Concern for the future of heritage fishing in Filey has prompted the town’s MP to appeal to the Environment Agency to review the issuing of licences. The matter was brought to Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, by local gillnet fishermen Rex Harrison and his son Alex. Mr. Hollinrake has been out on their boat to gain first-hand experience of the fishing industry.
Kevin Hollinrake has written to the Environment Agency expressing his significant concerns about the ban on issuing of new licences and the agency’s support for promoting the buy-out of existing net licenses through various fishing syndicates who represent the interests of those who fish for salmon and trout in the rivers of Northern England and Scotland.
The move would result in the complete demise of the industry in Filey as there are only 7 existing net fishing licences in Filey, yet no new licenses are being issued and they cannot be sold or transferred to anyone else without the agency’s permission.
“We cannot allow heritage fishing in Filey to be lost; it is not just an important part of the town’s history but it is vital for its current and future economic health. I am grateful to Rex and Alex for taking the time to meet and explain these problems to me and I will continue my support for fishing in Filey. Although I quite understand the need to preserve the stocks of salmon in the rivers of the Borders and in Scotland I believe there may be a more suitable solution including a greater utilisation of catch and release and perpetual allocation of a number of net fishing licenses, each with a maximum quota for salmon at or around the current levels.”