Octopus byelaw 'forcing me out of fishing in Cornwall'

Sam Jago says new Cornish by-laws are effectively forcing him out of fishing, after generations of work in the region dating back to the 1700s. Jago’s family boat is 58 years old, but at more than 12m (39ft) it has been banned under the updated rules that prohibit larger vessels from setting shellfish pots in coastal waters, following an invasion of Mediterranean octopus. The Cornwall Inshore Fisheries Authority (IFCA) says the by-laws, which also limit storage tank volumes for crab and lobster, aim to curb overfishing. Jago, from Kingsand, is seeking an exemption, arguing he operates on a small scale despite the boat size.