NDFA latest news

National Symposium for Inshore and Small Scale Fisheries

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:56:37 GMT

A National Symposium for Inshore and Small Scale Fisheries was held in Newcastle on 4th & 5th February 2026. Our Chairman John Balls and his wife attended to represent the NDFA

Our island nation, which boasts some of the richest coastal waters in the world, has always been a nation of fishers. As a society, we continue to benefit from many sustainable and well managed fisheries that operate in our coastal waters, providing a source of livelihood, local economy, vibrant cultural heritage and national food security. Fish is a protein rich food source and, while commercial fisheries are of course vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and warming seas, they are resilient in ways that agriculture is not. It can rain all year long, or not rain at all, and our ability to keep producing food from the sea is not

threatened in the same ways as food production on land and so offers opportunities for building resilience.

Recent research by the Inshore and Small Scale Fisheries (ISSF) consortium has evidenced that the public benefits that flow from sustainable fisheries are clearly felt and valued by people who live, work and visit coastal towns.

READ THE PRESS RELEASE IN FULL HERE

Government Announces Financial Support for England’s Fishing Businesses

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 13:57:39 GMT

17th April 2020 -

£10 million fund for England’s fishing and aquaculture sectors announced.

More than 1,000 fishing and aquaculture businesses in England will receive direct cash grants through a fisheries support scheme announced today by Environment Secretary George Eustice and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay.

In the latest step to protect businesses affected by coronavirus, plans unveiled today mean that up to £9 million will be available for grants to eligible fishing and aquaculture businesses.

A further £1 million will be made available to support projects to assist fishermen to sell their catch in their local communities. This money will help fishing businesses find new ways to market and sell their catch while traditional markets are restricted, not only supporting the sector but also the local communities that depend on the industry.

For further information, please click here .

Shellfish Industry Advisory Group Meeting

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 16:19:05 GMT

3rd March 2020 -

Shellfish Advisory Industry Group Meeting in London attended by John Balls .

Will the North Devon Fishing Industry Survive?

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 12:38:30 GMT

05 November -

Will Brexit see the rebirth of the North Devon fishing fleet, or is it already too late to save this 1000-year-old source of local employment?

Dawn Westcott's interview with North Devon Fishing Trawler Boss Scott Wharton:-

Scott Wharton runs S & P Trawlers Ltd business with his son, Danny Wharton, in North Devon. Since the EU took control of fishing quotas in the 1980s, Scott has seen the once booming local fishing industry decline from a dozen or more larger trawlers (over 12m) to just one and a smattering of smaller boats. Along with his large trawler, based in Ilfracombe, Scott has another 12m trawler which is also berthed in Ilfracombe and further involvement in another 3 fishing vessels in the SW.

Scott says his business continues through reasons of passion and dogged determination and is as much about community as earning a living. “It’s not a job, it’s a way of life,” says Scott. He left school at 14 years old, finding great satisfaction in going lobster potting and since then has put his life and soul into building his fishing business. “It’s one of the most rewarding jobs to do. With fishing, you’re a free spirit. We’re still got an industry, against the odds, and we’ve put everything back in to the future of this business.”

“Complex fishing rules, regulated by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) can result in fishermen dealing with a disconcerting stream of Court Summons for ‘rule breaches’. The ruthless acquiring of fishing quotas by big business and overseas companies has seen local fishing communities struggling to survive, with access to only a tiny percentage of quotas and severe restrictions on what they can catch. The EU Commission sets the quotas for each Member State and has the power to take them away if they aren’t reached.”

Scott explains further, “For example, with Sole, there’s a quota of something like 750 tonnes for the Bristol Channel. Out of that, the UK has a quota to fish around 250 tonnes. That’s controlled by a handful of owners and it causes problems when they lease their quotas overseas, rather than to local fisherman, in what’s known as ‘international swaps’- where an owner swaps their quota to catch other types of fish, like Hake, Cod and Haddock.”

“This kind of quota distribution isn’t community-based, it’s more about serving big business interests and the impact on the local fishing communities is disastrous,” says Scott, “Unlike the big ‘fish-anywhere’ international operations, local fishing fleets have a vested interest in making sure there are abundant fish in their local waters in years to come. But the huge factory ships can empty our waters and then move on to somewhere else like Africa, without a backward glance.”

Getting hold of extra fishing quota can be notoriously diﬃcult. “It’s led to believe that around 88% of the Welsh fishing quota is held by Spanish firms,” said Scott. “This isn’t a level playing field because it’s practically impossible for us to buy quotas from Spain. And around 50% of the English fishing quota is held by Holland, Spain and Iceland (which buys quota from the EU). The French and Belgian trawlers have access to around 70% of the UK fishing quota, which is conducted through international ‘swaps’.

“When you think that boats from North Devon have less than 1% of the overall Bristol Channel fishing quota, the Common Fishing Policy has been a disaster and has resulted in the devastating decline in the North Devon fishing industry,” said Scott. “To put this in context, in the SW, it is believed that around 80%-90%, of the Fixed Quota Allocations (which decide the unit size of fish per tonne) is owned by about 3% of companies. This means there’s only around 10% of FQA’s available for the 97% of the local fishermen in the SW. As a result, big companies are controlling the smaller local fishermen through small leased quotas.”

“Local fishing communities can sometimes catch their quota in 24 hours and then have to watch huge foreign trawlers fishing within 6-12 miles of the UK coast for weeks afterwards catching huge hauls, while they’ve had to return to port.”

Additionally, the local fishermen are forced to waste perfectly good fish due to the Discard Ban, which Scott feels causes a fish welfare issue. Instead of returning fish inadvertently caught in the nets, or which exceed the targeted quotas, they’re required to land everything and send it to landfill. Traditionally, fishermen like to look out for live, juvenile fish and return them into the sea so they can continue to mature. Now, if they’re caught and are on the Discard Ban list, they have to be sprayed with dye and landed dead, which Scott feels is cruel and compromises stock sustainability.

“I don’t like doing it,” said Scott. “No-one does. It’s appalling from a welfare point of view and a terrible waste of perfectly good fish. There’s also the problem of ‘Choke Species (Fish)’, where if more than the allowed quota of that particular type of fish is caught, the boat has to return to port.”

“Cod (on the Discard Ban) was a problem from day one, especially for the u10m vessels which had very little FQA’s - in some cases as little as 10 kilos of fish (ie, one fish!) per day. If they catch over the quota allowance they would have to return to Port. A very similar situation with Haddock which are in abundance in the South West, but unfortunately there is very little quota for the local vessels,” said Scott. “This has had a catastrophic eﬀect on the Cod trawlers, which couldn’t go to sea under these rules and remained tied up in port. Bass is not part of the Discard Ban, so you can return them live or dead back in the sea, because they’re considered endangered. Very few are allowed to be caught, but there’s a healthy population of Bass oﬀ the coast of North Devon, which could be sustainably fished locally.”

Scott thinks that only a clean Brexit could fix this situation and that the opportunities for UK fishing are enormous. “We need a tailor-made UK fishing plan. A clean Brexit has great potential to regain some fairness in the distribution of quotas to help community fishing industries. It could potentially double or even triple the size of the industry. For each job at sea, four or five are created on land with the fish processing business.”

“At the moment, the UK vessel catch values are approx £1 billion (2018) and with the fish processing value added, increasing to approx £4 billion (2018). The EU catches 60% of stocks in British waters. Post Brexit, with control of quotas returned to the UK, the UK vessel catch values would be approx £2 billion, increasing to around £8 billion after processing. The UK fishing industry employs around 24,000 people. Post-Brexit, fishing could increase to 2% of GDP and could be worth £billions if we had our quota back. The industry could feasibly grow to employ 100,000 people.”

After Brexit, while existing quotas may remain the same, Scott feels the real benefit to local fishing communities would be the way the extra quota, which would be returned to the UK to control, is distributed. “There are historic foreign fishing rights that are honoured and recognised by the MMO. We’re not saying you can’t fish here,” says Scott, “I don’t want to put people out of business. I want the quotas reorganised so they’re fairer to the UK. We can be reasonable, but we need to be in control. We can decide the proportion of fish that we don’t need, that we can allow foreign fishermen to catch.”

Instead of allowing big or foreign businesses to buy up the new quotas, Scott feels the solution is to ring fence the extra quotas and establish Regional Fishing Industry Groups, comprising local business and community people, with Regional Managers, to ensure that the quotas are fairly distributed amongst the local fishermen within their communities. Organised to best suit local communities and manage the fish populations and welfare in their local waters.

Dawn Westcott interview with Scott Wharton

“These Regional groups could also decide how any unused quotas would be used, or leased to fishing businesses outside the area.” Scott believes this is the way to create prosperity and sustainability within the local fishing communities and industries. “The opportunities for fishing are very good if we regain control over our industry. It can rebuild and rejuvenate with investment in better equipment and employment.”

However, Scott is very concerned that the transition period of the Withdrawal Agreement will result in yet more delays, negotiations and restrictions, that will put an already diminished and struggling British fishing industry, out of business altogether.

“North Devon wants a fishing community. The young people want to do it - two of my skippers are just 24 and 25 years of age and fishing provides gainful employment for youngsters, keeps them out of trouble. If our fishing industry is lost, it won’t come back. We can’t aﬀord to lose it. North Devon has got to buck the trend, get some teeth, get our quotas back and keep our boats here. We’ve got to empower the local communities again.”

He feels Brexit will also rejuvenate the local ship building industry. “People are now having to get boats built abroad because UK boatyards are so busy with a 2-3 year waiting list. We need to start building boats here again. There would also be the need to build more fishery protection vessels to police the waters after Brexit, and there would also be great scope for more fishing businesses in North Devon."

“People come to beautiful North Devon for their holidays and expect to see fishing boats and a thriving local fishing community. It’s an important part of our history, heritage and culture - and our tourism industry,” he says, “Don’t put us out of business - the North Devon fishing and ship building communities are part of our history and I want them to be thriving long after I’m gone.”

Listening to Scott’s story about the decline of North Devon’s fishing industry and its impact on the local community is heartrending. There are great opportunities for fishing post Brexit and I look forward to seeing the British fishing industry and communities flourishing again, if we get the opportunity to properly leave the EU.
Dawn Westcott.

Full article here .

South West Quota Advisory Group Meeting

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 11:40:39 GMT

16 October 2019 -

South West Quota Advisory Group meeting followed by the NFFO South West Committee meeting in Plymouth, attended by John Balls & Scott Wharton.

Landmark conference kick-starts new era for inshore sector

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 15:26:22 GMT

14th October 2019 -

Inshore conference sparks hopes for inshore future – but just the start of a long road.

A landmark step towards a new deal for UK inshore fishermen was taken last week, when inshore fisheries were in the spotlight at an unprecedented two-day conference, reports Tim Oliver.

Around 50 inshore fishermen from throughout the UK, as well as industry leaders, policy-makers, research institutes and environmental groups, met in London to discuss and consider possible fisheries management models.

The Future of Our Inshore Fisheries was the first step in an ambitious project that aims to transform UK inshore management over the medium to long term and ensure a thriving marine environment and coastal communities in the future.

Speakers from around the world and the UK highlighted the problems of managing inshore fisheries, and ways in which they had been addressed in different countries.

The conference aimed to establish a blueprint for the future management of inshore fisheries and lay the foundations for collaborative management in the future.

Speakers stressed the need to build awareness, understanding and consensus among those who would be involved in the future management of inshore fisheries.

They presented examples of fisheries management solutions, and shared best practice from Canada, the USA, Norway, Denmark and New Zealand. Round-table sessions then discussed the presentations and their relevance to the UK.

The conference, convened by an industry-led steering group and facilitated by Seafish, was held as the new fisheries bill that will enable a new fisheries management regime to be set up after Brexit is making its way through parliament.

Giving his support to the conference, which was attended by DEFRA, the MMO and IFCA officials, fisheries minister George Eustice MP said: “We recognise the importance of the inshore fleet, which is at the heart of many coastal communities. That’s why it’s vital that the views of inshore fishermen are taken into account as we take back control of our waters and build a sustainable, profitable and fair fishing industry for all of the UK.

“It is only through industry, scientists, regulators, UK government and devolved administrations coming together and learning from the best that we can develop tools to allow a more responsive, locally appropriate, sustainable and profitable approach to the management of our varied inshore fisheries.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .

Future of the Inshore Fisheries

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 11:52:37 GMT

08-09 October 2019 -

Conference in London, debate on the Future of the Inshore Fisheries attended by John Balls.

NFFO Exectutive Committee Meeting

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 11:42:25 GMT

01 October 2019 -

NFFO Executive Committee meeting in York attended by John Balls.

Lifejacket Funding

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 12:50:19 GMT

19 June 2019 -

Following a successful application to the MMO for funding monies along with contributions from North Devon Council and Torridge Council, 50 Lifejackets were issued to fishermen on the North Devon coast. This project was first discussed approximately eighteen months ago and eventually after the involvement of Councillor Phil Hackett, came to fruition.

The funding was used to purchase 50 life jackets to be distributed to the local fishing fleet in Northern Devon. It’s hoped that the new design, developed with the help of representatives from the fishing industry, will encourage fishermen to wear safety equipment as part of their routine activity at sea.

The jackets have built in Emergency Position Indicating Beacons (EPIRB's) that can be activated if a fisherman was unlucky enough to go over the side of their boat. They would then be tracked by the rescue services on a designated frequency affiliated to their individual jacket, pinpointing their position and greatly improving the chances of rescue.

The provision will include an evaluation of each fisherman’s existing safety knowledge and a personal fitting and training programme, including how to maintain the equipment which was kicked off at Appledore RNLI station.

NFFO AGM

Tue, 21 May 2019 12:46:08 GMT

21-22 May 2019 -

John Balls attended the NFFO AGM split over two days, in London. In between the meetings attendees met with Robert Goodwill, Fisheries Minister and were able to challenge him on one or two issues. North Devon was represented in two reports in the Fishing News.

Please see scanned report.

APPG Meeting on Inshore Fisheries

Tue, 07 May 2019 12:35:56 GMT

7 May 2019 -

John Balls was invited to attend and speak at a meeting of the APPG in London on Inshore Fisheries. This included MP’s and Fishing Industry members. Please see scanned report.

‘Leave Means Leave’ March at Westminster

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 12:23:54 GMT

30 April 2019 -

Following a request from Fishing For Leave, John Balls, Tony Rutherford & Scot Wharton represented the NDFA on the ‘Leave Means Leave’ March at Westminster, London.

In the evening they were invited to attend a gathering of Nigel Farrage and his associates to discuss issues relating to industry

Serene Skye

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 19:21:41 GMT

02 March 2019 -

On Saturday 2nd March 2019 a good crowd of people witnessed the new fishing boat the 'Serene Skye' BD 22 being blessed and named by the Superintendent of the Shipwrecked Mariners and Fishermen's Mission alongside Appledore Quay.

Built by Kevin Reed and Shaun Kay in Appledore she is a Smythe 8 metre hull and will work the North Devon coast from Appledore.

On behalf of Kevin & Shaun, John Balls, Chairman of the NDFA thanked all those concerned with helping the build over the past couple of years.

Fishing Workshop

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 19:46:28 GMT

25 January 2019 -

Fishing Workshop in Bristol, organised by the Countryside & Community Research Institute, University of Gloucestershire, attended by John Balls & Bruce Hamman.

SW Quota meeting

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 20:07:08 GMT

23 January 2019 -

SW Quota meeting in Plymouth attended by John Balls & Scott Wharton.

PUKFI meeting

Tue, 27 Nov 2018 20:09:36 GMT

27 November 2018 -

PUKFI meeting in Plymouth attended by John Balls.

SW Quota Advisory Group meeting

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 20:21:19 GMT

7 November 2018 -

SW Quota Advisory Group meeting in Plymouth attended by John Balls.

SW Seafish Advisory Group meeting

Thu, 01 Nov 2018 20:22:47 GMT

1 November 2018 -

SW Seafish Advisory Group meeting in Plymouth attended by John Balls.

Torquay meeting involving Nigel Farage

Sat, 13 Oct 2018 19:25:56 GMT

13 October 2018 -

Torquay meeting involving Nigel Farage and Jacob Rees-Mogg regarding 'Keep the Pressure on for the Leave, which means Leave, campaign'. NDFA represented by Scott Wharton and Tony Rutherford.

Bass Fishery meeting

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 19:30:57 GMT

26 September 2018 -

Meeting re: Bass Fishery held in Plymouth attended by Tony Rutherford.

NFFO/Executive Committee meeting

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 19:28:06 GMT

26 September 2018 -

NFFO/Executive Committee meeting in York to update proposals on the White Paper attended by John Balls.

Seafish meeting

Wed, 23 May 2018 13:52:04 GMT

23 May 2018 -

Seafish meeting in Plymouth attended by John Balls.

North Devon Trawlers new boat

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 14:59:21 GMT

14 February 2018 -

North Devon Trawlers new boat now in the water at Tom’s Yard, Polruan, Cornwall.

It awaits finishing touches, sea trials and naming ceremony in March.

South West NFFO meeting

Sun, 21 Jan 2018 14:54:14 GMT

31 January 2018 -

NDFA represented at the South West NFFO meeting in Plymouth by John Balls.

NDFA Press Cuttings

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 16:37:32 GMT

U3A ‘Food for Thought’ day

Fri, 06 Oct 2017 14:50:45 GMT

6 October 2017 -

John Balls was invited, along with other guest speakers, to attend the U3A ‘Food for Thought’ day in Barnstaple. John gave a talk on the North Devon Fishery.

New boat lift at C Toms Boatyard in Polruan

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 14:56:13 GMT

28 September 2017 -

The newly completed boat lift is now ready to go into operation at the C Toms Boatyard in Polruan. It has a lifting capacity of around 200 tonnes. The main docking area for the boat lift is nearing completion and it is hoped that the first boat will be lifted out of the water in a few weeks time.

Keel laying and placing of the coin ceremony

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 15:02:51 GMT

13 August 2017 -

On 24th February 2017 the keel laying and placing of the coin ceremony took place at the C Toms & Son shipyard at Polruan in Cornwall. The contract to build the fishing vessel had been awarded to C Toms & Son by Scott Wharton and James, Iain and Richard Spear of North Devon Trawers Ltd. Scott has visited the yard six times to date to check on progress and hold meetings with the yard owners. The fishing vessel is due for completion towards the end of this year.

Name: Our David George

Registration BD287

Length 13.5 metres

Breadth 5.8 metres

Draught 3.8 metres

Main engine Volvo 221 kliowatts 294.66 horsepower

To be laid out as a twin rig trawler/scalloper

The NDFA AGM

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 15:04:47 GMT

11 August 2017 -

The NDFA AGM was held and the following officers were re-elected: J Balls (Chair) B Gotts (Vice Chair) Directors: S Wharton, T Rutherford & C Leonard.

Lobster catch on Aurora YH33

Sun, 06 Aug 2017 15:12:10 GMT

26 August 2017 -

This lobster was caught end of July approximately two and a half miles off Hartland Point, North Devon. (in the boat Aurora YH33 out of Clovelly).

Supporting the UK, Devon fishing and the NDFA

Sun, 06 Aug 2017 15:06:55 GMT

6 August 2017 -

The flags are flying outside Appledore Fish Market (Proprietors T & T Shellfish Ltd Tony & Trudie Rutherford) put these up in support of the UK, Devon fishing and the NDFA.

North Devon Trawlers Ltd new vessel

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 15:16:47 GMT

27 June 2017 -

North Devon Trawlers Ltd are having a new vessel built. She is a 13.5 m, twin rig Trawler/Scalloper and will be powered by a Volvo engine. She is being built to a very high standard and will have the capability of staying out at sea for 3-5 days if required’.

Shaun Kay unusual male lobster catch

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 15:15:09 GMT

27 June 2017 -

On 27th June, Appledore Fisherman Shaun Kay in his boat the Black Pearl, caught this unusual male lobster off Morte Stone, North Devon’.

NDFA news archive

Tue, 09 May 2017 15:20:39 GMT

09/05/17

The NDFA were represented at the NFFO Executive meeting in London.

12/04/17

A representative attended the South West Quota Advisory Group meeting held in Plymouth.

24/01/17

The NDFA were represented at the NFFO

Meeting in York and again at the NFFO executive committee meeting held in York on 02/02/17.

20/01/17

North Devon Gazette article

'No favours for local fleet'.

19/01/17

The NDFA were represented at the South West Quota meeting in Plymouth.

Leaving the EU

The NDFA has been in correspondence with the Prime Minister Teresa May's office, George Eustice MP, Geoffery Cox MP, Peter Heaton-Jones MP, Neil Parish MP, Phil Haslam MMO, and local Councillors with regard to the fishermen's views on a future package for the fishing industry to be negotiated during forthcoming discussions. Replies have been received from all offices and on 23/09/16 Geoffery Cox attended an NDFA meeting to hear the fishermen's views first hand.

22/11/16

NFFO Executive Committee meeting in York.

22/09/16

The NDFA were represented at the NFFO Shellfish Committee meeting in London.

08/09/16

John Balls attended the NFFO AGM in London at which George Eustice was speaking.

Mr Eustice stated that he would like to see the rebuilding of the local coastal communities and a regeneration of the fishing industry as a whole.

30/06/16

The NDFA were represented at the Devon Marine Forum meeting held in Plymouth 30/06/16.

This Forum advises the MMO on the Marine and Coastal issues for Devon, policy making and key decision making on Marine plans.

October 2015

Article re: 'Putting something back into North Devon's Fishery'

conservation – working with the Padstow Lobster Hatchery releasing baby lobster.