A DISABLED war veteran turned commercial fisherman says “mad” emergency fishing rules are stunting his business.

Ben Stoten claims he has been forced out of the water after the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) placed emergency bans on catching certain species of fish.

The 29-year-old said he was unable to pay his crew and had tied up his small vessel up in Newhaven’s harbour after the government agency prohibited the landing of skate, ray and plaice at the end of October in line with European rules.

Mr Stoten, who casts his net along the Sussex shores as far as Brighton Marina and Beachy Head, said a cut in the quota of cod fishermen who could catch 250kg also made his life difficult.

Since complaints were made, the MMO has increased the quota to 400kg.

Mr Stoten, who lives in Newhaven with his partner Kayleigh, returned to fishing in February two years after he was one of two Sussex soldiers caught in explosions in Afghanistan.

During foot patrols in final tours of duty in the country, Corporal Stoten and Corporal Jay Baldwin, of Crawley, both of the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment, were injured within two days of each other in February 2012.

Mr Stoten, who started work as a fisherman before joining the army, said as part of his rehabilitation back into paid work he was keen to return to the trade.

This week he told The Argus: “You end up shooting yourself in the foot. The species they banned are plentiful at this time of year in the English Channel.

“If you cast your net you pick up these species among other fish. There is no way of avoiding it.

“But you end up having to throw them back dead because you can’t land them. It seems a waste and is incredibly frustrating. You’re stuck in a catch 22.”

The MMO imposed the bans, which can mean fishermen face a hefty fine if ignored, when it discovered the quotas for the species had been exhausted early.

Andrew Beattie, the MMO’s acting chief executive, said: “We continuously audit and develop our quota and effort management processes.

“We have acknowledged the need for, and are exploring different ways of, fisheries management to meet the challenges of further cuts in EU quotas, which are expected in future years.”