LOCAL fishermen protested yesterday at government plans.

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FISHERMEN and fishmongers who work at the La Lonja fish market demonstrated yesterday in protest over plans to change the trading system at the fish market. The demonstration was held in the early hours of yesterday morning as the fish market was being set up and a “small minority” are being held responsible for trying to change a 30-year-old tradition which the majority are quite happy with. While for years the practice has been for buyers to deal directly with the trader, a small number of fishmongers want to see an auction system introduced so that purchase goes to the highest bidder, a system used by most of the fish markets across Spain. The Fisheries Director General, Enric Massuti, has come under fire for being behind the initiative, but the majority of traders and fishermen in La Lonja do not want to change. Many were going about their daily business yesterday morning wearing t-shirts with the slogan “Auction No!” printed across the back and pointing out that many of the auctions on the mainland are fixed before trading starts by the key buyers.