Local Member of Parliament Sir Menzies Campbell has highlighted the importance of the East Neuk’s fishing industry in the House of Commons and called for greater local control of fishing resources to help “underpin the village-based industryâ€.
Sir Menzies, who takes every available opportunity to fight the corner of the village-based fishing industry such as that in Pittenweem, made the call during the annual Fisheries debate in the House of Commons.
During the debate Sir Menzies said:
“The [Conservative Fisheries Spokesman] has spent a commendable amount of time talking about the 10 metre and under sector. As I am sure he has found out from his travels north an south of the border, in many cases it is that sector that supports the village-based industry. Would he be willing to extend the localism that he is talking about as far down as those components of the village-based industry?â€
Speaking after the debate, Sir Menzies said:
“The village-based fishing industry in the East Neuk of Fife is a vital part of the local economy and generates employment both directly and indirectly, with profound social and economic consequences. Greater local control of fishing resources would help to underpin the village-based industry.â€
