The debate continues apace

In case you have missed the debate - over on the Newlyn.info web site there is an open and frank discussion developing with regard to plans to develop the new fish market. The site has now registered over 4.500 hits which is a measure of the interest being generated in the plans since the televising of BBC1's Inside Out's investigation on Monday evening.

Two things are becoming clear.

First, there is increasing awareness that the running of the harbour has failed to meet the requirements of a modern fishing industry where many boats have invested heavily in improvements like refrigerated, insulated fishrooms, boxing at sea and improved working practices to increase the quality of their catches.

Second, what is important is that what happens next is of benefit to all concerned in order to secure a future for the port (remember, it is still the largest by turnover in England, not just Cornwall) and the community on which it not only depends but thrives.

Follow the debate as it unfolds!

Latest figures from MFA for Newlyn, Plymouth and Brixham - where both Brixham and Plymouth receive fish from far and wide (especially the £2 million plus from Newlyn boats for which PTA's Dave Pessel is extremely grateful, as he said on the TV programme!)


Total all species from Jan to Jul 2009 inclusive.

Newlyn - £10,007,735
Brixham - £9,084,795
Plymouth - £6,789,432

Latest figures for Brixham, (BTA) show over £13 million with the best of the cuttle season to come.

Demersal species from Jan to Jul inclusive.

Newlyn - £7,866,615
Brixham - £5,093,629
Plymouth - £1,991,377

Pelagic species from Jan to Jul inclusive.

Newlyn - £436,488
Brixham - £157,528
Plymouth - £2,709,280

All shellfish from Jan to Jul inclusive.

Newlyn - £1,704,632
Brixham - £3,833,638
Plymouth - £2,088,775