Cornish fishermen could be given power to manage their own fishery

The MP for the West Cornwall and Isles of Scilly constituency of St Ives, Andrew George, is urging Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon MP, to give Cornish fishermen the right to manage their own fishing stocks.

Following the announcement today of the publication of the Government’s response to the consultation on Inshore Fisheries Management Reform in which the Minister proposes the establishment of a “number of pilot schemes next year”, Mr George is urging the Minister to make Cornwall one of the pilot schemes in which the fishermen themselves will have a greater say in managing their quota within the six mile zone. This would apply to all vessels which are under 10 metres in length.

Mr George led a delegation of inshore fishermen from a variety of coves within his constituency to see the Minister to urge him to give local fishermen greater flexibility in the management of their stock. It is proposed that the large Cornish Fish Producers Organisation (based in Newlyn) would act as administrator of the Inshore Scheme should it be given the go-ahead in the New Year.

Mr George said: “I know that local fishermen are keen to have a greater say in the management of their stock and if the Government gives them appropriate freedoms this would be good for the industry, good for some of the lowest impact fishing methods, good for the economy of our coves and good for the sustainability of our fishing stocks.”