Commercial and angling interests met UK Fisheries Minister, Jonathan Shaw over the issue in London this week and today John Butterwith, chief executive of the North Devon Fishermen’s Association, said that both sides in the argument had a good hearing at the session.

But Mr Butterwith, whose grouping are bitterly opposed to the plan, said that it was impossible to say if Mr Shaw would confirm or reject the proposal.

“It is too close to call,” Mr Butterwith said, “but the Minister is going to make a quick decision after discussing the evidence with his officials.

“Indications are he is going to make a decision in the next couple of weeks.”

Asked if he felt Mr Shaw had been in any way swayed by the commercial sector’s arguments against the move, which UK commercial fishermen have maintained is not necessary in conservation terms and will simply hand the bass market to the French, Mr Butterwith said he would not have thought Mr Shaw would wish to challenge EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg’s drive to reduce discards.The bass size increase will inevitably increase the number of discarded fish according to UK commercial fishermen.

“This was a very hard meeting and we presented Mr Shaw with a very good concrete case against the move.” He went on : “We heard scientific evidence at the meeting that the bass stock is both sustainable and increasing but the proposal to increase the minimum landing size to 40cm will not only further add to discards but add to fundamental hardship in the inshore fishing grounds.”

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