'Cod quotas will hit jobs' in Sussex (From The Argus)

'Cod quotas will hit jobs' in Sussex

11:20am Saturday 19th September 2009 in

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Fishermen's livelihoods are under threat due to stifling cod quotas which they say has left them unable to land another catch until 2010.

The annual quotas, set by central government, have already been reached for this year leaving the fishermen banned from catching any more.

Autumn and winter is prime cod fishing season and many of the county’s seamen rely on the species for their livelihood.

In the rest of the year sole, bass and plaice make up for the lack of cod but cooler sea temperature make cod the predominant catch now.

Graham Doswell, who fishes the waters off Eastbourne, claims cutbacks forced by the lack of cod being landed are also putting lives at risk.

He said: “The maintenance of the boats is of concern. That’s the first thing people cut back on and they are going to sea in ships that are dangerous.

“I am losing about 30% of my business because of this.”

There are about 300 smaller fishing boats which sail off the Sussex coastline which are all governed by the same cod quota.

In Hastings, four boats have stopped fishing this year already, taking the fleet down from 27 to 23.

There are fears more will follow suit as taking the boats out becomes uneconomical.

Fishermen are appealing for the quota system to be scrapped and replaced with one which would look at net and fish sizes.

Robert Clarke, of Sussex Sea Fisheries District Committee, said: “The vast majority of boats are under 10m, therefore these restrictions will affect the majority of the fishing fleet.

“It’s very reasonable to say the fishing fleet in the South East and in the area rely very heavily on cod fishing, particularly in autumn and winter. It will have a significant effect on their ability to make a living.”