Michael Howard has pledged to end the European Union's control over British fisheries.

Speaking ahead of a visit to the South West on Monday, the Conservative leader said the common fisheries policy had "totally failed".

Continuing his party's campaigning for June's European elections, Howard said the EU's fisheries policy provided another reason to oppose the planned constitution.

"Britain is a great country with a great future. We are a creative, hardworking and enterprising people. But we could and should be doing so much better," the Tory leader said.

"Take our fishing industry for example. The common fisheries policy is emptying our seas of fish and destroying our fishing industry. It has totally failed British fishermen."

He mocked suggestions that fish do not recognise national waters, saying that they would not recognise European waters either.

"Things need to change. We need to be able to implement our own fishing policy that operates in the interests of our fishermen and conserves our fish stocks," added Howard.

"That is why Conservatives will put Britain first and negotiate to restore national control over British fisheries.

"Tony Blair had a golden opportunity to deal with the CFP at the recent intergovernmental conference. But he didn't take it – and he let British fishermen down in the process.

"Instead, he is ready to sign a constitution which will actually increase the European Union's control over fishing policy. This is quite wrong. It is one of the many reasons why Conservatives will oppose the new European constitution."

Howard was on Monday set to meet with fishermen in Plymouth to highlight his concern at the decline of the industry.

But Labour hit back at his comments, accusing the Conservative leader of "being dishonest and hypocritical".

"Michael Howard says he will simply take Britain out of the CFP, but he has no answers when questioned as to how he will get the other 24 members of the EU to agree to this policy of isolation," said a party spokesman.

"And yet in the European parliament, his MEPs recently voted to significantly strengthen the CFP, voting to outlaw certain types of net and calling for new requirements to be placed on trawlers to protect whales and dolphins.

"Tory MEPs made a great fuss about this and attacked the council of ministers when they agreed a weaker proposal.

"The reason for the contradiction is obvious: Tories want the votes of animal lovers and fishermen too. Like wives and sweethearts they hope they will never meet."