HANDLINE fishermen have to find thousands of pounds to pay for stock to be assessed.
The South West Handline Fishermen's Association, which includes some 50 small boats in Newlyn and St Ives, will have to pay £12,000 for an assessment to prove it meets the standards set by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
The bill for the last assessment in 2005 was £6,000 and secretary David Muirhead is unsure how they will pay for it. "I don't think we are going to afford that without grant aid," he said. "For our small boats, it is a lot of money."
For the last assessment from Moody Marine, the leading certifier of fisheries against the MSC standard which shows fish have come from sustainable sources, the body sought grants from Europe and from charities.
Handline fishermen who make a living selling mackerel already face an uncertain future as the MSC has threatened to withdraw accreditation because of over-fishing by trawlers from Iceland and the Faroe Islands.
With both nations plundering the stock, it could mean the council cancels all accreditation if it deems it to be unsustainable.
The association is holding its annual meeting on Thursday, March 24, at Mevagissey Social Club at 7pm.
For more information visit www.linecaught.org.uk
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN