Weather: Fishermen ‘desperate’ as unprecedented storms ground boats for months
I have been trying to find an alternative story to the constant stream of flooding misery. There is no better news here, but this story does remind us that amongst other professions, perhaps higher in spotlight than farmers there are equally destabilizing challenges arising from this weather.
Fishermen across the south coast are facing a “desperate” situation as storms and high seas have grounded boats for almost two months.
Many have been unable to earn any money since before Christmas and as hurricane force winds smash their boats and fishing equipment it is feared that the losses could run into many millions.
Despite their plight they are being ignored by politicians, industry representatives claimed a day after David Cameron pledged that whatever was needed would be spent on the areas hit by flooding.
Along the entire south coast of England and Wales, smaller boats have been completely grounded and even the larger trawlers have only been able to snatch short periods at sea before the weather forces them to return to shore.
Conservative estimates suggest that at least 2,000 boats, around 4,000 fishermen, have been affected.