A LABOUR MP today called for a complete ban on the discarding of fish in the North Sea as fears grow that the European Commission is intent on watering down its proposal for one.

Gregg McClymont’s intervention came as MPs prepare to debate the issue this afternoon when Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative backbencher, is expected to argue that Britain should take back control of fishing within its territorial waters and seize the lead in demanding an end to discards.

It is estimated up to two-thirds of fish caught in parts of the North Sea are thrown back because fishermen have already landed their quota.

In Britain, a petition has been organised by celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall asking EU leaders to “stop this unacceptable and shameful practice”. It now has more than 650,000 signatures.

Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, believes a ban “amounts to a draconian step too far” and over-simplifies the issue.

The European Commission has set out plans to ban discards, including imposing limits on fishing and using measures such as CCTV. But because it has to get support for a total ban from two-thirds of member states, it is now floating the idea of a partial one limited to fish species that are “intended for human consumption”. This will form part of a reformed Common Fisheries Policy in 2013.

Mr McClymont, the MP for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East, told The Herald that a partial ban would be meaningless.

“There has to be a complete ban on discards, anything else will simply not do,” he said.

Mr Goldsmith, who represents Richmond Park in London, is expected to urge the UK Government to veto the EU’s reformed fisheries policy unless a full ban on fish discards is imposed.