Future of fishing fleet discussed with Hastings and Rye MP

Amber Rudd, along with fisheries minister George Eustice, was joined by Jerry Percy of Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE), Dave Cuthbert of the New Under Ten Fishermen’s Association (NUTFA) and Jim Pettipher of the Coastal Producer Organisation (Coastal PO), to discuss a range of issues including licence capping and catch composition rules for Under-10m vessels on Thursday, March 10.

“This was an extremely encouraging meeting in which progress was made on all the points raised,” Ms Rudd said.

“I am particularly excited about how close we could be to the formation of the Coastal PO.”

The objective of the Coastal PO is to bring together the English Under-10m inshore fishing fleet so they can operate on the same level and benefit from the same opportunities as the existing fish producer organisations.

“Fishermen in the Hastings and Rye area, as well as those further afield should be grateful for the very significant support given to the under ten fleet by Amber Rudd,” Mr Percy said.

“She really has stood up for them at every level and made a positive difference wherever possible”.

Amber said she will be writing a letter to support the application for producer organisation status for the Coastal PO.

This would allow the Under-10m fleet to manage its own quota, ensuring fishing is sustainable but also it operates in the best interests of coastal communities in both Hastings and Rye, she said.

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