British ofishaldom is ruining our livelihoods

While Brexit has brought more freedoms to UK waters, fishermen accuse the Government of enforcing needless regulations that are driving them out of the industry

- By Sarah Barltrop

IF ONE industry was excited by the bonfire of red tape to follow Brexit, it was fishermen. With a government backing them to the hilt, it looked like a new dawn for an age-old occupation with outposts all across the British Isles.

Nowhere was the excitement and trepidation felt more keenly than in the seaside town of Brixham in Devon. Torbay Council calls it England and Wales’ most important fishing port by value with a history spanning 1,000 years — the port is even mentioned in the Domesday Book!

Yet, even if Brussels diktats are no longer imposing orders, that doesn’t mean life has got much easier. In fact, shockingly, fishermen say that homegrown rules and regulations are making it harder for businesses to survive than ever before; expensive qualifications for newcomers, strict rules for smaller boats and controversial fishing quotas are just some of the factors creating uncertainty about a future some fear is bleak.

When the Express visits Brixham on a summer's day, a flock of seagulls circling overhead, we find a harbour as noisy and boisterous down below. But there is also a sense of exasperation everywhere you go.

Tristan Northway worked on trawlers for 27 years before mounting costs and regulations forced him out of the industry. He owned his own boat and even built a business selling fish directly to customers. But when the Marine and Coastguard Agency introduced tighter rules on the stability of vessels under 15 metres in 2021, his business became too expensive to run.

“I didn’t give up, I fought for it,” says Tristan. “Eventually I just had to step to one side and do something else. Unless I had really deep pockets, I didn’t want to be climbing out of a hole that I was already deep into anyhow.”

Tristan felt he had no choice but to cut his losses and turn to tourism. He believes the future of fishing lies in “multipurpose, highly efficient, small boats” run by larger companies.