New deal for fish market at harbour

»»A WEST Cornwall fishing firm has been announced as the exclusive auctioneer at Newlyn Fish Market as part of a sevenyear deal with the harbour commissioners.

W Stevenson and Sons (WS&S) and Newlyn Pier and Harbour Commissioners (NP&HC) have signed an agreement which “formalises and modernises the long-standing relationship that has existed between them in Newlyn for decades”, the commissioners said.

The new arrangements began on Monday, April 1.

WS&S has been operating for more than 100 years and uses its own fleet to catch and land fresh fish, as well as acting as agents and auctioneers for Newlyn market.

“The deal will provide legal certainty and stability for both parties while establishing a cohesive partnership with one strategic aim: to provide superlative facilities and services for the Cornish fleet and wider UK fishing industry”, said the harbour commissioners’ chairman, Rob Wing.

“The long story of fish being sold at Newlyn continues with this new chapter.

“This new agreement may have taken a long time to bring to fruition, but we are confident that it represents the best possible opportunity for all fishers that land their catch at Newlyn Fish Market.”

Paul Trebilcock, the managing director of WS&S, said: “This agreement has been reached with a genuine spirit of positivity and can-do attitude from both parties.

“From our perspective, we are absolutely clear that WS&S has a responsibility to ensure the efficient, transparent and independent operation of the auction at Newlyn Fish Market and that our priority must be to further enhance Newlyn’s reputation as the number one market for quality fish in the UK.”