“For me personally the policy’s social dimension is at least as important as the others; but it must also be clear to anybody that without healthy fish stocks and thriving ecosystems, any social trend in fisheries will not exist. Sustainability is the only way to have thriving fishing communities and it is the best insurance policy for fishermen and their families.”

Maria Damanaki, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, during a speech to the European Parliament Environment Committee, 28 September 2010.

Read the full speech here

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