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INTRODUCTION

The economic and social importance of the fishing industry to Newlyn was highlighted in the Atlantic Consultants report entitled “Newlyn Strategy for the Regeneration of a Cornish Fishing Port” August 2002. The main conclusion of the report is that of Newlyns status as the most valuable individual fishing port in England and Wales, but that the future of Newlyn depends on measures to regenerate the port, the industry and the local community.

The Atlantic Consultants report indicates that Newlyn is a seriously deprived area with average incomes at 30% lower than the national average and unemployment rates typically 100% above the region average.
The fishing industry currently sustains over 50% of the employment in Newlyn in the form of skippers, crew, fish processing and merchants.

Pressures on the fishing industry as a whole have raised question to the future of the Newlyn fishing industry given the current state of the port and its facilities.The major weaknesses of the town were indicated in the
Atlantic Consultants report:

• Inadequate or sub-standard facilities in port
  
• A very narrow economic base which is vulnerable to external forces and fails to take advantage of all the assets of the village
  
• Difficult trading conditions for businesses and low wages for employees, contributing to a weak local economy
  
• Low levels of recruitment to the fishing industry and lack of required skills
  
• Impact of traffic on the environment and pedestrian safety at many places, particularly Newlyn Bridge Junction
  
• Poor quality buildings and spaces at many points around the harbour
  
• Visual barriers – walls, buildings and limited access – which interrupt interesting views of the harbour and the village
  
• Wasted space – potentially valuable or useful sites which are environmentally intrusive and not properly used at key points in the village
  
• Lack of housing opportunities for young and older residents
  
• Limited community facilities for residents
  
• The potential increase in the tourism industry in the Penwith district and increasing pressure on the fishing industry requires that Newlyn develop the harbour area and town infrastructure to survive in to the 21st century.
  
• The ability to maximise profitability from landed fish catches and develop the potential to diversify into leisure and tourism markets must be achieved to fully benefit from the regions key employment industries.

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