Fish worth more than £60 million was landed at Westcountry ports last year – up almost £10 million on 2009 – according to official Government figures.
In all, more than 43,000 tonnes of fish and shellfish were landed at the eight main ports in Devon and Cornwall, an increase of almost 5,000 tonnes.
‘2010 was a good year and 2011 is shaping up to be better’, Jim PortusPlymouth remains the port with the largest quantity of landings in England, with 14,300 tonnes, although Brixham, where more valuable fish and shellfish are landed, had the highest value in 2010 of £21.7 million.
Jim Portus, chief executive of the South Western Fish Producers' Organisation, apportioned some of the increase to celebrity chefs using unfashionable species.
"There has been an awful lot of non-quota species like scallops, crabs, cuttlefish and squid," he explained. "There has also been a lot of non-quota fish like dabs and gurnards which is down to the celebrity chefs.
"In that respect they have made cheaper unfashionable fish, fashionable and that has pushed up demand and values have reflected that.
"We should all be grateful for that and celebrate, and generally, the industry is – 2010 was a good year and 2011 is shaping up to be better."
The annual UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 2010 report, published by the Marine Management Organisation, showed an increase in both the quantity and value of fish landed by the UK fleet.
During the year, 606,000 tonnes of sea fish, including shellfish, was landed in the UK and abroad with a value of £719 million.
It marked a four per cent increase in quantity and a seven per cent increase in value, compared to the previous 12 months.
The South West figures include landings at Plymouth, Brixham, Exmouth, Teignmouth, Salcombe, Ilfracombe, Dartmouth and Newlyn.
Mr Portus warned, though, that there were uncertain times ahead for the Westcountry fleet with scallopers starting a one-month ban yesterday under rules which limit days at sea. He also said there was both good and bad news in the quotas proposed in Europe for 2012.
"There is good news on cod because they have finally acknowledged that we have got a lot of it and they have increased the quota by 130 per cent," he explained.
"They have also recognised that the beam trawlers have been doing their best and have put up Dover sole quota by nine per cent.
"But on other species they have proposed a 25 per cent cut unless the scientists can swear on their mother's grave that stocks are sustainable."
Research on stocks, he said, had been hit by budget cuts caused by the recession. Without it, he said, Brussels "always assumes it is bad news".
Mr Portus added: "Where we don't have the science, like on whiting, megrim and angler fish which are very important to the South West, we are going to be cut by 25 per cent, if we fail in our lobbying endeavours."
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