UNWANTED fish are being dumped back into the sea despite new EU laws designed to stop waste, an investigation has found.

Under the recently established laws, fishermen are no longer supposed to "discard" fish when they catch more than their quota allows.

The campaign was brought to the fore by celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who argued that the EU's quota system meant fishermen were compelled to discard fish that were too young, overfished or species for which they did not have a quota.

Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall, of River Cottage fame, worked with Dorset fishermen and businesses in the campaign.

The UN Agriculture Organisation estimated that 13 per cent of all catches were being thrown back every year, amounting to 1.3 million tons of fish.

The new laws mean fishermen have to bring species covered by EU quotas back to shore.

But BBC Inside Out South West has unearthed video evidence that fishermen are still discarding fish.

Crews say the laws are complicated and that they could still be prosecuted or banned from fishing if their hauls take them over their agreed quotas on certain species.

Stephen Pofteles, an instructor at the Fishing College in Lyme Regis, said that fishermen do not aim to exceed the quotas they are given.

He said: "They try to target what they have quotas for. It is a shame that we can't use the other fish. Maybe when we come out of the EU then we will have better quotas."

A spokesman for Government department Defra said they would look to create a policy that is "fit for purpose" after leaving the EU.

Under the new laws, more fish should have been brought into ports. But since the new rules were fully implemented this January, only 28 tonnes of discards have been landed in the UK. The Government expected a much larger figure.

However, some fishing industry leaders say new-style nets are reducing the number of unwanted fish being caught.

A Defra spokesman said: "We are fully committed to sustainable fishing, including ending the wasteful discarding of fish.

"However, we are also aware of the challenges posed to industry by the landing obligation, and are continuing to work with industry to address this issue."

The investigation will feature on Inside Out South West tonight at 7.30pm.