Read your comments

Thank you for your comments on the issues raised in our programme. Here is a selection of your views:

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Congratulations on making such an excellent programme. It was extremely well put together. The comparison between the Azores and Norway was very enlightening. This was the BBC at its very best.
Jim Harrison, Group Legal Director, Lloyd's Register of Shipping

Drastic steps have to be taken. Working here in the Adriatic I am shocked at how few fish there are, although pleased the other day to catch sight of a turtle.
Patrick Mearns

Norway's example, and indeed Iceland's, is one the EU should be following.

We do not want EU fishing boats coming here and destroying our traditional and historic industry Martin, Norway

Entering the EU would be disastrous for our fishing industry after all the effort of the last 20 to 30 years which has been made to preserve the fish stocks for future generations of Norwegians.

The fish stocks have been preserved in Norwegian waters for Norwegians, we do not want EU fishing boats coming here and destroying our traditional and historic industry.
Martin, Norway

Having virtually destroyed European fishing stocks they are now trying to 'help out' the Azores, who by all accounts have done a good job on their own.

Another example of nothing being safe from the dead hand of Brussels and the EU Tim Brookshaw

Another example of nothing being safe from the dead hand of Brussels and the EU.

It is depressing that we do not seem to learn this lesson, and the Common Fisheries Policy is a classic example of the fuzzy wording, endless compromise, and putting off difficult decisions in the interest of getting some (any) agreement now in order to look good.

Tim Brookshaw

One of the problems an organisation like the EU cannot overcome is the reality of shared ownership.

Responsibility and accountability by one nation for its own maritime resources is essential Barry Trewern

Individual or local interests always outweigh the common good, and common sense and prudence go out of the window.

No one entity is ever responsible, and no one entity can ever be held to account. Hence the massive race to extract the maximum profit from fish in the short term.

Responsibility and accountability by one nation for its own maritime resources is essential.

Fish in British waters should be managed, fished and landed in Britain by Britons, with British politicians being held to account for sound management.
Barry Trewern

The EU is not to blame, it is the strong fishing lobby Szymon Lewandowski

It is true that Norwegian measures designed to protect marine life are a lot more efficient than the equivalent EU policy. But the EU is not to blame, it is the strong fishing lobby that simply will not accept a 10-year ban on fishing.

So it is not a story of conflicting interests between Portuguese fishermen and the EU. It is rather about one group of fishermen against another.
Szymon Lewandowski

The ocean's population of fish is in peril and there is no coherent viable plan to save it. If I were betting on outcome, I would not be optimistic.
Colin Butts

Simply another visible manifestation of the perils of capitalism without a healthy end in sight.
Matthew Manderson

Each individual EU country should manage and regulate the exploitation of fish stocks within its sea territory, not the EU itself or any other authority.

Banning will be the best step forward; next is strict regulation on limited entry, boat capacity and gear size and other issues related to sustainable exploitation.

Politics should be avoided at all costs, once it creeps in that will be the end Temakei Tebano, Marine Scientist

Whatever approach Norway is enforcing must be carefully examined before adoption as one model does not work miracles for different fish species.

I live on a small island in the South Pacific where we depend very heavily on fish. Our biggest problem regarding our tuna fish stocks are the greedy foreign fishing vessels, in particular purse seiners.

In addition, long liners owned by overseas big companies are competing with our local fishermen, on top of stealing tuna and deep-water fish.

Politics should be avoided at all costs, once it creeps in that will be the end.

Thank you very much for this extraordinary forum.
Mr. Temakei Tebano, Marine Scientist, University of the South Pacific, Fiji

Paul Henley's programme was excellent. A clear, effective illustration of the sad situation facing EU fish stocks and its near redundant fishing industry.

This is no way to run an uncontrollable resource Mark Eyre

I have traded fish for 20 years, and I know no example of 'recovered' or successfully maintained stocks within the waters administered by Brussels. Brussels's approach to fishing is the same as to farming - exploit resources to the maximum and tax the yield.

This is no way to run an uncontrollable resource.

Despite the gloomy present, there are three actions which can be employed to guarantee commercial fish stocks a future:

1. Permanently close large reserve areas to all fishing and do not target spawning or spent fish.

2. Restrict fishing effort to the least invasive means - hook and line, limited mesh/size trawls and gill nets.

3. Rigorous policing and punitive punishments

If we must pay more for fish then that is right. Fish need to be properly valued.
Mark Eyre

Your programme was both marvellous and intensely depressing.

I despair at the lack of common sense shown in respect of fishing the oceans of our planet. Reason seems to fly out of the window in the face of greed.

We should respect and cherish the seas as the life blood of the earth Jill Mcbride

I am appalled at the thought of the Spanish fleet and others entering the Portuguese waters to plunder its precious stocks, which up to now the Portuguese have managed so well and thoughtfully.

I am so upset at the prospect, I would like to know how I might help the Portuguese protect their fish for the future.

We should respect and cherish the seas as the life blood of the earth, not ransack them for our own ends, because that is what it will be, our own end.

Thank you again for a wonderful programme.
Jill Mcbride