PRESS RELEASE – 01/03/05

GRANT AID FOR MEVAGISSEY CRAB POTTER

Chris Chesterfield skipper and owner of the single-manned boat the ‘Comely II’ has received an Objective 1 Fisheries grant of over £500 towards the installation of a custom built ramp system for putting his pots over the back of the boat and out to sea.

The ‘Comely II’ fishes mainly for brown crabs and lobsters within a 12 mile radius of Chris’s home town of Mevagissey.

The installation of the ramp has allowed Chris, who has been fishing for over 30 years, to continue fishing with better working conditions and in greater comfort.

The project involved fitting a ramp to enable each string of pots to be sent overboard without handling, with hatches incorporated into the sides of the ramp to increase stowage space for his fishing gear. The project has not only increased safety on board the boat, but it has also lessened the physical strain of shooting 20 strings a day.

Clare Leverton, Objective 1 Fisheries Programme Manager commented “I am pleased to see Chris improving his working conditions and safety. In future greater priority will be given to projects leading to improved fish quality”

Chris Chesterfield, owner and skipper of the ‘Comely II’ added “I fish for crab and lobster with 620 pots for twelve months of the year, and sometimes I also work tangle nets for spider crab. This is equivalent to lifting and moving 96,720 pots a year so you can imagine moving them all one less time makes a big difference to me and the strain on my body. As a lone fisherman I cannot afford to take a day off work with a bad back! Not only does this system make my fishing less arduous, it is also a lot safer as I am off deck and clear of the ropes.”

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