It's still fine to fish for your supper

Those who think that "Brussels bureaucrats" can impose barmy rules without further ado would do well to look at the story of anglers coming under the Common Fisheries Policy. In fact, it is proof that the EU's democratic process can and does stop the adoption of barmy rules.

In this case, amateur anglers were understandably taken aback when they heard or read that they were to be included under the Common Fisheries Policy. In fact, it was just a Commission proposal - a first draft.

The proposed regulation would have required recreational fishermen to register their boats, with their catch having to be counted against the fisheries quota for that country. This would have been, justifiably, a gift for those who claim that the EU imposes bonkers legislation and ignores common sense.

However, MEPs on the Fisheries Committee voted through amendments to leave this matter at the discretion of each country to decide, while the Commission has also seen reason - with Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg giving written assurances that recreational anglers now have absolutely nothing to worry about.

In his words: "The normal hobby angler who catches an insignificant number of fish when he goes out fishing and uses it exclusively for his private consumption will not be covered by the control regulation, even if he catches fish like cod which is under a recovery plan."

Even Tory MEP Struan Stevenson, a regular exaggerator of the story, said "anglers have nothing to fear".

That should settle it. The bottom line is that any angler who has the patience to go fishing to catch themselves their supper can rest easy. They'll still be able to do it.