February 22, 2016

UK fishermen protest over marine reserves

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Plymouth Herald

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The growth of Marine Conservation Zones is killing Britain's fishing industry, a retired fisherman claims.

Keith Turner has sent a petition of 249 signatures to Marine Environment Minister George Eustice, calling for an end to the expansion of Marine Conservation Zones "without producing impartial scientific evidence as to why more of these zones are needed".

Mr Turner, who worked out of Brixham and Plymouth harbours, said he was fighting for the livelihood of fishermen like his grandson, Dominic Welsh, an Exmouth scallop boat skipper.

In January eight new Marine Conservation Zones around the South West, from Land's End to Foreland Point in North Devon, were announced.

Marine conservationists welcomed the zones as a step towards creating a "blue belt" in UK waters. But fishermen criticised the measures as window dressing and said the zones would be impossible to police.

Read the full story at the Plymouth Herald >>