EIGHT parliamentary hopefuls signed up to become coastal champions when Greenpeace vessel Rising Tide sailed into the port of Poole.

The town’s northern constituency makes it is one of 25 ports in key marginal wards around the English and Welsh coast targeted by the environmental campaigning group, which is aiming to get candidates to promise to put local fishermen first.

The catch of candidates who pledged their support were independent David Howe, Liberal Democrat Phil Eades, UKIP David Young, Labour Patrick Canavan, Lib Dem Vikki Slade, Greens Mark Chivers and Adrian Oliver and UKIP Richard Turner.

Greenpeace invited parliamentary candidates from the five major parties to answer fishermen’s questions, however none of the area’s Conservatives turned up.

Candidates were quizzed on their policies to find out who was really serious about fighting for local fishermen and for healthy seas.

There was a heated discussion about whether remaining in Europe was the best way to support local sustainable fishermen, with the majority of candidates arguing that it was.

The Mid Dorset and North Poole constituency was narrowly held by the Lib Dems at the last general election with a majority of 269 and is considered to be a key marginal seat.

Greenpeace campaigner Hannah Martin said: “Local, sustainable fishing has a proud history in Poole but fishermen here have been neglected for decades.

“It was disappointing that none of the Conservative MPs made a pledge to put local fishermen first, but eight candidates became coastal champions and committed to push the next government to implement the new EU fishing laws.

“These new laws tell the government to give more quota to local, sustainable fishermen. The industrial and foreign factory fleet are currently given the lion’s share of the quota by the government.

“But giving even a small amount more quota to the local, low impact fishermen here will make a huge difference. It will create and protect jobs in Poole, inject cash into local businesses, the economy and protect fish stocks.”

Greenpeace campaigners set sail from Porthleven in Cornwall at the end of February in a typical fishing boat used by local fishermen and will be at sea for more than two months.

After the tour of the most marginal coastal constituencies, Rising Tide will drop anchor at Fisheries Minister George Eustice’s constituency of Hayle, Cornwall just days before the general election.