FISHERMEN behind one of the UK's most sustainable areas of the industry are considering going solo.
Hand-line fishermen in west Cornwall may ditch the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) accreditation in favour of a cheaper alternative.
With fish merchants urging them to form their own brand and create a niche for their well-established product, hand-liners could see a rosier future if they leave the protective shelter of the MSC.
A meeting of the South West Hand Line Fishermen's Association heard members were staggered by the total of £14,400 it needs to pay out to renew the MSC status, which shows it supports sustainable fishing. The association's accreditation runs out in February 2012, but some members say it would be better to create their own credibility instead of relying on the assessment.
Secretary David Muirheard said the group had been looking into its options for the future and holding talks with fish merchants and processors: "The smaller merchants in Newlyn have not got any problem with it at all," he said.
Newlyn-based fish merchant Robin Turner said although it would mean losing the security of MSC backing – which is a requirement for most major supermarkets, for example – finding their own means of promotion could benefit the industry and the local area.
He told The Cornishman the association would be much better going it alone, asking: "Why are you paying somebody just to sign you off each year?"
He added: "This always has been one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world.
"That money would be better spent forming their own brand of Cornish hand-line mackerel and localising the management of that brand."
Overfishing by Iceland and the Faroe Islands has already put the association's status under threat.
With the whole western mackerel stock in jeopardy, the MSC looks likely to issue a blanket ban to all fisheries. Mr Muirhead said it was grossly unfair that a small-scale player, like the hand-line association, had to compete on that level.
"We are a very sustainable fishery and we catch small amounts of high-quality fish," he said.
"We shouldn't even come under that criteria because we do so little damage," he said.
"We are never in a million years going to damage the mackerel stock with hand-lines."
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN