A state of the art, new £50,000 all-weather mooring pontoon has been unveiled at Millbrook Lake to help to safeguard fishermen’s jobs in Rame.
The new pontoon replaces the old one at Southdown Marina.
The £50,000 project was supported by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) and received funding from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF).
The official opening took place on the 4th March 2014, when local fishermen turned out to show their support.
Chris Spencer, chairman of the Rame Peninsula Fishermen’s Association (RPFA), said the new unit was vital to the long-term future of the local fleet, with nine fishermen depending on it. “Our previous pontoon was well past its sell-by date,” he said. “The decking was in very poor condition so it was unsafe to use, and it was in danger of breaking up due to its age. We’re delighted to have the new unit, which will safeguard fishermen’s jobs for many years to come.”
On the day a commemorative plaque was presented to the RPFA chairman, the EFF representative and local fishermen.
Tony Edwards, skipper and owner of the trawler Freedom, said: “The fishermen’s pontoon is a huge improvement for safety and gives us a much better chance to maintain our living for the next many years.”
Simon Ryan from Point Europa, a charity that has worked with the fishermen to raise money, said: “The pontoon we had before was falling to pieces; the whole fishing sector was at risk. That money is safeguarding nine fishermen’s jobs in the area.”
George Trubody, Cornwall Councillor for the Rame Peninsula and a former fisherman, said: “I’m so pleased that the association was able to get assistance to acquire a new mooring pontoon, as it was badly needed, and will now help to maintain the current local fishing fleet, and hopefully encourage new young people into the industry with this facility.”
