Newlyn is in turmoil this week with its future as a key player in the UK's fishing industry filled with uncertainty.The village is still reeling after a six-year long investigation ended with the owners of its largest fishing fleet pleading guilty to systematic over-fishing.

W Stevenson & Son, fish merchants, agents and auctioneers, admitted 37 charges of submitting a false sales note to the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) at Exeter Crown Court on Friday.

The documents did not accurately indicate the quantity of high value quota fish species such as cod, hake and monkfish, when they were landed through auction.

The value of the fish has been estimated at £141,000.

Six other Newlyn fishing vessels involved in similar scandals will be sentenced after June 1.

Donald Turtle, an 80-year-old Newlyn boat owner who is awaiting sentencing, said the situation has left fishing crews completely demoralised.

"Nobody wants to do the job anymore," he said. "It's difficult to get the crews because you can't go to sea without breaking the rules of some sort. "Nobody actually knows what's going to happen. If we get fined too much we won't be able to carry on and neither will any of the others.

"Stevensons could be put out of business and there's much said about them but they've fed a lot of hungry mouths in their time and they've taken a few losses and still paid out."

Newlyn fishermen supply fish to every major UK and European market. In 2005 the port landed the third highest tonnage of fish by a UK fleet. Paul Trebilcock, chief executive of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, said the case could have far-reaching consequences.

"W Stevenson & Son is integral and probably vital to the success and the running of Newlyn as a fishing port and without them we have got a bit of a headache," he said.

Mr Trebilcock added that it was important for people to remember that the offences actually happened six years ago when fishermen were at "loggerheads with the scientists" and he claimed it was morally bankrupt what the boats were expected to do at that time.

"We had quotas which were ridiculously low and quotas were out of synch with fish stocks.

"Since then I think some credit should be given to Stevenson's in the work they have done with scientists and the Government. We were probably starting to see things improve but something like this really shakes the confidence of the industry."

Following a raid by Defra of the W Stevenson & Son's offices last week the assets of the company's four partners are being investigated.

Sentencing is expected at a three day trial which begins on October 30.

Company partner Elizabeth Stevenson refused to talk to The Cornishman about the case. She said: "We will talk about it at the outcome."

article copyright THE CORNISHMAN 

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