Weather: Fishermen 'desperate' as unprecedented storms ground boats for months

Storm casualty in Newlyn - sunk in her berth

As politicians focus their attention on flood hit areas, coastal communities feel they are being ignored despite the grave situation they are facing

Fishermen across the south coast are facing a “desperate” situation as storms and high seas have grounded boats for almost two months. 

Many have been unable to earn any money since before Christmas and as hurricane force winds smash their boats and fishing equipment it is feared that the losses could run into many millions. 

Despite their plight they are being ignored by politicians, industry representatives claimed a day after David Cameron pledged that whatever was needed would be spent on the areas hit by flooding. 

Along the entire south coast of England and Wales, smaller boats have been completely grounded and even the larger trawlers have only been able to snatch short periods at sea before the weather forces them to return to shore. Conservative estimates suggest that at least 2,000 boats, around 4,000 fishermen, have been affected. 

Tony Delahunty, Chairman of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) South East Committee, and the organisations Chairman-elect, said that the “relentless ferocity” of the wind is unprecedented. “It is devastating, absolutely devastating. Everybody is deeply depressed and they are worried about the future," he said. “Everybody has got families to think about and mortgages to pay, it is horrendous. “It is also a little bit galling when you see the attention that is being paid to the flooding when coastal communities are really really struggling – we feel we are being ignored. “We need help as well, we need support, but at the moment it feels that we are being overlooked. We have the utmost sympathy for those whose homes are flooded, but everybody is struggling." “It is devastating. 

Empty fish market

There are no earnings coming in which means it is a problem keeping the crew and keeping up with the payments on their boats.” Compounding the fact that the boats cannot go out to sea is the fact that their fixed gear, such as pots and ropes, is being smashed and damaged by the huge waves which have been battering the coast of the country. They have been unable to get out to rescue it. Also, some vessels which have run aground have been looted. 

There is no let up in the long term forecast and by the time the storms subside the fishermen could have lost more than two months of earnings, money they will be unable to recoup. Mr Delahunty said: “The combination of high tides and extreme gales has hammered infrastructures, including vessels, harbours, sea defences and gears. The costs will run into many millions.” 

Mr Delahunty, who works on a shellfish trawler from Selsey in West Sussex, said: “This is unprecedented. I have been fishing for more than 40 years and we have had bad weather, but never has it been so violent and so extreme. “We have had a month of gales before, but these are nearly hurricane force - we have never had such severe weather over so prolonged a period.” 

It is not just the fishermen themselves who are affected - it is the whole industry which relies on the daily catch. Mr Delahunty said: “It is crippling the markets as well, they haven’t had any fish and they have got overheads and staff to pay. It is not just the fishermen it is right across the board.” 

The lack of supply caused by the treacherous conditions has pushed up the price of fish, and recently some wholesale prices have been double what is expected, said Andy Wheeler of the Cornish Fish Producers Association. “That price rise will be passed on to consumers,” he said. Mr Delahunty added: “All of this amounts to a serious setback for the industry at a time when the boats have enough to contend with, adapting to new marine protected areas, quota reductions and the imminent arrival of a discard ban.”

Full story courtesy of the Daily telegraph

Local MPs support our beleaguered fishermen

Nick Clegg has said he will ask the Prime Minister to ensure that fishermen whose lives have been made a misery by the stormy weather have the same access to hardship funds as those in the worst hit flood areas.

The Deputy Prime Minister was speaking after a visit to Porthleven Harbour in West Cornwall yesterday where he met with local fishermen, who have been unable to fish or tend to equipment because of the violent weather.

The Cornish Fish Producers Organisation warned earlier this week that fishermen who have been trapped on land because of the ferocious storms may risk sailing in dangerous conditions to take advantage of soaring prices due to dwindling fish market stocks.

Mr Clegg, who is visiting Newquay to meet with Visit Cornwall head Malcolm Bell, said he was keen to ensure the fishermen got the same access to hardship funds as businesses who have been affected by the floods elsewhere.

“They have had a terrible time of it,” he said. “It seems to me the fishermen have a very good claim to be able to apply to hardship funds in the same way that a village shop in rural Somerset has been able to claim. I will be asking the Prime Minister back in Westminster to look at just that.”

The Liberal Democrat said the country was facing the most unprecedented level of disruption caused by weather it had faced in over 200 years.

Following on from a speech earlier, where Energy Secretary Ed Davey said Britain’s climate change policy was under threat from a “diabolical cocktail of nimbyism, he said he suspected the recent violent weather was as a result of climate change.

He also backed plans to explore alternative options to the line through Dawlish and said it was important people listened to the message from businesses that Cornwall is open for business.

He said: “I certainly think it needs to be looked at and that’s exactly what Patrick McLoughlin is going to do. We need to make sure we look at every route which is viable, whether it’s a return to pre-beach route or another route.”

Read more: http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Nick-Clegg-calls-fishermen-greater-access-flood/story-20623122-detail/story.html#ixzz2tIqQavtd

Heartwarming #FishyFriday to one and all from Newlyn #openforbusiness

Blowing in the wind...

hands that do fishes...

the boxer...

roll on next week!

Stormy Newlyn

Stormy Newlyn

Warming up with southern airs

NATIONAL BODY CALLING FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT AS THE NATION’S FISHERMEN TAKE A BATTERING

The NFFP have rallied to the cause and are in the process of lobbying the government to support beleaguered UK fishing communities.

Typical of every west coast port and beyond - the entire Newlyn fleet help up in port as the next storm approaches.

Estimates Predict 4,000 Fishermen Affected by Storms, With Losses Running into Millions The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO), which represents fishermen across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, is calling for an urgent meeting with the government to address storm damage as UK fishermen are being prevented from earning a living due to the bad weather and poor infrastructure. Fishermen along the south west coast of England and in Wales have been hit hardest by the unprecedented stormy weather conditions and could face up to two months of no fishing without any compensation for loss of earnings.

The government announced yesterday a £5,000 grant for those business affected by the storms and floods and extra help from banks via 'payment holidays' and loans. According to the NFFO it is essential that fishermen are factored into this support.

Tony Delahunty, a fisherman from Selsey and the NFFO’s Chairman-elect, believes it is the most sustained and ferocious weather he’s seen in his 40 years in the industry: “In all my time as a fishermen, never has the weather been so violent and so extreme. We have had bad weather, but this situation is unprecedented and is causing huge disruption to the industry.” On top of keeping fishermen from making a living, the combination of high tides and extreme gales has hammered infrastructures, including vessels, harbours, sea defences, shingle beaches and static fishing gear. There are also real concerns for the stocks as crabs, lobsters and whelks are being found washed up on the beach.

Barrie Deas, Chief Executive of the NFFO, said: “The government has a responsibility to maintain the infrastructures under emergency conditions to allow fish to be caught, landed and sold. We need to sit down as a matter of urgency and work out what funding is available and how it can be best channelled to put our industry back on an even keel. These are very exceptional circumstances and I want to explore with Defra and the government agencies what support can be provided.

Estimates suggest 2,000 boats and around 4,000 fishermen are being affected by the weather and losses could run into the millions. Looting is now also emerging as a problem, after the Maritime and Coastguard Agency reported items being taken from a vessel wrecked against rocks near Porthcothan in Cornwall.

“After a poor start last year, fishermen are taking another battering and the money has to be found to replace damaged equipment,” continued Mr Delahunty. “It is a desperately worrying time. Everybody has families and mortgages to think about and it could be many months until the industry can recover.”

Even larger trawlers, usually able to go out in bad weather and relied upon to provide continuity of supply to the UK fish market, have only been able to snatch short periods at sea before being forced to return to shore. Now, because of short supply, some whole prices of fish have nearly doubled in just six weeks. There is concern some fishermen will be tempted to take more risks and go out in weather in which they normally wouldn’t.

Mr Delahunty added: “All of this amounts to a serious setback for the industry at a time when the boats have enough to contend with, adapting to new marine protected areas, quota reductions and the imminent arrival of a discard ban. Plus, with some quota species being seasonal, meaning they’re only allowed to be caught at certain times of the year, it is forcing fishermen to take greater risks, despite already working in one of the most dangerous professions in the UK.”

For more information visit http://www.nffo.org.uk/