Organised by Paul Joy, chairman of the Hastings Fishermen's Protection Society, and Tory parliamentary hopeful Amber Rudd, the Under 10m
National Inshore Fisheries Summit attracted more than 50 delegates to the Hastings Angling Club.

Most were fishermen, including representatives of other hard-hit coastal communities like Ramsgate, the Thames Estuary and Eastbourne.

Also there were several political figures, including Richard Benyon MP, the shadow minister for fisheries.

And with next year's general election looming ever nearer, all three parties have waded into the debate over safeguarding the Hastings fishing industry.

The Observer revealed last month that the local fleet had used up their annual cod quota and would not be able to catch the chip-shop favourite until the new year.

"Our Government seems to be missing the point," said Mr Joy.

"Small coastal communities sustain jobs, industry and the environment. Hastings ticks all these boxes but are fishermen are still forced to throw dead fish back into the sea.

"We need a change of emphasis because at the moment the Government will not take quotas away from the big boys.

"Hopefully we are beginning to make ourselves heard."

The summit made the front page of trade magazine Fishing news and Ms Rudd was similarly upbeat.

She said: "We had a full day of presentations and debate on the main issues affecting our fishermen.

"There was a clear consensus that 'big Government' is oppressing their ability to continue to fish. The current system of regulation of one size fits all whereby sustainable, small fishing quotas are managed by the same rules as the producer organisations is clearly unworkable.

"What we need is a system that treats small sustainable local fishing communities completely differently. This is desirable not only for the wellbeing of our communities, but also for protecting our fisheries."

Among suggestions to come out of the summit were moving fisheries' management to a local level, a complete re-think of the quota system and proper representation for the New Under-10 Fishermen's Association.

Michael Foster MP welcomed the discussion but stressed that none of the parties' leaders were committed to changing the quota system.

He said: "It is Hastings against the world.

"All the front benches say they want to find a solution but on a national level they do not have a policy of redistributing the quotas.

"I think it is a matter of fairness and agree the Government is wrong in not committing to redistribution.

"I very much welcome the interest of the local Tory and LibDem parties, but I think they should be trying to get their frontbenches to agree with us all."

But Nick Perry, Lib Dem parliamentary hopeful, hit back.

He said: "Last week, the Lib Dem Shadow for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Tim Farron MP put down an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons setting out the Lib Dem frontbench commitment to a fairer percentage of the quota for our small boats.

"As for Mr Foster's efforts to get a cross-party agreement on quotas, this is too little too late.

"Has he not had 12 years to get cross-party consensus? Isn't it true that he is only doing so now because he is fighting for his political life?"

And Richard Benyon MP said: "We had a very constructive day in Hastings. Now more than ever I realise the need for better local management of fishing in a way that protects our coastal communities."

Do our fishermen get a raw deal? Is the future of the fleet an issue which will help decide who you vote for? Leave your comments below.