A GREENPEACE campaign supporting coastal fishermen has won the support of hundreds of people in West Dorset.

The Be a Fisherman’s Friend campaign supports sustainable coastal fishermen and calls for changes to EU fishing laws, so that low impact fishers get a better deal at a European and national level.

The campaign held a stall at the Hive Beach Café, Burton Bradstock.

Local Greenpeace activist Irene Statham said that it had ‘fantastic’ support.

She said: “Most people are aware that our fish and fishermen are in crisis and they want to help. More than 70 percent of Europe’s fish stocks are being overfished, and the UK’s low impact fishermen are being put out of business by policies that shut out sustainable fishermen and favour Europe’s high impact operators.

“In West Dorset for instance, local fishermen, who have a long history in the area, are really struggling to survive.”

Greenpeace says a reform of Europe’s Common Fisheries Policy this year offers a once-in-a-decade chance to change the situation and is calling for a halt to taxpayer subsidies for destructive fishing practices, and for fishing rights to be granted to those who fish sustainably.

Hive Beach Café’s business manager Graham Wiffen said the café was happy to support the campaign.

He said: “It highlights and supports everything the Hive stands for around sustainable fishing practices and using environment friendly fishing methods.

“We use local day-boats who use single lines, static pots and static nets and we’re very happy to support Greenpeace in their efforts towards a better fishing policy.”