Perhaps only climate change is more important and as difficult to solve. But while thinking and international action on climate change, led by Britain, is relatively well advanced, some countries haven�t even woken up to the impending catastrophe in our seas. I hope this report will ensure they do.
Because the challenges can be addressed. We are not talking about coal or oil. Fish are a renewable resource. All we must do is ensure that fishing is set at levels that allow the stocks to regenerate.
Some of the recommendations in the Royal Commission report have already been implemented in Britain. Others are in hand.
Here in the South West we are already showing the way. Fishermen, Government, environmentalists and other interested parties have at last come together to draw up long term plans for managing our waters responsibly. Healthy fish stocks mean a good living for fishermen and add to the richness and variety of our regional food.
The no take zone around Lundy Island has been a resounding success and more closed areas are in the pipe line.
Britain has been in the lead at getting other countries to take the problem of dolphin and porpoise deaths seriously and we have taken unilateral action ourselves. We were also the first country to use new powers to protect cold water coral reefs � the Darwin Mounds � off the north west of Scotland.
But there is a lot more that we and other countries can and must do.
What is clear from the report is that no country can solve this alone. Fish, like pollution, do not respect national boundaries.
Some of the worst practices take place in deep international waters, virtually unmonitored. So, it will take concerted European and international action if we are to save the world�s fish.
