By WILIAM HUNTER, SENIOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REPORTER<\/p>\n
Published: 10:17 BST, 6 August 2026 | Updated: 10:17 BST, 6 August 2026<\/p>\n
No trip to the beach is complete without a serving of haddock and chips, but scientists warn that illegal fishing practices could spell the end of this seaside staple.<\/p>\n
Researchers from Blue Marine Foundation warn that Britain's fish stocks face collapse as trawlers dump back vast quantities of less valuable species.<\/p>\n
In some parts of the UK, trawlers are chucking back six times as much fish as they bring ashore \u2013 despite the practice having been banned under EU law in 2013.<\/p>\n
Experts now warn that this has created a 'ticking time bomb' for the UK's marine ecosystems.<\/p>\n
Plaice are the worst affected species since they are often caught as 'bycatch' while trawlers go after expensive sole.<\/p>\n
But other species, such as haddock, are also thrown back in vast numbers by fishing fleets targeting Norway Lobster, the main ingredient in scampi.<\/p>\n
Celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, whose Fish Fight series prompted the ban on throwing back fish, says: 'It is time to get angry about wasting fish again.<\/p>\n
'This government loves to talk about food security \u2013 but if you are serious about that you have got to stop collapsing stocks by just throwing fish away.'<\/p>\n
In some parts of the UK, trawlers are chucking back six times as much fish as they bring ashore – despite the practice having been banned under EU law in 2013. Pictured: A fisherman throws cod caught in the English Channel<\/p>\n
To protect dwindling fish stocks, trawlers have strict limits on how much of certain species they can bring back to shore.<\/p>\n
However, due to the large net used in industrial fishing, the fleets can't go after one valuable species without also dredging up tonnes of other fish.<\/p>\n
This means that ships often fill up their quotas for less valuable fish before they are done catching their expensive targets, limiting how much profit they can make per trip.<\/p>\n
To get around this, fishing vessels often chuck back vast quantities of unwanted species so they don't fill up their quota.<\/p>\n