Created by Bob Blizzard, Waveney Constituency Labour Party, 35 High Street, NR32 1HY.
Hosted by Graphics Matter 3DW Ltd, 178 London Road North, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 1HB

SMALL BOAT FISHERMAN ASKS MINISTER FOR SIMPLER FISH QUOTA SYSTEM

Waveney MP, Bob Blizzard took Lowestoft fisherman, Mr. Kevin Sullivan to see Fisheries Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies yesterday to make the case for a simpler system of quota management for those who fish in very small boats.

Although his boat is classified part of the under 10 metre fishing fleet, it is in fact under 5 metres, yet he is subject to the same regulatory regime.

Bob Blizzard said, “Mr Sullivan made an excellent case that there should be a new category of under 7 metre vessels with a simplified system by which these small boats fishermen are given a straightforward annual quota. At the moment he receives licence variations by post every few days which keep on changing his quota. He was received 60 such variation notices in the past year and is snowed under with paperwork! The system is a nonsense as Mr. Sullivan is sometimes allocated quota for fish when there are none left to catch!”

“I was pleased with the Minister’s response. He agreed that such complex paperwork needed to be swept away and said he wanted a new system of more localised fisheries management involving the fishermen themselves.”

“To that end there will be a consultation meeting with local under 10 metre fishermen at OrbisEnergy in Lowestoft next week. Fishermen can pop in at any time during the afternoon and I urge them to do so. The event is called Sustainable Access to Inshore Fisheries and the proposition paper can be found at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/fisheries/marine/fishman/saif.htm#pp

For press enquiries contact:

Larry Smith (London)

020 7219 3880

smithla@parliament.uk

Nigel Dack (Waveney)

01502 583 414

dackn@parliament.uk