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Local fishermen angry over EU regulations
Wednesday, 24 March 2004 East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer is to meet with local fisherman Michael Kettleboro to discuss his concerns over new EU regulations on fishing at the Ship Inn in Boston on Friday 26th March at 8.30am. Michael Kettleboro contacted Mr Helmer after he was told by DEFRA that he was unable to fish for sole, skate and plaice in the Wash under new EU regulations. From 1st February Mr Kettleboro has been stopped from fishing for anything except shrimps, cockles and mussels. Speaking about the restrictions on his licence Mr Kettleboro said: "I am angry that the regulations relating to cod recovery measures, aimed at deep sea fish trawlers, should be affecting the small local fishermen who have left the relevant fish stocks to recover and am grateful to Mr Helmer for coming to listen to my concerns today. The regulations greatly restrict my licence and are a threat to my livelihood. Any amount of fish I would catch would be a drop in the ocean compared with the large fishing fleets. Whilst I am concerned about fish stocks, it is unfair for the small boat to be treated the same as large deep sea fishing trawler." Commenting on EU Regulations Roger Helmer said: "Mr. Kettleboro's problem dramatically illustrates the reason why the next Conservative government is committed to taking back Britain's fisheries from the EU, and withdrawing Britain from the EU's disastrous Common Fisheries Policy. The EU policy approach has failed comprehensively and spectacularly. We must return to national and local control of our fisheries, and only the Conservatives can deliver on that objective." |