Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:35 pm on 22 March 2017.
I very much welcome this debate, one which would have been utterly pointless had it not been for the ‘leave’ vote on 23 June last year. I’m broadly in support of the motion. However, I’m concerned that the motion itself proposes no ideas about how Wales can exploit its coast and seas. It’s not really surprising that many in this Chamber are a little lost on this subject, since most people here were happy to have our fishing controlled entirely by EU civil servants hundreds of miles away in Brussels. Most in this Chamber will be happy to see the EU remain in control of Welsh fishing, and on an almost daily basis, say how bitterly they regret the result of the EU referendum. EU fishing rules, including sharing our waters with practically anyone who wanted to fish them, destroyed fishing communities in our coastal economy. And whilst Labour were breaking their hearts about the mines closing, the EU were busily destroying our once thriving fishing economy. Funnily enough, I’ve heard lots of vitriol heaped upon those who closed the mines—