Pollack quotas 'taking away fishermen's livelihoods' says Cornish MP
Steve Double says the measures are having a disproportionate impact on Cornwall
Last updated 12th Mar 2024
A Cornish MP says zero catch quotas on pollack have led to fishermen in Cornwall having their livelihoods taken away "overnight".
Steve Double, who represents St Austell and Newquay, said the measures were having a "disproportionate impact" on the fishing fleets that operate out of Cornwall.
Following advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (Ices) to set the total allowable catch (Tac) for pollack to zero, it was decided the fish can only be caught as bycatch in 2024.
Mr Double told the Commons: "The result of that decision was that many fishermen literally had their ability to make a living taken away from them overnight, and to put this in perspective the 570 tonnes of pollack quota that was available to vessels operating from Cornish ports represents a loss of £2.3 million to the Cornish economy."
Mr Double said the short time frame on the quotas implementation worsened the impact on the industry.
He said: "What we're facing right now in Cornwall and in other parts of the South West is very specific, related to the very short time frame that was given to vessels, to fishermen to adapt because of the way that this quota went from 1,500 tonnes to zero virtually overnight."
He added: "There are real concerns and questions about the data on which this decision was made.
"I think it's accepted that pollack stocks were diminishing and that quotas were being reduced for some time now, but to suddenly go from 1,500 tonnes to zero in one go when previously we've seen quota drop by a few hundred tonnes a year was what shocked the industry."
Defra minister Mark Spencer said he was "truly sorry" for the impact on fishermen but that the Government's goal was to manage the long-term stock of pollack.
He said: "We wanted to follow that advice to the best of our abilities, to make sure that we can try and recover that stock because I want future generations of fishermen to be able to catch pollack in those waters, so we do need to manage that in the most responsible way possible."
He added: "Pollack is a key stock and crucial to the South West community, the Government will do all it can to support the industry, to improve the stocks science and drive the stock towards long-term sustainable management which of course is in the interest of everyone, particularly the committed fishers of the South West of England."