Porters at an East End fish market have staged a fresh protest against plans to change bylaws which they say will hit their working practices.

The Unite union is holding a demonstration against the City of London Corporation over the future running of the historic Billingsgate Market.

Steve Hart, the union’s London regional secretary, said porters believed moves were being made to remove them from the market.

“Unite has consistently argued for the retention of the bylaws and especially those covering the licensed fish porters.

“We argued that licensing was a necessary guarantee of skills, training and suitability for employment akin to the London black cab drivers’ Knowledge.

“Licensing provides a legal basis for enforcement and market discipline.”

The City of London Corporation says reform of the system is long overdue and will benefit the market in the long term.