The "Grace Darling", as it became known, had been on show since 1938, but was never cleaned to museum conservation standards.

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She said Britain should introduce "higher standards of management and conservation" in respect of all fishing vessels that fish in its waters within a 12-mile limit.

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"Aesthetic standards have become one of the primary determinants of which species are deemed worthy for conservation and this has to be looked at, " he said.

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