TWO fishing boats may soon disappear from Southend seafront as declining fish stocks force one of the town’s biggest fishing families to shut up shop.

W&G Gilson is putting its fishing boats, which have featured in countless postcards and TV programmes moored next to the pier, up for sale due to the collapse in catches.

The Gilson family, which has fished the area for three generations, is also likely to shut its fishmonger in Burdett Road, Southend, which opened in 1972.

It will result in the loss of five jobs. Bill Gilson, 60, who has been fishing in Southend for 40 years, said: “These two boats are iconic.

“They appear on most articles and television programmes at the top of Adventure Island and they are all over the internet.

“People will be very upset because the town views it as a traditional industry.

“They are losing a traditional business that has been a flagship for the town in the past.”

His brother Glyn, 57, said: “With the expense of running a business and the boats something has to give.”

The brothers have put the Lilley G and Marli J on the market for £250,000 each, after repainting them at Essex Marina, on Wallasea Island.

The 10m trawlers, which the Gilsons designed and built 15 years ago, were meant to last 40 years.

However, sole stocks in the Thames have more than halved in two years, the Echo revealed in June.

Bill added: “Our family has had a good living out of the river for three generations.

“There is always a period that earns you money for the year, whether it is sprat, sole or herring.

Never does it fail all together.

“But in the past two years all the fisheries have failed.”

The brothers, along with other fisherman, blame the collapse in fish stocks on dredging for the £1.5billion London Gateway superport, at Corringham.

DP World, which owns the port, has pointed to other possible causes, including new fishing techniques and the Thames being inundated with fresh water after heavy rain.

 

MEETING TO DISCUSS FISH STOCKS TO BE HELD TODAY

 

FISHERMAN, marine experts and representatives from London Gateway will meet to discuss declining fish stocks today.

Bosses from DP World, which owns the superport in Corringham, and fishermen will meet officials from the Marine Management Organisation, the Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority and the Environment Agency in Southend.

Scientists from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, which advises the Government on managing fish stocks and raised alarm bells about a decline in sole earlier this year, will provide information and evidence at the meeting.

Paul Gilson, co-chairman of Leigh and Southend Fishermen’s Association, South East England vice-chairman of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations and cousin of Glyn and Bill will attend the meeting, at the Tickfield Centre.

He said: “It has taken four and a half months to get to this stage.

Even the anglers are concerned now. There was a fishing competition on Southend Pier last Sunday and I’ve heard only five fish were caught.”

A DP World spokesman said: “We are continuing our support to all agencies and will be attending the meeting.”