'It will benefit the powerful': Dispute over Brixham Fish Market upgrade plan
A plan to double the size of England's most lucrative fish market and make more room for 'industrial' trawlers using leveling funds has been condemned by campaigners conservationists, small-scale fishermen and pleasure boat enthusiasts.
Critics say plans for the port town of Brixham in Devon, which is set to land a record £50million worth of fish this year will cause greater environmental damage fishing practices, increase lorry movements and benefit a few powerful companies rather than improving the city as a whole.
A diverse group of skeptics ranging from conservationists to the local yacht club, city councilors and day boat skippers have expressed concern over the council's bid to Torbay for 20m trillion pounds from the upgrade fund. "thumbnail" data-spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement" class="dcr-1nntrho">
"It will be good for the big boys who are already making heaps of money," said Tristan Northway, who skippers a 9-meter fishing boat, Adela, and has been selling direct from the deck of his ship. "But it won't do anything for the rest of us and nothing for the town."
Harry Barton, the chief executive of Devon Wildlife Trust , said the expansion would lead to further damage to the seabed and increased carbon emissions.
"Trawling and dredging are among the most destructive activities that happen uence in the marine environment," he said. “The fishing industry is a major contributor to carbon emissions. This is partly due to engine emissions, but mostly because the dredgers stir up sediment on the sea floor, resulting in the release of large amounts of carbon.
Richard Spreckley, the commodore of Brixham Yacht Club, said the people who would benefit the most were the owners of the harbor's beam trawlers, larger boats that drop large, strong nets attached to steel beams into the water and drag them along the seabed.
A plan to double the size of England's most lucrative fish market and make more room for 'industrial' trawlers using leveling funds has been condemned by campaigners conservationists, small-scale fishermen and pleasure boat enthusiasts.
Critics say plans for the port town of Brixham in Devon, which is set to land a record £50million worth of fish this year will cause greater environmental damage fishing practices, increase lorry movements and benefit a few powerful companies rather than improving the city as a whole.
A diverse group of skeptics ranging from conservationists to the local yacht club, city councilors and day boat skippers have expressed concern over the council's bid to Torbay for 20m trillion pounds from the upgrade fund. "thumbnail" data-spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement" class="dcr-1nntrho">
"It will be good for the big boys who are already making heaps of money," said Tristan Northway, who skippers a 9-meter fishing boat, Adela, and has been selling direct from the deck of his ship. "But it won't do anything for the rest of us and nothing for the town."
Harry Barton, the chief executive of Devon Wildlife Trust , said the expansion would lead to further damage to the seabed and increased carbon emissions.
"Trawling and dredging are among the most destructive activities that happen uence in the marine environment," he said. “The fishing industry is a major contributor to carbon emissions. This is partly due to engine emissions, but mostly because the dredgers stir up sediment on the sea floor, resulting in the release of large amounts of carbon.
Richard Spreckley, the commodore of Brixham Yacht Club, said the people who would benefit the most were the owners of the harbor's beam trawlers, larger boats that drop large, strong nets attached to steel beams into the water and drag them along the seabed.
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