Shine on Sunny Sunday

Cats make excellent angling charter boats...

looks like the old Ygrain is getting a new aluminium top...

while she is undoubtedly Penzance's very own Christo piece...
 

work continues to dredge the entrance to Penzance dock...

over in Newlyn it's time for the Ajax to take ice after she has made her landing of hake...

some of the handliners are taking advantage of a bay full of pollack...

while the raven and the gull try and sort out their territorial dispute...

nearly set for sea...

homeward bound at the end of the day for the Guiding Light...

for two days only...

don't miss this year's Bucca Christmas sale...

once upon a time nearly every fisherman wore one of these to work in...

days of strong winds from the East have left the beach covered in seaweed.

Is MSY an environmentalist fantasy in a mixed fishery?

On April 24-25, 2014, the University of Washington School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences and School of Marine & Environmental Affairs co-hosted a symposium on the re-authorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act as part of the Bevan Lecture Series on Sustainable Fisheries.

This is the third speaker of session 2, Steve Cadrin, Associate Professor, Department of Fisheries Oceanography, School for Marine Science and Technology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. His talk is titled, "Strengthening the Scientific Basis of the 2006 Management Requirements: Optimal Yield from Mixed-Stock Fisheries"

Video recorded and produced by UWTV.

Open Letter to UK Fisheries Minister, George Eustice from local NFFO man Paul Trebilcock

The President and Chairman of the NFFO have written a joint letter to Fisheries Minister George Eustice, warning against a one-dimensional MSY approach to setting TACs for 2015.

Open Letter to UK Fisheries Minister, George Eustice

George Eustice MP
Minister for Fisheries
DEFRA
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR

Dear Minister,

TACs for 2015

It would be difficult to exaggerate the sense of frustration within the fishing industry over this year’s ICES advice, especially when read in conjunction with the Commission’s Communication on how it intends to approach the December negotiations this year.

With a few exceptions, stock after stock displays low or declining fishing mortality and steadily rebuilding biomass. The advice also suggests that major cuts quota will be proposed for 2015.

Fishing mortality has been steadily falling across all the main species groups since 2000. Biomasses of commercial species in general are responding to this reduction in fishing pressure, albeit at different rates in different stocks. Despite this progress, stock after stock faces very significant reductions in quota for 2015.

There are always questions over whether the assessments portray an accurate picture of the stock abundance but the main problem here is not with the science or the scientists. ICES has been asked to present its catch forecasts and TAC options in terms of maximum sustainable yield. 

The quota recommendations in the main are the result of the rigid application of MSY doctrine, now enshrined in law, which requires TACs to be set to achieve MSY by 2015, “where possible.”

You will not find many in the fishing industry who are against steady movement towards high yield fisheries. The issue is not whether MSY, MEY, or some other proxy for high yields fisheries should be our objective; the difficulty arises because an MSY policy approach is linked by law to a rigid timetable and which ignores biological realities and economic and social consequences.

Fishermen have done all that has been asked of them in terms of reducing fishing mortality. Some stocks have responded dramatically to this change; some more modestly and some hardly at all. Incoming year classes are the key to stock abundance when fishing pressure has been lowered but recruitment success is not yet responsive to political dictat. Patience is not a very exciting call to arms but in many cases it is what is now required.

This letter is therefore a plea. Given that fishing mortalities on most of our stocks are now low; given that cutting quotas in mixed fisheries, set on the basis of single stock assessments, invariably results in discards; given that another round of TAC cuts at a time when the abundance of fish experienced on the grounds is increasing generates incomprehension and anger within the industry; our plea is for you to take the lead in arguing for a pragmatic, outcome from the autumn negotiations focused on actual outcomes rather than dogma.

A degree of flexibility must be used to soften the harsh edges of a rigid MSY policy. If fish stock abundance was going in a different direction; if fishing mortality trends were increasing; if TAC cuts didn't generate more discards, there would still be a case for a less brutal approach. As it stands we have logic, fairness, rationality and biological realities on one side and an incoherent, scientifically challenged, political obligation to apply MSY on the other. We urge you to use all your resources to persuade the Commission and fellow ministers to temper this brutal approach with common sense. Stocks are rebuilding but perhaps we need a little patience.

Yours sincerely

Paul Trebilcock

President

Tony Delahunty

Chairman

Salt of the Earth sales soar!

No wonder Ed and the boys are smiling - £14000 and rising!

Buy your copy online

It's certainly a black #FishyFriday thanks to a big shot of cuttles.

Newlyn's Black Friday bargains come in the many forms...

no prizes for guessing who's on the market this morning...

Tesco's very own Mr Fish, Gary Hooper who is also ex-president of the  National Federation of Fishmongers... 

talking turbot and other quality #FishyFriday fish like the prehistoric looking John Dory...

with the guys from FalFish...

with a market end-to-end with fish from couple of big beam trawler trips, inshore and net boats on offer...

this conger weighs in at over two stone full of chittlings - the female roe and a delicacy...

still more of those elusive cod...

many of the boats have run in to land overnight...

as the strong south-easterly winds blow down the harbour through the fish market.

Newlyn - HARBOUR COMMISSIONER VACANCY

HARBOUR COMMISSIONER VACANCY

Nominations are sought from stakeholders, harbour users and others to fill a casual vacancy that has arisen for the position of Newlyn Harbour Commissioner to be appointed from March 2015 to serve for the remainder of a three year period in compliance with the Newlyn Harbour Revision Order 2010.

The position is without remuneration with Board meetings held on a bi-monthly basis. New appointments are made against a job description under a selection and interview process and will be in accordance with rules for public appointments.

The successful appointee will need to demonstrate that he or she has special knowledge or ability in one or more of the following fields:

Commerce, maritime activities, health & safety, community issues, public / industrial relations, management or environmental matters On this occasion the Board is particularly seeking to appoint a person from the local community who has an interest in the harbour and Newlyn.

Appointments will be made by Newlyn Harbour Commissioners.

Closing date for nominations is 31 December 2014.

Interviews will take place in January 2015. Further details can be obtained from: Rob Parsons Harbour Master Harbour Office Newlyn

Tel: 01736 362523 
email: info @newlynharbour.com

Margiris- update from down under.

The 143m Margiris is currently steaming north...

yesterday, she was one of a handful of flagged and foreign supertrawlers working off the west coast of Ireland.

Report from Australian media:

NICK GRIMM: An environmentalist and a fisherman from Tasmania have travelled to Canberra today to deliver a petition signed by 30,000 people asking the Federal Government to permanently ban super trawlers.

The pair represent a range of groups from around the country working together in opposition to vessels of that type.

The Federal Government introduced a temporary ban on the ships two years ago in response to a Tasmanian company's plan to use a 143 metre-long super trawler.

One of the temporary bans expired last week and the next will expire in April next year.

Felicity Ogilvie reports.

FELICITY OGILVIE: The company Seafish Tasmania already has a quota to fish for mackerel redbait and sardines. The fishery extends from the waters around Queensland all the way down to Tasmania then up to the ocean near Perth.

Seafish wanted to cover the huge fishing area with a 143 metre-long super trawler called the Margiris but the move was fiercely opposed by environmentalists and recreational fishers.

The Federal Government responded two years ago by temporarily banning the use of super trawlers. Now one of those bans has expired and the other ban is up for review in April. Seafish Tasmania has made it clear it won't be bringing the Margiris back to Australia but those who opposed it are worried that other super trawlers could be brought in.

Rebecca Hubbard is an environmentalist who coordinates the Stop the Trawler Alliance and she's in Canberra today to deliver a petition to politicians. 

REBECCA HUBBARD: Well, we're urging the Government to legislate a permanent ban on super trawlers in Australian waters, considering the huge risk that super trawlers will pose to our fisheries and our marine life here. 

FELICITY OGILVIE: A spokesman for Seafish Tasmania says the company holds a quota for the fishery and will fish it in the future.

How and when that will occur will be announced by the company in due course.

Rebecca Hubbard is worried that Seafish Tasmania will bring in another super trawler to be used in the fishery. 

REBECCA HUBBARD: Look, it's not really related to the length of the trawlers but what we do know is these huge freezer factory capacities of these trawlers is what gives them the ability to really have a massive impact and really damage our fisheries and impact upon protected species more extensively.

So what we want is a permanent ban on industrial freezer factory trawlers.

FELICITY OGILVIE: Nobby Clark is also in Canberra today. He's representing recreational fishers who are worried about the effect that super trawlers targeting smaller fish would have on larger sports species like tuna.

NOBBY CLARK: Look, we believe that what could happen is that high levels of bait could be taken out of certain areas of the fishery and this could have a direct impact on the bigger prey species that frequent that area. We've seen this happen before in Tasmania, which is renowned for having some very heavy fishing of small pelagic.

FELICITY OGILVIE: The Federal Government commissioned an expert panel to look at the fishery that Seafish Tasmania has its quota in. The panel considered issues such as localised depletion of fish stocks and impacts on protected species such as seals and sea birds. The panel has found fishing will result in the deaths of some seals and birds but the experts couldn't say to what extent that would happen.

Rebecca Hubbard from the Stop the Trawler Alliance says the uncertainty should prompt a ban.

REBECCA HUBBARD: Well, from our point of view the expert panel really confirms that conservation and recreational fishing groups have been raising for a number of years, these super trawlers could have a great impact on our protected and threatened species, and they could cause extensive impacts on the local fishing populations, but we just don't have the information to be able to assess that impact or manage that impact.

FELICITY OGILVIE: The Federal Government is still considering its response to the expert panel's report.

NICK GRIMM: Felicity Ogilvie reporting.

French go back to long lines to reduce the environmental impact of deep-sea trawling - a trial of sorts.

Same size, same color. Yet very little to do with the old version. Arrived Sunday morning at Keroman, Heliotrope, vessel of 33 meters, is about to start a new life. The former trawler Scapêche just spent nine months in a Spanish shipyard. " We almost changed everything, leaving only the shell , "says Jean-Pierre Le Face, operations manager of the first French company to fishing. A simple glance at the stern enough to realize it. Missing winches and reels so characteristic of trawling.

Built in the early 90s, the Heliotrope has been completely refurbished to practice a new type of fishing: longline. The principle is simple. A line consisting of thousands of hooks is launching keyed for several hours on the bottom, or in open water surface, then reboarding.

Although @Scapêche already practice this type of fishing in Reunion - where one of its 23 ships stalking toothfish in the Southern Ocean - the choice to transform a former longliner trawlers still a gamble. In response to environmentalists who advocate this type of fishing, " without a priori one hand, says Jean-Pierre Le Visage. There is not in itself good or bad trade. We opted for an auto longline system that is not fully known technical feasibility or profitability. We just want to see what we can do with, especially on deep-sea species such as blue ling and sword . "

A substitute trawl?

Now transformed into a " living laboratory "Heliotrope conduct fishing trips of ten days in Northern Scotland. It will also target species such as hake, cod and haddock. Already practiced by the Spaniards and the Norwegians longline seems to be a "tool objectively more selective . " " But it also has a downside , "the manager added immediately. While a trawler can capture in a campaign fifteen different species, longline can hope for " two or three ". Besides risk-catch some protected species like the shark. In other words, no revolution either to wait with longlines. " This is an opportunity that we want to try, but it certainly will not come to replace trawl , "they warned the Scapêche. As proof, the Jean-Pierre Le Roch, new ship of 41 meters of Lorient fleet, currently under construction in Spain, is a trawler. Delivery scheduled for summer 2015

Cefas are hiring fishing observers

Click here for more details and an application pack.

A chance for local MP and Fisheries minister George Eustice to prove his mettle - #dontletusdown

NEWLYN could lose at least £3 million next year as a result of new fishing quotas, with dramatic impacts on the whole community, a local industry expert has warned.

Fisheries Minister George Eustice will meet other European leaders on December 14-15 to agree what are expected to be more dramatic cuts to the amount of fish trawlermen can land.

CFPO chief Paul Trebilcock - Photo courtesy of the Cornishman

Paul Trebilcock, chief executive of the Cornish Fish Producers' Organisation (CFPO), says he fears the minister, despite living just ten miles from the UK's leading white fish port, will not fight for beleaguered Cornish fishermen.

Mr Trebilcock has already seen the proposed cuts to quotas for species like hake, cod, haddock, plaice and monkfish – the latter alone earned £4.7 million for Newlyn last year. He fears their severity, combined with sudden and unexpected restrictions on fisheries imposed in the last few weeks, could create an economic disaster for communities like Newlyn next year.

Fishermen in Newlyn have already seen major restrictions placed on landing monkfish, plaice and Dover sole in recent weeks.

Mr Trebilcock said: "We've gone through [the European Council proposal] and we estimate that it would mean a loss of £3 million for Newlyn, and for the broader South West we think over £10 million in lost fishing opportunities, and that's just literally what it's worth at the market, it would be frightening to think what that would be at the shop end. It goes beyond the boats landing the fish. It's not just the 1,000 fishermen in Cornwall, it's the 4,000 people from the whole industry. And the families who rely on them."

European fisheries policy sets quotas to achieve what it calls Maximum Sustainable Yield; essentially the point at which fishing would not affect whether a species could thrive.

The CFPO is signed up to the idea to give fishing a future for the long term. But it says cutting too quickly, and on the basis of emotion not science, may leave a fishing fleet with no short-term future.

It also fears Mr Eustice, whose family runs Trevaskis Farm, near Hayle, has not grasped the complexities of the issue.

Mr Trebilcock said: "I don't think there is the same confidence with George Eustice as the ministers we have had in the past."


Mr Eustice said: "I have had regular meetings with fishing representatives, including Paul Trebilcock, to discuss this year's December Fisheries Council and I will be arguing for a balanced approach where there is a danger that sharp reductions in quota on individual species could cause increased discards.

"We are also working with fishermen in Newlyn. However, we must recognise the need to fish sustainably to protect the long-term future of the fishing industry."

In an open letter to the minister, Mr Trebilcock writes: "There is a heavy responsibility on your shoulders. If the Cornish fleet is to emerge intact from this December Council, it will not be sufficient to return from Brussels to claim that some cuts have been mitigated.

"You must use every weapon in your armoury to deliver an outcome that is consistent and compatible with the economic viability of the South West fleets. You may rest assured that we are as committed to sustainable high yield fisheries as you are. But if the Cornish fleet is to reach that destination it must also have a future in the short term."

Story courtesy of the Cornishman. 

Ecologists worry about capture of juvenile sardines

It could lead to destruction of precious fisheries resources: The landing of more than a hundred tonnes of juvenile sardines, measuring between 8 and 11 cm, on World Fisheries Day at the Thottappilly Fishing Harbour, Alappuzha, was a cause of worry for conservationists, who saw the incident as one of many acts of “wanton” destruction of precious fisheries resources.

Juvenile sardine catch at the Thottappilly fishing harbour on November 21, which is observed as World Fisheries Day.

The catch was not sent for sale to the market, but was packed off to a fish meal factory in Mangalore, a scientist involved in marine fisheries conservation activities told The Hindu. A few of these factories have recently been set up in Kerala too.

He said that fishermen had been reporting these incidents quite often. Charles George, president of Matsya Thozhilali Aikya Vedi, a forum for fishermen’s unions, had recently said that juvenile catch was a destroying precious resources and hurting the livelihoods of traditional fishermen.

“It is quite pathetic to understand this valuable fish resource is being destroyed by ring seine fishing,” said the conservationist.

It has been reported that large quantities of major fish varieties like sardine, mackerel and nemipterus (kilimeen), which are major items in the daily fish markets in the State are being captured and sent to fish meal factories, he added.

There appears to be no means of controlling such destructive practices, the conservationist pointed out.

He cited CMFRI data to show that sardine catch in 2013 was only one lakh tonnes, against the 3.9 lakh tonnes in 2012.

During that year, sardine catch contributed about 46 per cent of the total fish landings in Kerala.

The situation in this year “will be disastrous” if the practices of destructive fishing continue, he said and warned that sending juvenile catch to fish meal factories would end up with destruction of livelihood means for several lakhs of people.

Fishing harbours in other parts of the Kerala, too, have been witness of juvenile catch landings and threw was a big issue at the Chettuva fishing harbour in Thrissur district a few months ago, he said.

The fish workers refused to handle the juvenile fish landed at the harbour and only the intervention of the political leaders and the district administration ended the dispute, he added.

Courtesy of the Hindu

Salt of the Earth - launch party at the Mission in #Newlyn

Salt of the Earth from Dead Interesting Productions on Vimeo.

Newlyn is home hundreds of fishermen who land the finest prime line, trawl, net and pot caught fish and shellfish daily. This book is a wonderful photographic view of the Fishermen and the wider fishing community in Newlyn, Cornwall. 100% of the proceeds of the book are in aid of national charity, the Fishermen's Mission.

Wednesday's fish

Making the most of the weather, the boars that can be at sea are at sea so Wednesday's market has but a few boxes of inshore dayboat #quality fish this morning...

like the trawler Innisfallen...

these fins were made for walking...

bright-eyed...

and bushy-tailed - name this fish...

tagged king of the sea as Floyd would have it...

plenty of winter mackerel about...

now we know what the Punisher does in his spare time...

a brace of winter Dory...

and their fine fins...

there's new power down the quay now...

getting ready to sail...

the Ajax takes on board more boxes...

latest showing at the #PZGallery, Ken Gill's New York Icons...

not to be missed...

the Scillonian III ...

just moored up in her winter berth.

What Holtaway floats away? #luckytobealive

The VesselTracker AIS clearly shows the search pattern used by Patch and the boys on the Ivan Ellen last night looking for the drifting windsurfer

"After nearly three hours of searching for a missing person Penlee Lifeboat found the young man a mile south of Marazion Beach around 11pm, the person, who had been in the sea for five hours was taken to Newlyn harbour by the Lifeboat then conveyed to hospital by ambulance. The young man is suffering from hypothermia but should be ok, a great result this evening, it really was a fantastic effort by everyone involved!" 
Joe penned a short but heartfelt  thank you to all those who acted to make sure he lives to paddle another day..... 

"For those who were involved tonight and quite a read for those who weren't Joe Holtaway is alive and drinking tea at The Old Bowjie (folks house)

...It was a beautiful evening in Marazion, I paddled out on my board in the sunset and drifted further/got colder than I could get myself back to shore from.

Six hours later the #lifeboat took me onboard, and brought me in.
Much love, respect and appreciation for everyone who was on the beach, the emergency services, my friends and family (all are family.x)

Be posting this through the day tomorrow and expect to make an appearance in next edition of The Cornishman!

It's a beautiful world.

night

Joe x"