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A Newlyn restaurateur and a local fishermen are making a stand against
the cetacean by-catch by actively promoting line-caught bass.
Stephen and Barbara Turner, who run The Smugglers Restaurant in the port
and fisherman Andrew Pascoe, who fishes out of Newlyn and is vice-chairman
of the South West Hand Line Fishermen's Association, are doing their bit
for the industry by backing a sustainable fishery that is ecologically
sound and dolphin friendly.
The Cornishman has regularly reported on the rising toll of dolphin deaths
and the subsequent and growing calls for the banning of pair-trawling
following the clear link between bass pair trawling and cetacean by-catch
which was established three years ago.
Line caught bass can now be easily identified by a label attached to
the head of the fish.
This will enable customers and consumers alike to actively select bass
caught only by this sustainable, environmentally friendly method.
The new bass labelling scheme was launched recently at the Royal Cornwall
Show with the first labelled bass being caught by Andrew Pascoe and served
up at the Smugglers, a leading fish and seafood restaurant.
Andrew, who has been line fishing more almost 20 years told The Cornishman:
"This tagging scheme is another way of making the public aware of
the effects of pair-trawling on the cetacean by-catch, and to emphasise
that there is more than one way of catching bass."
Andrew tags his line-caught bass on deck, which in turn means quick identification
at Newlyn market.
When Stephen Turner buys line-caught bass, he is able to pass on to the
customer the good news of the sustainable nature of the fishery by serving
the tag on a side plate alongside the finished dish.
The locally inspired and now operating labelling or tagging scheme has
already won favour with Fisheries Minister, Ben Bradshaw.
Secretary of the South West Hand Line Fishermen's Association, David
Muirhead explained: "We felt that line fishermen had to promote the
sustainable nature of their fishery, against other methods like pair trawling,
which has generated so much adverse publicity toward bass.
"Ben Bradshaw viewed several line-caught bass at our stand at the
Royal Cornwall Show and seemed to be impressed with the scheme.
"The first labelled bass was caught by Andrew Pascoe, and we truly
believe that this scheme will develop around the South West and far beyond,
to make line-caught bass a product that the customer will prefer."
Stephen and Barbara Turner at The Smugglers are convinced that line-caught
bass will prove to have an assured future, especially among the growing
number of discerning diners keen to know the origin and method of a particular
fishery.
"I believe that people will find it to be a much more acceptable
method because its a more humane way of fishing, unlike pair trawling
which kills so many dolphins," said Stephen.
"We are delighted that Andrew is labelling his line-caught bass
- we think its an excellent idea and feel sure that our customers will
much prefer to be able to choose to eat bass which has been caught with
the line method."
Meanwhile, St Ives MP, Andrew George continues to campaign against pair
trawling for bass.
He has called for a ban on pair trawling for bass from British waters
and has urged the Government to ensure than 2004 is the last year of mass
dolphin deaths of the Cornish coast.
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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