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Further
to the article 'Fishermen shun Newlyn'; The Cornishman February 28. Our
family run a fishing vessel out of Newlyn but we, and a growing number
of fishermen are choosing to have our catches auctioned on Plymouth
market.
As local fishermen given the choice we would much rather be landing our fish on a competitive local market.
However, we are in business and are only doing this as we are profiting more from transporting our fish there.
After meeting with the buyers from Newlyn last year, expressing our concerns we took this decision.
It was not taken lightly or hastily.
Last
week I visited Plymouth market, and the team at Plymouth Trawler Agents
(PTA) for the first time since our fish has been auctioned there.
We have been transporting our fish there from Newlyn every week since last May.
After
being shown around a pristine market, which was fully refrigerated, I
was shown how our catch, after being graded (by grading machines that
work), was automatically put through the computer system linking it
with an internet auction.
I was then taken to the auction room where up to 30 buyers bid electronically in person and currently 60 buyers bid online.
All parties have full confidence in the quality and grading of the fish they are bidding on.
PTA
also provides the ability via its website to view the quantity of catch
that each of the vessels they deal with has on board and give the dates
they are due to land: quite simple but impressive to see working.
I question why this has not been done in Newlyn.
I also question the ability of the commissioners to implement the New Harbour plans.
I totally agree that a new market is a must for the fishermen in Newlyn but it should have been built yesterday!
There are rumours that this cannot be afforded, I disagree.
The fishermen in Newlyn at present pay 2% to land their catch; this is one of the highest rates in the UK.
But why have the harbour commissioners not looked at other income streams?
For example, in many other ports they have fuel bunkering run by the harbour for profit.
In Brixham it is a known fact that this pays for all the staff wages alone.
Further more the HARBOUR could also run the auction, bringing it another 5% income alone!
I am sure that this would make the venture profitable.
All
of these ideas have been brought forward by the fishermen at the
consultation stage but have been ignored by the Board of Commissioners.
In
my opinion, I feel that there is a conflict of interest within the
Board of Commissioners that is preventing progress and common sense to
prevail.
I can only hope that when the new harbour constitution
is revealed that the community and harbour users get the right people
to see this project through, and that the present commissioners are not
involved in choosing the new harbour appointees, as this process will
have been of no benefit at all.
It is the role of the harbour
commissioners to provide the facilities and conditions for the harbour
to prosper, and I feel that this whole project has been totally
mismanaged.
It is of such importance to the community of
Penwith, I fear that if swift action is not taken Newlyn will never
gain back its status as the premier landing port in England.
Our few vessels make up almost a quarter of the total of landings into Newlyn.
We are not alone in our views and I know many other fishermen feel the same way.
David stevens, Crystal Sea; with the
support of ANTHONY HOSKING, Silver Dawn; SHAUN EDWARDS, Nova Spero;
STEVEN NOWELL, Nellie; MICHEAL NOWELL, Elizabeth N; MARK ROUSE, Don
Bosco and Intuition and Emma Louise; GARY LEACH, Wayfarer; DAVID and
COLIN WARWICK, Valhalla; ROGER NOWELL, Imogen; TOM McCLURE, Harvest
Reaper.
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It is sincerely hoped that Newlyn never beconmes a playground for the rich and infamous (leave that one to Port Penlee to sort out). Tourism willl never replace the calibre of jobs and people that the fishing industry provides and attracts. Yes tourism has a part to play because people want to see the fishing industry at work and they do bring a measure of prosperity. We also need to educate our visitors to appreciate fish as much as the Spanish,French or Italians because every visitor is a potential fish buyer.
Fishing may be at a pretty low ebb at the moment but it has been there before and will rise again when the time is right. All that is needed is a change of mindset, inertia and negativity have no place in the new order. Those who only see problems are the problem. The world owes no one a living least of all reactionary vested interests that have held sway for too long like a tired government that has been too long in power.
It is to be hoped that the Penwith community engages in the present Harbour Revision Order consultation and a new democratic constitution emerges so that past failures cannot repeat themselves and the exciting beneficial Harbour regeneration proceeds to a successful outcome.
The young fishermen who put their names to the excellent letter in todays Cornisman are the future and deserve no less. The other unfortunates too scared to join in for fear of consequences are to be pitied.
Credit is also due to the Cornishman for its excellent recent coverage of this absolutely crucial issue. I have in the recent past been a harsh critic of the papers editorial policy and coverage of this issue, it is a pleasure to be able to say well done.