New quotas could hit Docks (From Western Telegraph)

New quotas could hit Docks

New fish quotas could damage the Pembrokeshire economy as less foreign trawlers visit Milford Docks, resulting in a loss of docking fees.

The radical overhaul of the much-criticised Common Fisheries Policy announced by the EU last week calls for an 8.5% reduction in the European fleet, a 60% reduction in time spent at sea and 8,600 fishing vessels to be scrapped.

Dave Gardner, of the newly-formed South and West Wales Fishermens Association, said local fishermen, who mainly fish for crab, lobster and bass in inshore waters, wont be affected by the new measures.

He said: The high seas fleets, the Anglo-Spanish, Belgian and French ships will be affected because they fish for quota stocks which are being hit.

There will be a decline in the number of vessels fishing in the Irish Sea and the Southern Approaches. That will have a knock-on effect on docks like Milford Haven. There will be a reduction in the number of vessels using Milford Docks. The Milford Docks Company will have to look for other sources of income.

I would like to see an increase in support from the National Assembly for the indigenous inshore fleets to develop unexploited areas like squid fishing.

There has been a disappointing response from them so far. Mr Gardner would like to see one organisation regulating coastal waters throughout Wales and with responsibility up to a 12-mile limit, rather than the current six.

This would give inshore fishermen a larger zone of waters protected from high seas fleets in which to fish.

He said such a move would encourage local fishermen to diversify and give more incentive for them to look after the waters.

Pembrokeshires coastal waters are currently regulated by the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee (SWSFC). This organisation has seen its funding cut drastically by the National Assembly over recent years and is struggling with a funding system which relies on contributions from various local authorities.

Phil Coates, SWSFC director, has said the organisation is unable to carry out its current duties due to lack of resources.