|
Stuart Agnew, the UK Independence Party MEP from the East of England, is to lead a delegation from the Under 10-metre fishing fleet to see Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon tomorrow, November 23 at Westminster.
The delegation, principally from West Mersea in Essex, is seeking assurances from the Minister that their industry has a future.
Mr Agnew said: “This really is make or break time for the U10 fleet and we hope that the Minister will recognise the gravity of the situation and make some meaningful proposals to help them. The horrendous EU quota system, coupled with mishandling by officialdom in the UK has seen the U10 fleet decline by 80% in the last 20 years.
“They are stuck with just 3% of the quota when they have around 90% of the manpower in British fishing. The living this provides on an individual boat basis is pitiful and simply cannot continue. We are looking at the end of an era, if something is not done and done very quickly."
Should people be 'stimulated' to eat white fish alternatives to cod?
