Tag Archives: Jim Portus

Britain’s fishing industry: Jim Portus exposes the government’s betrayal of the fishing industry

The UK’s fishing industry was almost universally ecstatic about the referendum vote to leave the European Union in June 2016. Meanwhile, United Kingdom Independence Party leader Nigel Farage stated at the time that the way the UK would deal with its fisheries would be the acid test for the whole of Brexit. The industry was under no illusion that the vote to leave the EU would be the start, not the end, of a process that could take a decade to complete. Many feared that the UK’s fisheries would yet again be used as a bargaining chip by the government,,, >click to read< 09:42

Coronavirus lockdown: ‘Feeling of dread’ for fishing industry that it may be as bad or worse than the first lockdown

Prices dropped in March when the first coronavirus lockdown caused worldwide demand for seafood to fall drastically. Jim Portus, from the South Western Fish Producers’ Association, said there was “a feeling of dread that it may be as bad or worse than the first lockdown”. The government said it was continuing “to monitor the situation”. “This is a very uncertain time for the fishing industry,” said Mr Portus, who has called on the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to make a case to the government for financial support. >click to read< 08:56

SW Cornwall fishing industry fears destruction from Coronavirus and a ‘no deal’ Brexit double whammy

The South West fishing industry faces potential destruction from a “no deal” Brexit coupled with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, a leading industry figure says. Jim Portus, chief executive of the South Western Fish Producer Organisation, said there is concern a “bad deal” or “no deal”, when the transition period ends in January 2021, will be disastrous for the UK fishing industry, which led the march for Brexit. He said: “I don’t want to see fishermen sacrificed for the UK to get a good deal. We want to be part of that good deal. We’re in a situation where we could face a double dose of nightmare with Covid and Brexit and our fishing industry risks being destroyed. >click to read< 17:10