further.

There are two ways forward. Either bona fide British fishermen should be exempted from the proposed cuts. on the argument that these are already effectively in place. Or the Commission sjould impose the same cuts on the British feet as on everyone elde's, but do away with the "quota-hoppers". The second option is the better. The first option would not protect fish stocks, and would leave the question of "quota-hoppers" unanswered. The second option would tackle both fronts: it would ensure that fewer fish are caught by fewer fishermen, as well as ensuring that British fishermen enjoy the fruits of Britain deep-sea resources. It would also serve as a template for the much needed, top-to-bottom overhaul of the common fisheries policy.

Flags of fishing conveniencethe very problem which the 1988 Merchant Shipping Act sought to addressare at the core of Europe's fishing crisis. The time has come for nationality and residence requirements for vessel owners, operators and employees. Fishing companies wishing to register in Britain must prove that their vessels are at least 75 per cent British-owned. This departure from free-market principles can be justified in - terms - of the alarmingly depleted, potentially non-renewable nature of the resource. This is a genuine emergency.

Britain cannot sit back and allow plunder to continue. It- must fight against the European fisheries policy in the European way, with vigour, aggression, and the strongest resolve. The EU spends L400 million to subsidise Europe's enormous fishing fleet, a third of which isSpanish (excluding "quota-hoppers''). If Britain fleet is cut, so must the Spanish subsidy be. It is as simple as that, Signora Bonino.