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The owners of Britain's largest privately-owned fishing fleet based in Cornwall have announced they are to make up to 19 people redundant.
Several months ago the trawler firm, W Stevenson and Son, called in a consultant. This led to a meeting with staff last week over the future of the firm.
Last night a partner of the business based in Newlyn, West Cornwall, Elizabeth Stevenson, said: "Up to 19 redundancies will be made. The people have not been identified as there is a whole legal process that needs to be gone through," she said.
W Stevenson and Son currently employs 89 people. Ms Stevenson said: "We have been trying to avoid redundancies. The posts will be cut from catchers right the way through to our fish shops. There will be six new posts created. Hopefully that will be the beginning of the future."
The decision to call in a Spanish consultant has led to rumours that the company could be on the market. However Ms Stevenson said: "We've not sold the company, we've not sold out. We are determined to continue the business."
The consultant that the company has employed has sparked interest due to his nationality. In the past there has been resentment over flags of convenience. These allow vessels to be registered as British but owned by the Spanish allowing them to take advantage of the UK fishing quota.
Ms Stevenson simply stated he is the best man for the job: "He has been looking at every aspect of the business. We were having serious problems. We need a more streamlined business to continue in a modern fashion.
"The main concern seems to be what nationality he is. It seems strange in this modern age. What does it matter?"
In the 1990s, W Stevenson and Son had a fleet of 35 vessels, manned by 150 self-employed share fishermen. Stevenson also had around 60 shore staff that helped to land the fish, sell them at auction and dispatch them across the UK and Europe.
The price of fuel and quota restrictions has meant that the business has been running just 14 of the 27 boats it currently owns in recent months. With the new structure in place there are plans for 18 or 20 trawlers to be out at sea.
W Stevenson and Son has its own fleet of refrigerated vehicles that travel to the continent via Plymouth and the channel ports.
The company has been a leader in the British fishing industry for more than a hundred years.
Ms Stevenson said W Stevenson and Son now has a clear picture of where it wants to go. The consultation that has been taking place has outlined a plan for the next 18 months.
Ms Stevenson said: "This is going to take us back to where we were a few years ago."
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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