East End treat saved as EU eel ban turns to jelly

Pie and Mash shops across the capital can breathe a sigh of relief as a damaging EU-wide ban on eel fishing was blocked in the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee today.

British Conservative members of the committee opposed an outright ban put forward by Swedish Green MEP Isabella Lövin. Struan Stevenson MEP said that “Imposing an outright ban or strict limitations on commercial and recreational fishing is not the solution.”

He called for “a pragmatic approach which addresses both falling stock levels, the challenges facing the industry, and the importance of protecting rural industries and traditions.”

Conservative MEP Marina Yannakoudakis, who represents London, added, “Londoners have enjoyed jellied eel with their pie and mash for more than a hundred years. I am glad that the EU has, for once, used its loaf and thought better than to meddle in what Eastenders put on their plate.”