News
HRH launches Invest in Fish
28th April 2004
The Prince of Wales joined fishermen for a mug of tea aboard a trawler as he called for large areas of sea to be closed to fishing today.
His Royal Highness was visiting Plymouth, Devon, to launch a new project to manage the South West‘s fishing fleets named ‘Invest in Fish'.
On arrival at the Barbican, on Plymouth‘s dockside, The Prince spoke to waiting children, many of whom were waving Union Jacks or the Welsh national flag.
Wearing a grey double-breasted suit, a pale blue shirt and a blue tie with a yellow whale design, The Prince then walked to the National Marine Aquarium to meet those behind the new fisheries initiative.
‘Invest in Fish' has the backing of fishermen, conservationists, restauranteurs and food retailers including Marks and Spencer.
Among those The Prince met was television chef Rick Stein, who runs the celebrated Seafood Restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall.
Afterwards Mr Stein praised The Prince for “putting his money where his mouth is” with his Duchy Originals range of organic food and drink.
The Prince gave a speech in which he welcomed the project and warned that conventional fisheries management had resulted in “a damaged and degraded environment”.
But His Royal Highness suggested that establishing “marine protected areas”, where fishing is restricted or banned, in British waters could help restore fisheries.
The Prince said: “I believe we need substantial areas where all extractive activities are prohibited, and where other significant human pressures are minimised.”
He urged people not to blame fishermen for the state of affairs, saying they had simply responded to the economic signals they were given.
The Prince added: “I do not think anyone really knows the capacity for recovery of marine ecosystems or indeed precisely how to go about achieving that aim.
“But when the stakes are so high I cannot help thinking that a precautionary approach is essential.”
The Prince said he recognised that the idea of a network of highly-protected marine areas would not be popular in many quarters.
But he added that when dealing with the long-term view, it made sense to “look seriously at setting aside areas for recovery in this way”.
After his address The Prince walked to the quayside, where he stepped on board the trawler Margaret of Ladram, based in Brixham, south Devon.
His Royal Highness examined special nets designed to allow smaller fish to escape before being taken on a tour of the boat.
Afterwards The Prince sat down with the fishermen for a mug of tea in the galley to hear their concerns about fishing quotas and financial pressures.
They were trawler skipper Anthony Shine, and five local fishermen - Chris Glaves and Les Burt from Newquay, David Blower and Duane Barwood from Brixham, and Andrew Pascoe from Newlyn.
Also present were Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw and South Western Fish Producer‘s Organisation Chief Executive Jim Portus.
The Prince asked the fishermen if they had ever snagged their nets on a submarine, before jokingly referring to his career in the Royal Navy, saying: “I was terrified I was going to run into one of you!”
Afterwards, The Prince visited the successful organic food business Riverford Organic Vegetables in Buckfastleigh, south Devon.
His Royal Highness, then travelled to tour 21 The Mint, Exeter, a restored former priory refectory dating back to the 12th century.