Ajax AH32, the first fishing boat in England to use Twitter!

Ajax AH32, the Newlyn gillnetter that fishes exclusively for hake has become the first fishing vessel in England to use Twitter to report her daily catches live from sea. Skipper Alan Dwan from Waterford in Ireland will test the technology next week as part of an ongoing campaign to create a stronger market for his catch.  

The Ajax's Fisherman owner, Andrew Pascoe is one of several Newlyn skippers striving for accreditation for a fish species that seems to have dipped under the horizon for the country's top chefs and restaurants. Probably the most versatile fish landed on the market at Newlyn - and definitely the most underrated - hake prices are often lower now than they were 20 years ago as this invoice for a landing made in 1991 shows!

These prices are for fish weighed in stones - the 2-4 kilo hake at £10 per stone equate to around £1.50 (10/6.2)  per kilo - which is what these fish have been making during the summer months!

With a smaller fleet working the fishery hake catches remain steady throughout the year ensuring continuity of supply with the net boats fishing over the neap tides. One possible new market now being explored is for deep fried hake - the local fish and chip shop Lewis' can't sell their new line quick enough!


Through the Gaps has created a special, "Newlyn Hake Fishing" Twitter alert box on the home page of the blog - hopefully skipper Alan will find the time in between hauling and shooting to tweet direct from the wheelhouse!