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For Martin Gilbert, fishing has been his lifeblood since the day he was born. Now aged 62, he first started working the Cornish seas at the age of seven and has braved all weather for the past five decades to catch crabs. oysters,
Yet he is one of a growing number of disillusioned fishermen Who feel that after securing votes they have been “sold down the river” by successive governments Brexit,
Sir keir starmer congratulated him The renegotiation agreement with the EU in May will be seen as a “win-win” for both sideswhich will allow the British Passengers will have to use Passport e-gate And farmers will get easier access to trade on the continent.
In return, European fishing trawlers have been granted a further 12 years of access to British waters, in what has been described as a step up. scottish Fishermen’s Association As a “horror show”.
“It’s very disappointing,” Mr Gilbert said. Independent“We were promised our own little island, and as far as I know, selling abroad is still a nightmare for traders because of the paperwork, inspections and stamp approvals. It’s too much trouble, and now only 50 percent of the fish we produce goes abroad.
“Meanwhile, we’ve got French and Belgian trawlers fishing within a six to 12 mile range, causing huge damage to our fishing fleet. They don’t care about anyone but themselves, I’ve lost thousands of pounds of gear over the last 30 years.”
Upon placing their crab pots, which cost around £100 a piece, Mr Gilbert and other fishermen on the south coast of England will contact the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, which uses WhatsApp and live maps of marine traffic to contact EU vessels to inform them where the pots are anchored.
Five years earlier, he was devastated after a French ship destroyed £15,000 worth of equipment in one night, claiming they had ignored his readings about the location of 200 crab pots.
This is a common problem faced by British fishermen, who are struggling to compete with the EU’s larger fishing vessels, which can be up to 100 meters in length, compared to the 10-metre vessels sailing off Cornwall.
“Once a month, we’ll lose ten to 15 crab pots,” Mr. Gilbert said. One fisherman previously said he spent £60,000 to £70,000 each year on new pots and ropes after his gear was constantly damaged.
Fishing became an integral part of the 2016 holiday campaignPoliticians such as Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson pledged that Britain would regain control of its waters.
Nine out of 10 fishermen said they intended to vote on Brexit, with many attracted by the promise that European trawlers would be driven beyond the 12-mile exclusion zone.
Mark Evans, chief executive of the charity Fishermen’s Mission, said: “If you go back to the days of the Brexit campaign, without doubt the fishing community has got an extremely powerful voice.
“Britain’s territorial waters were a bit like the £360m NHS figure – the reality was that was simply not true. Nothing has changed – fishermen are still in direct competition with the French, Dutch and Spanish, with waters being overfished and their quotas being pressed.”
The industry also faces other challenges, including an influx of octopuses that prey on shellfish, naturally occurring algal blooms that have affected the north-east coast, as well as the rising costs of marine fuel and necessary safety gear.
Speaking about the agreement in May, Mike Cohen of the National Federation of Fishermen said: “It was a blow. Not only did we get nothing, we also lost what little we got from Brexit.”
Recruitment has also become a difficult area for the fishing industry, as there are fewer young people seeking a life at sea.
“The issues include an aging workforce, too many businesses being run alone, and the costs and risks being too high for people wanting to enter the industry,” Mr Cohen said.
“Recruitment is tough, given that you have to stay in education until you’re 18 and you don’t have any fishing apprenticeship. By the age you’re able to go to sea, you might have spent two years learning some other trade.”
As a result, mental health issues have become more prominent as many fishermen are considering leaving the industry and abandoning their businesses, which may have been in the family for generations.
“Even for me, it’s created a lot of problems like anxiety,” Mr Gilbert said. “Probably half the people I know suffer from some mental health problem.
“I’m a fisherman through and through, it’s all I’ve ever known. I’ve certainly worked more days at sea in the last two years, gone farther and encountered more weather, than I used to do to earn a living.
“It’s long, hard hours, most days I work 12 to 14 hours. On Tuesday, I spent 12 hours at sea, and I had to run to the market with the fish. I started at 3 in the morning, came home at 7.30 pm and went back to the sea at 3.45.”
Mr Gilbert said he was fortunate that both his sons have followed in his footsteps and are both fishermen, with his grandchildren also enjoying their time at sea.
“My sons have been in this for a long time,” he said. “I know some people who have given up and said enough is enough, there’s too much paperwork and bureaucracy and regulation – I’m leaning that way.
“I enjoy the work a lot, it’s just hard work.”
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokesperson said: “We value the hard work and dedication of everyone working in our vital fishing industry.
“We have announced a £360 million Fisheries and Coastal Development Fund to support the next generation of fishermen and will work with the industry to target investment where it matters most.
“This government is working with the fishing industry to promote British seafood and ensure we can sustainably catch fish so the sector can thrive for generations to come.”
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans in confidence on 116 123 (UK & ROI), email. jo@samaritans.orgor visit Samaria website to get details of your nearest branch.
If you live in the United States, and you or someone you know needs mental health support right now, call or text 988, or go to 988lifeline.org To access online chat from 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to anyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go here www.befrienders.org To find a helpline near you.