A Euro MP warned yesterday that delays in a review of fishing policy would increase uncertainty about the future for many workers at the region's ports.

Yorkshire and Humber MEP David Bowe was reacting to an announcement by the European Commission that the review of the Common Fisheries Policy had been postponed.

Mr Bowe said yesterday: "The current fisheries policy arrangements will run out at the end of the year and everyone involved in the industry is anxious to know what the commission has in mind for the future.

"What we need is a clear lead which can produce the kind of policy which will ensure that the European fishing industry has a sustainable future.

"Delays of this kind do nobody any good and simply increase the suspicion that the commission has bowed to vested interests."

Mr Bowe said he feared the commission had been put under pressure by Spain, which holds the European presidency, because it was opposed to some measures to be included in the new policy, including an end to subsidies to increase the capacity of the fishing fleet and an emergency programme for scrapping vessels.

"I am sure that Yorkshire fishermen will want to see this review back on the agenda as quickly as possible, so that the uncertainty hanging over the entire industry is brought to an end as quickly as possible," he said.