A man with a lifetime of naval and local fishing industry experience has been chosen to support the Newlyn Fish Industry Forum in its bid to generate the country’s top port for the 21st century.

Tony Woodhams began his new appointment as the Newlyn Fisheries Project Officer at the star of this month and attended the open public meeting on the giant’s scheme at St Peter’s Hall last week (July 9).

With his knowledge of the industry comes many ideas for their future and their importance. For Newlyn handles over £22 million worth of fish on the market each year from over 51 species.

He is already well known in West Cornwall particularly as chairman of the Newlyn ‘Ship’ Mission’s local advisory committee in its centenary year.
Ms Woodhams, 56, lives at Praa Sands and comes in his new role at a crucial time in the harbour’s history. After 30 years, from 1962, with the Royal Navy he joined MAFF as the Sea Fisheries Officer at Newlyn, monitoring fish stocks, quotas, landing and other aspects of the industry.

Brought up in Barnstaple and married to Ann, he has played a busy part in the life of the area – as chairman of the Community Centre and of the Breage parish council, retiring from both last year and was appointed a Justice of the Peace in West Cornwall in 1997.

“Newlyn is on of the most enjoyable ports in which to work,” he remarked of his year here.” It is very pleasant and I’m sure I will enjoy my new role.”

His task is to identify what is achievable in the major strategy document with its multi-million pound facets.

“Any regeneration needs openness, consensus, and partnership – telling people what is going on. An early job will be to identify the strength and weakness of the present boat slipway.

“I am planning to provide a quarterly newsletter on progress and open my office – at the bottom of Newlyn slip – to the public to talk with me each Thursday morning.

“The regeneration strategy has the potential to be something extraordinary and has been put together with the aid of the whole community.

“A sustainable fishing industry is the key to the future, with tourism and other aspects assisting the overall funding and development.”

Article copyright THE CORNISHMAN