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The men, who learned their trade from generations of ancestors dating back to the Elizabethan era, regularly battle the elements to bring home their catch which supports thousands of jobs on the mainland. Padstow has long been economically significant as a British fishing port having the largest harbour on the north coast of Cornwall. However, its fishermen are facing the worst crisis in their history as their very livelihoods are diminished on a daily basis thanks to the European Union’s Commons Fisheries policy. For more than four decades the EU has been working to create its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) covering 25 million square kilometres to make it the largest sea boundary in the world.

Fishermen need Brexit now! Mon, March 20, 2017 Cornwall fisherman says EU is killing his industry Play slideshow Express.co.uk 1 of 9

Nick Chapman These fishermen risk their lives to put food on the table

The system is completely flawed and it is putting the livelihood of future generations at risk Nick Chapman, Berlewen Fishing, Cornwall

But in the past 20 years the meddling has led to the decline of the industry across the board and it is hitting British fishermen worst of all. In 2010 statistics were released which showed British catches have declined by 94 per cent over the last 118 years. And according to their own records despite enlargements to the EU, the number of vessels from EU nations has dropped by almost 19,000 in just two decades.

Siobhan McFadyen The fishing port of Padstow has been in decline since the EU took over

Now local fisherman Nick Chapman has spoken to Express.co.uk about his experiences insisting Prime Minister Theresa May must step in and give them their rights back. Mr Chapman, who was taught to fish by his grandfather Bill Orchard, is one of the last remaining local fishermen in the area. Padstow is a place notorious for its shipwrecks thanks to the presence of the Doom Bar, a dangerous sandbank at the approach to the harbour.

Siobhan McFadyen Nick Chapman was taught to fish by his grandad

The hamlet is steeped in history hosting an annual festival where the townspeople including marching accordion players take to the streets to celebrate their heritage. But while certain traditions are holding strong one of their most important trades is suffering. Mr Chapman says there are just 40 fishermen left in Padstow as his industry faces never before seen declines. He said: "Fishing has always been part of my life, when I was a young boy we would take our rods and fish in the river, you cannot do that anymore.

Siobhan McFadyen Brussels boats in Padstow harbour

"What is being allowed to happen is a national scandal and the whole industry is affected. "Brexit cannot come fast enough for us but we do need someone to step in and take care of our interests. "When they were carving the quotas we didn't get our fair share of allocations. "It is our fish in our waters, we don't want to give it away, but that's what's happening on a daily basis.

"The system is completely flawed and it is putting the livelihood of future generations at risk, the younger men are no longer able to afford to take it on as a career.” Mr Chapman, who owns Berlewen Fishing, employs his son and three local fishermen who go out for 48 hour stints. They face incredible feats to make a living. But he says he has had to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds to reduce the size of his vessel to comply with the law and says that the wastage over banned fish is ridiculous.

Nick Chapman Mr Chapman was taught to fish by his grandfather Bill Orchard

And he argues the scientific data the EU produces to justify its failed policy is completely wrong and doesn't take into account the bigger picture. He added: "I once gave evidence in person at a conference in Brussels about 15 years ago. "The thing that surprised me the most is that we were the only people who were not paid to sit around the table. "I was shocked about the fact that it seemed like a boys' club, no one was the slightest bit interested in what we were saying.

"In that time I've been forced to downgrade my boat, lose business, cut staff. "We know this water, we have spent our lives cultivating it and it's terrible what is happening". The EU is currently proposing a ban on British fishermen catching a variety of fish including bass.

Nick Chapman The men brave scary conditions to earn a living

But it fails to recognise that allowing nations like Spain, France and Italy to freely use British waters is leading to the decline of the country's stocks. According to the most recent figures Spain currently takes in 21 per cent of the EU's gross tonnage while British fishermen take just 12 per cent. Mr Chapman added: "We have to throw a large proportion of our fish back, even when it's dead, it's a complete waste.

Nick Chapman The fishermen have been forced to fish by EU rules

"Meanwhile we are facing sabotage. It is not peaceful and calm out there, it can be like war. "We've had situations where Spanish boats have ignored the co-ordinates we have provided and they just run through our nets. "This can be catastrophic to our business, our nets alone are worth £75,000, and we lose our entire catch.

GETTY The town of Padstow is one of the most important hubs in Cornwall