Prince Charles compares fish stocks debate to climate change

The Telegraph 15 Jul 09;

The Prince of Wales has compared the debate around the world's endangered fish stocks to the discussions which surrounded climate change in the 1980s.

The Prince said that 30 years ago a few people were trying to make their voices heard about the problem of global warming – but nobody wanted to listen.

In a speech to members of the fishing industry, the heir to the throne said that over the years he had tried to raise the issue of fish stocks but the subject was "quite literally out of sight, and out of mind".

The comments came as the prince hosted a Clarence House reception for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), an organisation that has been promoting sustainable fishing practices across the globe.

MSC supporters and those who have signed up to the body's eco-labelling and certification programme for wild-capture fisheries were among those invited to the event.

In 1999 the first fisheries entered MSC assessment and in March the following year the Western Australia rock lobster and Thames herring became the first MSC certified fisheries.

Today more than 2,000 seafood products, available in 41 countries, carry the MSC blue eco-label which tells consumers they have been awarded the organisation's certificate for sustainable and well-managed fisheries.

The Prince told his guests: "The science tells us very clearly that if we continue to fish without any care for the long term sustainability of fish stocks we will soon face a nightmare collapse in stocks and inevitable starvation amongst the world's poorest people.

"So I think the debate about the marine environment is rather like that which surrounded climate change in the 1980s.

"Back then climate change was something about which a few people were trying very hard to make their voices heard, occasionally myself, but nobody wanted to listen."

He added: "Over the years I've tried to make speeches and hold seminars and those things about the fishing problem, but again it has been very difficult to get the attention of all sorts of people, agencies, organisations and the consumer – the subject was quite literally out of sight and out of mind."