“High levels of discarding are a persistent problem in this area, both in the whitefish and the flatfish fisheries. Accordingly, scientific advice calls for significant TAC [total allowable catch] cuts e.g. for cod and haddock.”

Read that sentence again. It referred to the Celtic Sea and English Channel and was contained in the European Commission's lengthy official document spelling out its proposals for TACs and effort controls in 2015 that the council of ministers will decide at this month's crucial Fisheries Council (15, 16 December).

It