Council leader demands more help for fishermen
PLYMOUTH’S city council leader has written to the Government urging more help for the fishing industry.
Cllr Tudor Evans said the recently agreed EU trade deal is “over-promised and under-delivered” for fishing. The Labour councillor has written to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs George Eustice, MP for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle.
Cllr Evans argues there need to be: A substantial and targeted funding package Ministers announced £100m will be made available for “modernising trawlers and fish processing” but more substantial funds will be needed as more than 75% of the English fleet is over 20 years old.
Port infrastructure Plymouth council is working with the industry and the port authority to develop proposals for a modern market and fish quay fit for the 21st Century.
A decommissioning scheme The council supports measures to protect the marine environment, but the impact on some fishermen whose traditional grounds would be closed to them should be recognised.
Reducing the size of the fleet would help avoid displacement problems and gear conflicts, improve the profitability of remaining businesses and assist the Government to deliver its objective of a sustainable and profitable fleet.
Access Fishermen, especially those with boats under 10m, understand their local fishing grounds will not be protected from EU access, Cllr Evans said. They also understand they are unlikely to receive any big windfalls of quotas they were expecting. As a result they are asking for an urgent decommissioning scheme.
Distribution of quota Quota allocations should take into account the effects on the entire supply chain, with a direct link between quota allocation and coastal communities.
Safety and wellbeing Improved rest and social facilities for fishermen, greater hands-on business support and means of enhancing the earnings of fishermen are called for.
Community engagement Need for a collaborative approach that sees DEFRA and its agencies working with the council and the LEP alongside the local fishing industry.
Regulatory processes Urgent need for more effective liaison and communication on regulatory systems governing exports to the EU.
Cllr Evans said: “Plymouth is not only a major fishing port but also a regional hub. All around the coast fishing fleets are located in harbours that no longer have auctions and merchant bases to support them or sales of their fish and rely on Plymouth trawler agents to do so. This is an industry not just valued for its economic contribution to our city, but its significance to our heritage. That is why I, along with the industry as a whole, are enormously disappointed by what has been delivered in this ‘oven ready’ Brexit deal.
“Fishing was highlighted as a key example of the EU stifling British industry. We were told that outside of the EU people working in the fishing industry would prosper, with exclusive access to our territorial waters and a much fairer share of the fish that’s in it. This trade deal does not achieve any of the promises that were made. Foreign vessels will still have access to UK territorial water and ironically there will be far more red tape for our exporters to deal with. Somehow this Brexit deal has managed to deliver all the bad bits and none of the good bits.”