Coalition Causes Fishing Catastrophe In The South West.

• NORTH DEVON’S FISHING FLEET FACES ‘IMMINENT’

• DESTRUCTION.
• BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT MISMANAGEMENT
• Posted on October 20
  North Devon’s fishing fleet faces ‘imminent’ destruction.
• because of government mismanagement and the Government
• must over-ride EU quota limits to save 1000-year-old community,
• says UKIP Chairman Steve Crowther.
  
  The North Devon fishing fleet could have virtually ceased to exist by Christmas, following a ban on ray and skate fishing imposed suddenly this week by the government’s Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The ban is the result of a failure
• by the MMO to keep track of fish landings against
• EU quotas, according to UKIP, who are seeking an
• urgent meeting with the European Fisheries Commissioner.
  “On Friday the MMO suddenly announced that ray and 
• skate fishing – which constitutes more than 70% of
• North Devon’s catch – had to stop from this Sunday”,
• said UKIP's Chairman Steve Crowther.
  
  “Apparently, although fishermen have to report landings
• within 24 hours, the government were two to three months
• behind in their administration. Having caught up, they now
• find there’s no quota left nationally, after an abundant take
• in the Eastern Channel. So, despite the fact that North Devon’s
• fleet have not fulfilled their meagre quota, they’re banned from
• fishing and tied up in dock.
  
• “This spells the end for a fishing community based on Appledore
• which is the oldest in the country, dating back more than 1000
• years. Because of a combination of shrinking EU quotas and
• government incompetence, the industry in North Devon is likely
• to be gone by Christmas. The businesses based on the Appledore
• Fish Dock cannot survive without fish. It’s like telling farmers during
• harvest to stay indoors until next year – without compensation.”
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