HILARY Benn, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs paid his first visit to Newlyn on Tuesday as part of a two day regional trip to the South West.

And, ahead of a decision on the new fish market by the Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA) at the end of next month, he told The Cornishman: "Newlyn fish market is very important and it needs the right facilities to meet the industry's future challenges."

He said there was a problem with fish stocks, globally, and the challenge for the fishing industry was to find a way to fish sustainably.

Mr Benn, accompanied by St Ives MP Andrew George and Justin Williams, District Inspector of the Marine Fisheries Agency, paid an early morning visit to the fish market to witness the early morning catch being sold.

He saw the work of Marine and Fisheries Agency inspectors and was also impressed after talking to fishermen and other members involved in the Fish for Litter project which aims to collect litter from the sea to stop damage to the marine environment.

Terrific

"The project is terrific," he added. "Speaking to the fishermen involved in it, they are very positive and enthusiastic."

Mr George welcomed Mr Benn's visit to Newlyn, saying: "The fishing industry in Newlyn deserves a boost.

"Momentous decisions still have to be taken about the future of the port and I am grateful to the Secretary of State for the attention he has given to our local industry and hope that it will instil greater confidence that we have a justification to be ambitious for the future of our fishing industry and port."

He also used the visit to celebrate the fact that both Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly retain their status as separate Inshore Fisheries Authorities following a decision taken by Government ministers recently.

Mr George, who led for his Party from the Front Bench in debates on the future of the Marine & Coastal Access Bill, had campaigned for the retention of the separate status of Cornwall and also for the Isles of Scilly under the proposed new Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authorities when they are introduced next year to replace the current Sea Fisheries Committees.

Mr George said: "This was a very significant campaign success.

"I am grateful to Hilary Benn and his Fisheries Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies MP, for having listened to the arguments I and others had put forward during the debate on plans for the new Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities.

"Retaining greater local control over the management of Inshore Fisheries out of the six mile limit is far more effective if managed by a Cornish authority and, separately, by a Scillonian authority, than if it were managed from Bristol, Southampton or somewhere else."

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