Cod cutbacks are crippling inshore fishing (From Western Telegraph)

Cod cutbacks are crippling inshore fishing

The crippling cod cutbacks, which are threatening to bankrupt Scottish fishermen, will also hit their South Wales counterparts. Trawlers fishing out of Milford Haven and other ports in South and West Wales are faced with the Hobson's choice dilemma of whether to stay in port or go to sea and fish for other species, throwing back any cod they catch. "It is a serious situation. At this time of year there is very little else to catch but cod," said Mr David Gardner, secretary of the South and West Wales Fishing Communities. "The industry needs government support to make sure it can survive in some form. The inshore sector is what we are talking about in this area and it has been hit even worse than the high seas sector until now, as it has been limited to 75 kgms of cod a month, and there are rod and line fishermen catching more than that without restrictions. You can't even afford to take the boat out for £200 a month." Mr Gardner said the full effect on the inshore sector is difficult to assess at the moment. "The majority fish for bass, lobster, crabs and whelks and the jury is still out on that. There are about 12 to 15 boats in our area and the South and West Wales Fishing Communities has made representations through the MPs and MEPs. But the response so far indicates that those in charge don't understand the inshore sector and don't give it much regard. They don't seem to understand the need for regional management of the inshore sector and differentiation between the high sea and inshore fishermen." A cod shortage could change the nature of the traditional fish and chip take away, with other species such as coley taking the place of cod, as its price soars.