Landed at Plymouth Fish Market

A row is brewing at Plymouth Fish Market. A gentleman's agreement on the priority sale of fish catches landed by coastal fleets is being eroded in favour of the larger long-distance trawlers that land significantly larger catches and need to be sold and shipped early. The prices often undercut the local fishermen's. Reporter David Mudd catches up with the protagonists, auctioneer, government official Mr Matthews and local trawlermen.

The Sea Fish Industry Act of 1951 set up the White Fish Authority and with the Herring Industry Board provided grants for training, education and marketing in areas dependent on sea fisheries. Plymouth remains a hub for the declining fisheries industry and the Barbican's Fish Quay is now full of bars and restaurants where once a Victorian fish market thrived. Fish Quay was rebuilt in 1967 and a pleasure boat marina opened at Ocean Quay in 1973. The new market Plymouth Fisheries was opened in 1995 on Coxside at Sutton Harbour and a new ice production facility added in 2015. The fishing industry is adapting to sustainability, international competition and a largely only noble fish eating domestic market.