A PLYMOUTH fisherman is one of many being hit by tough new quota rules for pollack which were agreed by the UK Government and the European Union late last year.
James Strevens said 70% of his income had been ‘taken away’ since the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) made changes which saw the pollack catch quota effectively set at zero from the start of 2024 to preserve stocks.
Defra has said it is working to ‘explore potential mitigations’, adding that the quota was lowered following advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
The stock of pollack in the English Channel is shared between the EU and the UK. In 2022, the quota for the UK was 1,821 tonnes, and in 2023 it was 1,506 tonnes, the BBC reported last month.
Fishing boat crews say there are not sufficient opportunities for them to replace this lost income with other catches at this time of year, leaving them facing an uncertain start to the year.
James, 36, said: “I’m stressed. I’ve got a young family and a mortgage to pay. It’s seriously hard times and really worrying. I’ve already dug deep into my savings, I don’t know where it will go from here, I haven’t been out fishing for six weeks.
“I really rely on pollack, for over ten years it’s made up most of my earnings. The ban has all but made me redundant. I feel like I’ve been pushed backwards from what is probably the most sustainable fishing there is. I’ve been forced to put net haulers and anchors all over the boat as there’s no other option now.
この記事は The Herald の January 29, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Herald の January 29, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
"The board is very much behind Chris and Lee. We made our decision and we are very comfortable with our decision" - Mark Russell
IT has certainly not been the start to the season that Plymouth Parkway would have wanted.
EASY DOES IT FOR RAMI
AL HAJJ APPRECIATES SMOOTH TRANSITION AT HOME PARK
Gibson must be next to get a new deal at Home Park
THERE was a deserved contract extension for Plymouth Argyle captain Joe Edwards earlier this month. Now they should be looking to tie up a new deal for another of their key players.
Austin can't stop defeat for Bluebird
GLENN Austin added scores of at least three figures during 18 of his visits to the board for Bluebird A in a 7-4 Monday Premier League loss at Legends Lounge.
We used holiday money to buy hand gel and face masks... then gave it to our NHS customers
TWO selfless shopkeepers have donated more than £100,000 of food and medical assistance to people in their community since the pandemic.
Migrants could be in hotels for up to three years-report
MIGRANTS could be housed in hotels for up to three more years due to the asylum backlog, it has been reported.
Girl, 14, hurt in suspected acid attack near school
A 14-YEAR-OLD girl has been left with potentially life-changing injuries after a suspected acid attack outside a school in west London.
Warning of Iran attack as Israel masses forces
IRAN is preparing to \"imminently\" launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel, according to a United States administration official, who warned of \"severe consequences\" should it take place.
Market stall is more than just retail outlet
ASSISTANCE ALSO OFFERED AT STALL OPENED 25 YEARS AGO
Plans submitted for dockyard site
INDUSTRIAL UNITS PART OF REVITILISATION’