The confrontation happened during a factfinding mission to West Cornwall, first to Newlyn, at the crack of dawn, then to Penzance harbour.

Paul Trebilcock, of the Newlyn Fish Producers' Organisation, said many took the opportunity to plead with Mr Shaw to act on repealing fish quotas set in December.

Without action, Mr Trebilcock warned, there would be a "year of pain".

He said: "Unless changes are made to the quotas there are going to be some real problems. To be honest there are already problems.

"There are boats going out that have to discard fish and others are saying it's just not worth their while to go out."

The issue stems from complex EU quota negotiations, which came into effect last month and dictated that fishermen out of Newlyn must cut their cod landings by 9 per cent.

However, Mr Trebilcock said the scientific studies underpinning the quota cuts were years out of date.

Fishermen in Newlyn say they have never seen stocks so healthy and trawlers currently out catching early season fish like hake and pollack are reporting as much as five times the number of cod in the water.

Unless the rules are changed or an arrangement made to trade quotas with fishermen from other countries, trawlermen in Newlyn face the prospect of buoyant cod stocks which cannot be fished.

"It is fair to say that the discussions were robust," said Mr Trebilcock.

"The minister said he recognised the problems that we are facing, but he had to go through the lengthy and complicated processes of [the European Union] Brussels and that is not going to happen overnight.

"This is a very immediate problem and unless it is solved I think many in the industry will be facing a year of pain."

Mr Trebilcock said he believed the minister was sincere in wanting to help, but issued a challenge.

"We have heard him talk the talk, now we want to see him walk the walk," he said.

Newlyn fisherman Mick Mahon was one of the most vociferous at the dockside.

He took the minister to task over quotas warning: "The quotas have no bearing on stocks. They are out of phase with what's happening on the ground and it is the fishermen who are suffering."

After a trip out on a beam trawler, Mr Shaw visited Penzance harbour to talk to anglers who are calling for him to reconsider controversial plans to introduce licences.

David Rowe, chief executive of the National Federation of Sea Anglers, and charter boat skippers, were at the waterside to lobby Mr Shaw.

The fishing tackle and charter business owners told the minister that much of their trade came from holidaymakers and buying licences would jeopardise their business.

After the visit, Mr Shaw told the WMN that he was very impressed with what he saw.

"I am delighted to get out and about to see at first hand a key part of the British fishing industry, the fish markets," he said.

"It's my first visit to Newlyn and on previous visits I have been to Brixham and Plymouth to witness the industry in those ports and was able to learn a lot."

article copyright WESTERN MORNING NEWS 

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