Fishing industry blow as market closes in Plymouth

Plymouth City Council says the city needs to work together to support the fishing industry as the fish market at Sutton Harbour closes its door today (17 May)

The news that Plymouth Trawler Agents (PTA) was winding up its operation after running the market for 30 years came as a “shock” to the council, although it said it was aware of “a number of ongoing issues”.

An interim solution to transport catch landed at Sutton Harbour to Brixham and Newlyn has been arranged, while all option for the market are explored.

Sutton Harbour Holdings, market landlords, said it was “committed to the re-establishment of the fish market” and had commenced discussions with potential operators.

Senior officers at Plymouth City Council met with PTA, Plymouth Fishing and Seafood Association (PFSA) and fishing industry representatives last week in light of the announcement and Sutton Harbour Holdings, landlords of the market, to “understand their intentions”.

They have also been in touch with Defra given the potential impact the closure could also have on smaller fishing ports along the coast in Looe and Mevagissey.

The council said Plymouth hosted a variety of fishing sectors and would continue to be a fishing port. It was working with the PFSA to support the local fleet of around 100 vessels, with around another 100 using the facility at Sutton Harbour.

Council leader Tudor Evans said: Everyone we speak to wants the market to continue in some form. Our hope is that there will be a viable way for vessels to continue to sell their catch in Plymouth, and we are extremely keen to help broker these conversations.

 “Fishing has been part of the Plymouth for centuries and while the closure of the market is the end of an era, it is not the end of the industry in Plymouth. Vessels – the smaller ones in particular – will still land their catch here but we as a city need to work with the industry to explore all possible options to support its future here in Britain’s Ocean City.”

Speaking in a debate in Parliament this week called by Steve Double MP on the future of small boat fishing in the South West, Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP Luke Pollard called for help to find a new operator for the fish market and Government support to secure the fish boxes and grading machines, the foundation of any fish market to prevent the barrier for a new operator being set too high.

He also told Parliament that the closure of the fish market “must not be used by the landlords to build luxury flats on the quayside that would effectively spell the end of the industry in Sutton Harbour.”

“The closure of Plymouth’s fish market and auction is a shock,” he said. “Fishing is a vital part of our city’s economy and social fabric. That’s why I’m calling for Government support to help secure the market’s facilities and find a new operator. 

“The closure of the fish market not only shakes the economic viability of Plymouth fishing boats but those boats that landed in smaller Cornish ports and overland their catch to be sold in Plymouth.” 

Many small fishing boats land their catches in Cornish ports like Looe, Poleperro and Mevagissey and rely on the auction in Plymouth for their catches to be sold quickly to preserve quality and price. Overlanding the catches to auctions further away like Brixham affects the quality of the fish and the price their catches demand.

Speaking about the closure of the Plymouth fish market, Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay, told the debate: “This is not a viable situation going forward, and we need to recognise the huge impact it is going to have on ports like Mevagissey.”

Responding to the debate, fisheries minister Sir Mark Spencer said he would convene a round table meeting for local MPs and the fishing industry to urgently discuss what help can be given to reopen the market and auction.

Sutton Harbour Holdings said it first became aware of the intention to close the market via direct notification from PTA on May 3.

It said PTA had been “a long-standing pillar of the fishing community” and “we are saddened by these turn of events.”

“The company is committed to continue providing its services to enable the landing of fish at Sutton Harbour, including the sale of fuel and ice.

In 2015, Plymouth Fisheries unveiled a new ice production facility, part of a £1.2 million investment in the chill chain facilities, which was match-funded by a £470,000 grant from the European Fisheries Fun administered by the Marine Management Organisation.

This facility enables production of ice on site 24 hours a day, so trawlers can load it directly into their vessels.

In January 2020, a £750,000 fuel and utility services depot opened to help fishermen refuel their vessels more quickly.

“Vessels are encouraged to establish contractual relationships with the Brixham and Newlyn operators to enable the settlement of auction proceeds, as well as sale of fuel and ice via Sutton Harbour in the most efficient and seamless manner, said the fisheries landlord.

“The company is committed to working with the fishing industry and its various members to ‘weather this storm’, with the hope and intention of emerging from it together, with a stronger and enhanced fish market operation looking to the future.

PTA was not available for comment.