FEARS over the future of Looe fish market due to a steady decline in the port's fishing fleet came to a head at a packed meeting last Thursday.

Fishermen, harbour commissioners and wholesalers, along with the auction house representative, crowded into the RNLI Lifeboat Station, where strong opinions were expressed over why boat owners were pulling out of Looe in favour of Plymouth. 

Fishermen from Polperro and Mevagissey who used to sell through the Looe auction are also going elsewhere to land their catch.

The concern was that if boats continued to leave, the fish market would not have an auction in the future and would be used for landings only, which would be a huge loss to Looe, known for the quality of its 'day caught' fish.

Chairman of the Looe Fishermen's Protection Association Murray Collings, who presided over what he described as 'a forthright meeting', said it was felt by some that Looe had fallen behind as the auctions were not online as the Plymouth market had been for years. Therefore, they were being deprived of buyers from further afield, and the chance of better prices.

'It was felt from the floor that going online would help to keep the boats loyal to Looe,' said Mr Collings. 'If something doesn't happen soon, my own opinion is that within the next three years Looe will be a landing port only without a market.'

Angela Harrison, a long time and regular buyer on the market for the Pengelly's Fishmongers, who have retail outlets on the quay and in Liskeard, said there was 100 per cent feeling at the meeting that the fishermen wanted to keep an auction in Looe.

'They just want a wider sphere of buyers to encourage better prices for their catches,' she said. 'I say let's go forward and put the auction online which seemed to be the general opinion.'

Steve Farrar, of Looe Fish Selling Ltd which runs the auctions, said that he was perplexed by the level of fuss as fish prices fetched in the auction were generally good.  

He said among the reasons for the decline in boats was decomissioning, and some successful boat owners investing in bigger vessels which were forced to move away because Looe is tidal.

Mr Farrar said Looe Fish Selling Ltd was already working closely with the Harbour Commissioners' Executive Board and the Looe Fishermen's Protection Association on introducing the right systems for Looe for the next ten years.

'We had quotes on the table back in April for electronic upgrades,' he said, 'and the consideration of online auctions is already under debate. Nobody's asleep at the wheel, we are all working hard on the best way forward.'

Mr Farrar added that the loyalty of the fishermen wanting to stay in Looe was firmly established at the meeting, and that Looe Fish Selling Ltd is committed to the improvement of the visibility of buying from the market, and increasing the profile of the fish landed at Looe.

Tina Hicks, in a statement from Looe Harbour Commissioners, said: 'The prospect of putting the Looe fish auction on the internet with online bidding has been under consideration by the commissioners for a considerable period of time.

'At a recent board meeting, having listened to the views of the various port users, it was agreed that the Harbour Commissioners would investigate the avenue of grant funding available to assist with online fish buying.

'The Harbour Board strongly believe that the fish market at Looe plays an integral part in the success of the town, and will continue to invest in the future to ensure that Looe remains a thriving fishing port in the South West.'