European parliament votes to ban ‘fly shooting’ fishing in part of Channel

Campaigners hail step towards end of practice in French territorial waters that has had devastating' effect on local fishers

The European parliament has voted to ban fly shooting" fishing in French territorial waters in the Channel, following reports that the technique, also known as demersal seining, was having a devastating" effect on local fishers.

Campaigners described the result as a victory for small-scale fishers. Organisations representing coastal fishing communities on both sides of the Channel have warned that industrial trawling methods, including fly-shooting, are decimating their livelihoods and the marine ecosystem.