Fishermen deplore UK Royal Mail environmentalist stamps

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Undercurrent News

UK fishermen deplored the release by the Royal Mail of a new series of stamps aimed at raising awareness of overfishing.

The stamps are a “misguided PR stunt” that will add fuel to the misperception that nothing is being done to protect British fish stocks, the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisation told The Times.

“We are very disappointed with Royal Mail,” Barrie Deas, the federation’s chief executive, told the newspaper. “They could at least have talked to us.”

Unveiling the stamps, Royal Mail said they were its first ever to champion an environmental issue.

The 10-stamp set, launched to mark World Environment Day, highlights “the beauty of marine fish as well as providing guidance and encouragement to consumers on how to conserve UK fisheries”, the newly privatized company said.

Five of the species illustrated include common skate, spiny dogfish (sometimes called rock salmon), wolffish, sturgeon and conger eel, which the Royal Mail said are threatened in UK waters.

Five others are species from sustainable populations which provide viable alternatives for fisheries and consumers, it said, namely: herring, red gurnard, dab, pouting and cornish sardine.

The new stamp issue will raise awareness of the threat of overfishing and also provide a sustainable alternative, said the company.

“The plight of fisheries has caused increasing public concern in recent years, with some organizations offering advice to consumers on which seafood to purchase, and supermarket chains actively informing their customers about making informed choices,” said the Royal Mail.

The company quoted Callum Roberts, professor of Marine Conservation at the University of York, which it said acted as consultant on the stamp release.

“Only one thousandth of 1% of UK seas are fully protected from fishing at present. To bring back endangered fish species, we need a huge increase in the coverage of such protected areas,” Roberts said.

Andrew Hammond, a Royal Mail spokesperson, added: “With the majority of the world’s fish stocks currently fully-exploited or over-exploited this is a key issue of concern. We hope this stamp issue goes some way to helping people make informed choices about sustainability and contribute to the discussion about the conservation of UK fish stocks.”

Alongside the new stamps, Royal Mail will be releasing the findings from research to understand the attitudes and gauge the knowledge of sustainable fishing amongst the British public.

The research found that while the term ‘sustainable fishing’ is widespread, there is generally a lack of knowledge about it. While 99% of people surveyed had heard of the term ‘sustainable fishing’, 53% had heard of the phrase but knew nothing or did not know very much.

[NWpostie]

The Spanish, French fishermen haven't been known for playing fair and is enroaching on other fishing areas, we had a war with the Icelanders over their unilateral exclusive fishing zone which they expanded included the third occasion where the breached the agreement to end the second cod war. the recent financial crash of Icelandic savings banks and refusal to compensate is another reason not to trust them. along with the Spaniards.

[Lounge Lizard]

The Spanish, French fishermen haven't been known for playing fair and is enroaching on other fishing areas, we had a war with the Icelanders over their unilateral exclusive fishing zone which they expanded included the third occasion where the breached the agreement to end the second cod war. the recent financial crash of Icelandic savings banks and refusal to compensate is another reason not to trust them. along with the Spaniards.

Yes, and all their Spanish Practices is another reason not to trust the Spanish. and their Armada.

[NWpostie]

Los trabajos Espanioles no va aqui