Court backs Spanish fleet

THE Court of Appeal yesterday backed a multi-million pound compensation claim by Spanish fishermen for the period they were excluded from fishing against UK quotas.

The decision by three judges to reject a government bid to block the awards at the expense of the UK taxpayer was described as a "another kick in the teeth for the fishing industry" by Malcolm Cook, the chairman of the South West Fish Producer Organisation.

Compensation which could be paid was estimated at pounds 80m - but with legal costs and interest the bill could hit pounds 100m.