Huge demand for cuttlefish is making a fortune for British fishermen
Cuttlefish is a delicacy in China
A CUTTLEFISH glut is making a fortune for trawlermen.
Huge demand abroad for the inky creature, related to the octopus, has sparked a “black gold” fishing boom off Devon.
Prices are at an all-time high of £5 a kilo for the mollusc at Brixham fish market, where a record £700,000-worth of “cuttles” were sold last week.
Ninety per cent of the catch was destined for overseas as the food is unpopular in Britain.
Skippers from around the country have flocked to the English Channel area to exploit a lack of quotas for how much can be caught.
Six of the boats currently working almost round-the-clock to catch them have landed a total of 100 tonnes.
Jim Portus, of the South West Fish Producers Organisation, said: “It is what you might call a bit of a black gold rush.”
He said: “They do look a bit disgusting. But I can attest to the fact that it is great eating.
“You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between cuttlefish and squid. They are both delicious and nutritious.”
Cuttlefish, which can grow to 10kg, can be caught with a rubber glove “lure” stuck on the end of an old bottle.
China is among countries where cuttlefish is a delicacy.
CUTTLEFISH FACTS
CUTTLEFISH have three hearts and blue-green blood.
They eat shrimp and worms and can change colour as camouflage.
There are more than 100 different kinds.
The biggest can be 20 inches long.