Chefs speak against ports cutback plan

By Linda Fox

Plans to reduce the number of ports in England where fish can legally be landed have been attacked by chefs.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) is considering restricting fishermen landing their catches to a number of designated ports. The South-west could be particularly badly hit. Ports such as St Ives and Padstow in Cornwall and Sidmouth in Devon could lose out to larger havens such as Brixham and Newlyn.

"The aim is to cut down on the number of fish landed illegally," said a spokesman for MAFF. "Many stocks such as cod and haddock are under pressure. Fishermen should write in their log books what they catch and where, but some are landing fish at night."

However, restaurateurs feel the idea may have the opposite effect. "It's going to affect a lot of the South-west," said Kevin Viner, chef-proprietor of Pennypots restaurant, near Falmouth. "The laws are already there but they're not being obeyed. If they enforce this it will cause problems with availability."

And Rick Stein, chef-proprietor of the Seafood restaurant in Padstow, said: "I'm very depressed. I don't know much about it because I've been away, but it would be a nightmare for us. From the PR value, too, people know our fish comes off the boats.

"If they downgrade Padstow, there will be no fisheries office so there could be more illegal landings."

The ministry should decide over the next two months whether to seek more formal consultation on the plan.