It is noticed that traditional fishing in Eastbourne could be ended by unfair and inefficient EU fishing quotas. According Graham Doswell, a third-generation fisherman in Eastborne, said that he was being forced to dump up to 10 tonnes of dead cod back into the sea in a day. He added that the wintry weather and strong easterly winds have not helped fishing boats.
Doswell also informed that the quotas were damaging business more, with one commercial fisherman down on his profits by 50 percent this year. According to him most fishermen have already met the European Union quota for cod, cut in January this year to 100kg for boats under 32 feet, and cannot catch any more. But as the year progresses the proportion of cod in their nets grows, up to 75 per cent, and they are forced to discard most of their catch.
It is said that the fishermen are stopped from using the larger-mesh nets which trap larger cod so often are tossing back the young cod which would breed to create the numbers the EU is trying to protect. The EU authority focus on bringing in plaice and sole but as the year goes on and cod percentages rise, many have to turn to catching shellfish.
Doswell told that the quota system is as tricky as the offside rule. He added that the quota system is frustrating and it is absolutely ridiculous. It is fact that the EU system is meant to standardise conditions for fishermen in all European countries but Doswell told because the number of fish landed was logged by local fisheries offices in England the rules were upheld far more stringently here.
