Let the Boston fishermen earn their living, says UKIP's Derek Clark

Published: Mon Nov 21 2011


The fight to save dozens of jobs gathered pace last week when Lincolnshire MEP Derek Clark met officials from the Inshore Fishing and Conservancy Agency.

UKIP MEP Mr Clark met with Boston Wash fishermen earlier this month and learned that jobs and hundreds of years of tradition were under threat due to fishing quota rules.

Boston Fishermen’s Association has been limited to just 40 days cockle fishing in The Wash this year because of European Union restrictions and the way authorities have implemented them.

He said: "Yet again meddling legislation and restrictions are affecting jobs and livelihoods.

"The fishermen have been fishing the Wash for generations without problems so why do they need regulation now?

"I also wanted to know why Centrica has been allowed to dig a trench right across the Wash from Kings Lynn to just north of Skegness to serve the off-shore wind farm, which will have seriously disturbed the Ross Worm colonies, while fishermen are forbidden to disturb any part of the sea bottom.

"It appears to me that the Boston fishermen are being deprived of a living through practices outside IFCA control so it comes down heavily on those they do have the power to control – the fishermen themselves.

"It has the power to fine fishermen, and even to propose by-laws, subject only to approval by the Minister. No local elected authority has any say so, so in short, it’s a QUANGO, something David Cameron said he would abolish."
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