Retailers and fish processors could help to reduce the numbers of unwanted fish tipped back by commercial boats through creating new markets for unfashionable species. Seafish has brought together industry and government representatives to make strides to cut the number thrown back. Certain edible species are considered non-commercial and discarded by boats along with fish below the size limit or those caught as quotas are reached. "We need to talk to processors and retailers to create markets for edible fish that are discarded," said the leader of the new group and head of environment at Seafish, Phil MacMullen. "With regionality and seasonality on the agenda, there must be scope for new markets here." Paul Trebilcock of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation said: "Discarding simply doesn't make sense commercially or environmentally so it's in all our interests to come up with answers."

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