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Westcountry fishermen's leaders are preparing a lobby during
forthcoming EU quota talks in Brussels to secure a better deal on fish
quotas for next year.During the December Fisheries Council meeting,
vital decisions will be made about which fish stocks will remain under
the same pressure, which can stand further pressure and remain intact,
and which, according to EU scientists, require stringent cuts in Total
Allowable Catches (TACs).
Although
the meetings may attract UK-wide news coverage, the public often
remains confused by what powers the European Commission have over the
future of the British fishing industry.
Leader of the Cornish
Fish Producers Organisation (CFPO) Paul Trebilcock explained how one of
the group's priorities at the December Council will, again, be to head
off moves by the European Commission to control fishing with
days-at-sea limits in South West waters (Area VII).
Another will
be to resist attempts to cut TACs on some fish stocks where the overall
fishing effort by all EU States has not taken up the TAC for 2006,
while the UK fishing industry has caught 100 per cent of its share.
Paul
Trebilcock explained how days-at-sea restrictions in the North Sea
caused a lot of hardship, with little benefit to fishermen or stocks.
Defra
was well aware of this, he said, "and it is very encouraging that they
recognise the problems that may be unleashed if days at sea controls
were introduced in waters around the South West and western approaches".
"In
particular, there are mounting fears that the jointly-agreed two-month
closure of the Trevose ground (Bristol Channel) may be replaced with
days-at-sea limits.
"The February and March closure of fishing
effort there was agreed between the fishermen's leaders of the UK,
France, Ireland and Belgium two years ago to help the cod stocks
recover; and it offers a practical and credible alternative to days at
sea and is seen by Defra and the Commission as a positive fishing
industry initiative," Mr Trebilcock said.
He said the CFPO is
hoping for a rise in the TACs of monkfish (about five per cent), and
hake (about 15 per cent) - crucial for some of the western Cornish
fleet.
"But we are very worried about proposals to reduce fish
quotas for some species (like Dover sole and plaice) in the western
approaches, where many of the beam trawlers work (Areas VIIhjk).
"The
commission wants to cut these TACs to match recent catch levels, even
though UK fisheries scientists say the stocks are not in any trouble
and that the TACs are under-utilised at an EU level.
"If that
went ahead it would have a significant effect on the UK industry
because, generally, it is only UK boats, and particularly ours in the
South West, that take Dover sole in that area.
"The same is true
for megrim and pollack - again very important species for Cornwall and,
in particular, Newlyn. We generally take near to 100 per cent of our
allocation, so any cut in those TACs will be a financial disaster for
many boats."
Mr Trebilcock said trying to predict the outcome of
the December Council of Ministers was "a fool's game", but the CFPO
hoped there would not be any drastic quota cuts or draconian
regulations for the South West.
"Our stocks are reasonably healthy, and we are continuing with a lot of pro-active work on our fisheries," he said.
Article copyright WESTERN MORNING NEWS
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