Mackerel fishermen in the area have been left with a small quota of fish at one of their busiest times of the year.

Only 88 tonnes of mackerel can be caught by fishermen across the Westcountry until January 1 after some of the annual quota was swopped away by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

Looe fisherman Dave Bond, one of 15 fishermen who land mackerel at Looe, feels the remaining quota is not enough.

'Winter fishery is when most is caught,' he said.

'The best catch I've had in my boat is four or five tonnes in one day, 20 tonnes a day is not unheard of.

'We have no other fishing options, we'll be tied to the wall.'

Andrew Trust of fish merchants Ocean Harvest said: 'For the smaller boats this time of year there's nothing else for them to do. If you take away the mackerel they'll be up against the wall.'

As a result of the reduced quota the price of mackerel is expected to rise and Angela Harrison of Pengelly's fishmongers fears they may not have any mackerel to sell by December.

The MMO, which this week secured an extra 50 tonnes of quota to take it to 88 tonnes, said: 'In recent years the South West mackerel handline fishery had a considerable amount of unused quota.

'Therefore, a swop was agreed to help reopen the North Sea Sole fishery earlier this year.'