Jim Portus, the chief executive of the South Western Fish Producers’ Organisation said Mr Gooding took on board fishermens’ arguments for immediate action to extend the life of the fishery against the background of reports from fishermen of sole abundance.

“Skipper are reporting much higher volumes of Dover sole during their voyages and we have asked that there should be an urgent review of the total allowable catch in the light of the 15% cut we are experiencing this year.

“We said when the cut went through at the December fisheries council that it was wrong and indications from the fishery are indeed that it was the wrong decision and our members are finding it extremely easy to net their quota.”

And skippers did not want to be forced into other areas to try to make a living because of a premature exhaustion of the sole quota, given the high cost of fuel.

“The answer is to get an immediate review of the total allowable catch so that, if possible, the quota is increased during the currency of the year.”

Fishermen were already trying to make the most of what was available through for example, high grading and adjusting nets to allow small fish to escape, but what was now needed was an urgent reassessment of the allowable catch through examination for example of a cross-section of the catch.

A number of other issues were raised at today’s meeting including the continuing impact of high fuel costs and “increasing concerns” over the conduct of boarding operations.

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.

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