Fisherman's pledge to keep business afloat (From Western Telegraph)

Fisherman's pledge to keep business afloat

HE MAY be the only trawler man left this side of Swansea, but Sean Ryan is determined to keep his Milford Haven-based business afloat.

"Everybody has given up, packed up and left," said the fisherman. "But I believe that there is a future in fishing."

His resolute stand against a dwindling industry, was one of the reasons Conservative MP, Michael Ancram, left Westminster for west Wales last week on a fleeting visit to the county.

Along with Conservative candidate for Preseli Pembrokeshire, Stephen Crabb, the trio discussed current pressures as well as the European Common Fisheries Policy.

"The policy has been an environmental, economic and social disaster; it is beyond reform," said the Shadow Foreign Secretary.

"We have made it clear that, if elected, we want to restore control of our own waters and bring back control from the European Union."

But withdrawal from a policy, the Conservatives describe as an 'unmitigated disaster', is just one answer to a much bigger problem, according to Sean Ryan, who took over the family fishing business 11 years ago.

"Basically, there are not that many young ones coming through," he said. "Another big problem is fuel prices. Three years ago it cost 7p a litre for red diesel, this week we paid 26p. That's a rather steep increase and another reason why people have got out of the job."

With quotas also being cut, Sean is pessimistic about the future of trawling in the UK, but insists he will stay in west Wales' waters.

"He represents the last of what was once a booming industry here in Milford," Stephen Crabb said of Mr Ryan. "It is vital that we save what is left of our fishing industry and see it grow in future generations."