Fishermen say they are being stalked by officers of the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA), which is responsible for enforcing EU quota regulations.

"We're being watched constantly and their treatment is harsh," said one boat owner. "Fishermen don't appreciate being accused of something they haven't done - especially when there's no apology afterwards."

However, Justin Williams, the MFA's district enforcement officer, said the allegations made no sense to him at all.

"We obviously have to carry out inspections on the fishing boats as and when they arrive at port but we don't hide anywhere - in fact it's part of our code of conduct to always identify ourselves," he said.

"Ultimately we are here to ensure we have a viable fishing industry for the future."

Stress levels around the harbour are said to be especially high this month with quotas closed on haddock and sole and monthly restrictions on many other species, including pollock and cod.

Regulations, known as the Registration of Fish Buyers and Sellers, have made it a requirement for all fish landed from under 10-metre boats to be recorded.

The figures must then be returned to the MFA's offices in Newlyn, and are used to alter quotas.

"This is the first full year that we have had the correct figures of the fish that is actually being caught," said Justin Williams, of the MFA.

"The fishermen were getting a much better deal from the quota system in previous years because we weren't recording their catches."

Newlyn skipper Dave Pascoe said the Registration of Fish Buyers and Sellers more than halved his annual catch. "I used to bring in more than 100 tonnes of herring each year," he said.

"This year I took in only 37 tonnes."

Mr Pascoe has started fishing for sardines, which are not subjected to quota restrictions, "just to steer clear of it all".

"I bought an under-10 metre boat because it was much easier, there were no restrictions, but now it's the reverse," he said.

Annual fish quotas, which run from January until December, will be decided by ministers at the December round of the Agriculture and Fisheries meeting in Brussels.

Fishing boat licences will be altered just before Christmas to comply with the 2008 quota regulations.

ARTICLE COPYRIGHT THE CORNISHMAN 

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