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Beam trawlermen from Newlyn are calling on Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw
to safeguard their livelihood. They have joined forces with trawlermen
from Plymouth and Brixham in voicing fears for their future following
the news that a 70 to 80 per cent reduction in fishing effort is one option
in a list of measures which has been posted on the website of the International
Council for the Exploration of Seas (ICES) on how the recovery of sole
stock may be achieved.
This has effectively dashed earlier optimism that next year's western
Channel sole quota may escape cuts proposed by the European Commission.
Leader of the South West Fish Producers' Organisation Jim Portus said:
"The ideas of ICES scientists fall short of those from UK scientists
- many of whom spent considerable time at sea this year on South West
beam trawlers to confirm that the Dover sole stock is in good shape."
He has called on Mr Bradshaw to drop any leaning towards a "precautionary
approach" at the Council of Ministers meeting this and next month
- and to follow the advice of CEFAS scientists upon which a marked increase
in the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) could be achieved by an increase in
mesh size and a coincident increase in the Minimum Landing Size.
At a recent joint meeting with fishermen's leaders in Cherbourg such
proposals formed an Anglo-French agreement, later sent to the authorities
concerned.
Mr Portus said: "Dover sole caught in the western English Channel
is the most prized asset of the beam trawlermen of Newlyn, Brixham and
Plymouth. The fishery earns annually some £10 million from this
one key species.
"Skippers can't afford to steam long distances to other available
fisheries that would yield similar returns. Fuel is 27p a litre compared
to only 13p a litre last year. The sole quota is already too low to support
the local fleet and any other cut would be impossible to bear - over-quota
fish is already being dumped."
A recent study commissioned by the South West Fish Producers' Organisation
has confirmed that catches have always been sustained at a much higher
level than compared to quotas. However, the catch per unit of effort,
an indicator of stock availability, had not declined, Mr Portus said.
"Total effort exerted by the fleet has declined dramatically as
owners have quit the industry in response to pressure imposed by Defra
fishery inspectors who watch over the landings.
"The only hope for fishermen is for the EC to take a chance on one
of the options, go for bigger mesh sizes and bigger minimum landing sizes.
We will continue to insist that it is a risk worth taking" he added.
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