Brixham’s fishermen are feeling the pinch as their profits shrink while people opt for cheaper food options. Due to recession spending money has been tight and thus the demand falls. Jim Portus, chief executive of South Western Fish Producer Organisation, called for shoppers to support Brixham’s fishing trade and said: “Buy it fresh, buy it local with low food miles.
Rick Smith, managing director of Brixham Trawler Agents, expressed that the price per kilo of fish had fallen by 21 per cent since last year, but said 2008 was a record season for price. He said that they are back to 2006 prices now but they had a very good 2007 and 2008 and the prices have dropped back.
It is told that consumers had revolted against expensive food and the idea fish is expensive, saying: “There is resistance to buy fish in the supermarket. The consumer, rather than buying fresh fish, is buying other forms of protein which are less expensive. It is also informed that people shopping in supermarkets were ‘quite a few steps removed from the fishermen and the quay, saying that is where ‘the resistance is’.
According to Smith the profits aren’t being made in the fish market but by the wholesalers or the retailers. He added that the supermarkets or merchants are making super, super profits but not passing it on to the housewife.
It is explained that Brixham’s fishing fleet were brow-beaten by the loss of the ‘best part of £1million’ in quotas for Dover sole in December, which means they have to make up the shortfall with other fish like cuttlefish, lemon sole, squid and red mullet. Fishermen were embracing marketing measures and environmental impact measures to reduce the harm done to the marine environment to improve the industry and ensure it is sustainable.
