Plymouth has set out a plan to make the city the “epicentre” of English fishing with new investment in its fish market and quay, “greener” buildings and a drive to attract younger people into the industry as the UK looks towards its post-Brexit future.
Plymouth City Council’s draft Plan for Sustainable Fishing, which will go out for public consultation, is aiming to revitalise the industry in the Ocean City.
Council research has shown the industry has been growing steadily over the past 20 years. Plymouth is is home to the second largest fresh fish market in England and lands about 13% of England’s total fish catch each year.
It directly employs more than 480 people and more than 1,920 in the wider supply chain. Between 50% and 60% of the fish sold at the market arrives by land from surrounding towns and villages, which means it is of economic importance to the region.
The draft plan envisages the regeneration of the Fish Market and the Fish Quay, to form a key element of the city’s National Marine Park plans and celebrate its rich maritime and fishing culture.
It also aims to support a workforce. With the average skipper aged 54 and average crew member aged 38, the plan puts forward ideas to bring in more women, former military personnel and schools leavers. as well as improving training.
Plymouth could also be a test facility for greener buildings, and cleaner propulsion systems for the fleet.
The plan also says the city needs to lobby to ensure the best deal for Plymouth fisheries in trade negotiations with the European Union to ensure its mixed fleet “grows and prospers”, and highlights the need to lobby to become the administrative capital of fishing in the UK
It also looks at raising finance to support growth. Help could come in the form of a new legal body or fishing co-op to help with easier access to finance, the draft plan said.
Council leader Tudor Evans (Labour) said: “Fishing matters. There is so much to be proud of: the heritage, the variety of fish caught, the breadth of the fleet.
“There is nowhere else with our pedigree but we need to be prepared for change and ready to seize any opportunities that arise. As we exit the EU, this industry’s fortunes could dramatically change.
"As Britain’s Ocean City, we need to do all we can to support an industry that is so pivotal to our story.
“We want to help fishing take advantage of the new Fishing Bill and negotiations of the fishing policy following the UK’s departure from the European Union.
“We secured funding from the European Marine Fisheries Funding and employed consultants Arcadis, who have been looking ahead and exploring what needs to happen for the industry to capitalise on this change.”
The council wants to hear what the trade and its stakeholders think about ideas that could help the city seize opportunities and address challenges. Its Cabinet has discussed the draft plan and recommended a consultation starts before the end of March 2020.
