A Folkestone fisherman has said that fishing quotas set by the EU are affecting his business.

Terry Noakes, managing director of Folkestone Trawlers, in the harbour, has said that if the government cannot negotiate a better deal for the industry, Britain should leave the EU.

Mr Noakes, a father-of-three, says he will be voting to leave the union on Thursday, June 23.

He said: “We have no choice but to try and save our livelihoods.

“We need to get more of a fair share of fish that we should have anyway.

“I can have a French boat next to me with a massive quota.”

If the nets catch over the amount of fish allowed, they have to be thrown back into the sea, even if they are already dead. Fishermen breaking these laws can be subject to a fine of up to £50,000.

Quotas are issued on an annual basis for different countries. They are then divided into months.

“We have 26 species of fish we are allowed to catch, but 75% of that is what we don’t catch,” he said.

He said the list includes fish that is native to different parts of the UK. For example, Nethrops are common fish in Scottish waters but not so much in the Channel.

The number of fish the boat is allowed to catch also affects the safety of the men who go out to sea, Mr Noakes added.

"Five of the seven boats that go out to sea go single-handed as they are not allowed to catch the fish to pay the crew..." - Terry Noakes, Folkestone Trawlers

“Five of the seven boats that go out to sea go single-handed as they are not allowed to catch the fish to pay the crew,” he said. “We are altering our boat to make it safer for my son, Luke.”

But he says he is capping the amount being spent on the boat due to the possibility of the fishing industry drying up - putting the boat out of business.

The European Commission says it prepares the proposals for the total allowable catches (TAC), based on scientific advice on the stock status from advisory bodies.

n Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins has accepted an invitation to go to sea with Mr Noakes on Wednesday, September 19. He said the trip would allow Mr Collins to experience how fishermen had to work alone and in dangerous conditions.

Mr Collins said: “It is for me to look at the impact that the quotas have on the inshore fishing fleet. My concern has been that the inshore fleet are too restricted and Terry has
asked me to come and see for myself.”