Sunday into Monday morning - fish galore!

Fine weather over the weekend for a change as the visiting Scottish prawn boats begin to and back in Newlyn...

from all points of the compass...

the Faithful Star...

Boy Enzo...

and the Revival...

looks like the guys on the Ygraine are happy to be back in port with a trip of hake aboard...

just one of many netters to land over the weekend...

not nearly as happy as some of the crew on the Revival...

who have spent a good part of their trip handling prawns for freezing and fish for landing fresh...

there's an even bigger smile aboard the Girl Pamela, as a certain young man regains his sea legs after a slightly longer than planned spell ashore...

time to pressure was those suds away...

meanwhile, the man or is it a machine at the heart of the market gets busy with grading and weighing hake from the prawn boats...

off with old, on with the new nets aboard the Ajax...

Bonnie Grace, one of many inshore boats heading in through the gaps today...

at just over 4.5metres there's just enough water...

for the Vision V to enter the harbour...

once the nests were taken off it's time to get the fish ashore...

where the market guys get to grips with plenty of flats to grade...

ready for Monday morning's auction with every zone stacked out with fish...

like these MSC certified hake from the Stelissa...

Ygraine...

and Ajax...

a good selection of quality fish to go with plenty of rays of one sort or another...

top drawer flats...

head-on monk...

and good haddock from the prawn boats...

a stacked out Zone 3...

as much as the guys don't want to catch dogs, they are still to be found on many of the grounds targeted by the hakers...

megrims were among the white fish from the Scotsmen...

and a good few red mullet...

there were fish stacked everywhere...

almost filling the inshore chill room...

there's plenty of spots on a smoothhound...

last night they had a bream, or three...

landing for Tuesday's market, the Rachel of Ladram puts her fish ashore...

astern of the Britannia V....

the usual gull keeping an eye on the tide clocks...

fish transport comes in all shapes and sizes...

with the Mary Williams pier still stacked out with boats...

the Voyager is looking good bow on!

 

France and its fishermen speak out against the United Kingdom and its marine protected areas

 

Taking the objectives set by the Kunming-Montreal Agreement at face value, the United Kingdom has strengthened the protection of its marine protected areas. An ecological decision that French fishermen and the Government took for them.

France and its fishermen speak out against the United Kingdom and its marine protected areas or “trolling” fishing activities would be prohibited.

If this new diplomatic conflict between France and the United Kingdom is far from being the first in the history of these two countries, its cause – the protection of biodiversity – differs from previous ones. On March 22, after a public consultation initiated in 2022, an order (1) published on February 1 by the British government's Maritime Management Agency (MMO) strengthened the protection of thirteen pre-existing marine protected areas (MPAs). . The latter are, moreover, subject to new rules prohibiting, in particular, the majority of bottom or “trolling” fishing activities.

One way for London to keep one of the promises of its Environmental Improvement Plan launched at the start of 2023 and the commitment (shared with France), carried by the High Ambition for nature and the people of February 2022, then included in the Kunming-Montreal Agreement on Biodiversity , to extend the surface area of ​​protected oceans to 30%. But for France, this latest decision could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Chronicle of a political escalation

Location of the thirteen marine protected areas newly subject to the British ban on bottom fishing. © Marine Management Organization

The situation began in June 2022, with a first series of orders issued by the MMO. The latter prohibited the use of trawls, seines or dredges within the first four of the largest MPAs in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the British Isles. Then, in February 2023 , the government of the new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced the creation of three new MPAs (compared to five initially envisaged, to the regret of environmental organizations in the kingdom) bringing their total number to 181, covering 40% of the surface. British maritime area, or nearly 93,000 square kilometers. And for the first time, these new areas have been framed under the regime of highly protected underwater nature reserves, within which all forms of fishing, dredging and construction are prohibited. A way for the British authorities to not only preserve but above all restore these habitats with high biodiversity, some of which are “relatively degraded” by human activities. However, some, like the Dolphin Head area in the Channel, “will impact French offshore fleets” , warned the newspaper Le Marin . And with the decision taken in February 2024, the situation turns sour.

If they are not considered “ strong protection ”, the thirteen MPAs now affected by fishing restrictions are of equal concern to French fishermen authorized to operate in the British EEZ – and, with them, the French government. On the air of France Bleu Nord radio (2) , the president of the Hauts-de-France regional fisheries committee (CRPHF), Olivier Leprêtre, is the first to draw the line, describing the decision as a "masquerade" , accusing the British authorities to favor local fishermen "with nets and traps" at the expense of French offshore fishermen who generally make "a large part of their turnover" in these areas . And this, even though the economic performance of many trawlers is withering away in the Channel. A decree of September 2022 (3) , resulting from an agreement between France and the United Kingdom, even provides for a “fleet exit plan” for some of these ships. In a column (4) published by Le Marin , Jean-François Rapin, Les Républicains senator from Pas-de-Calais, adds a layer and calls on the Government to “seize without delay” the subject (like the president LR of the Region, Xavier Bertrand, and elected representatives of the National Rally of the regional council). “This new measure of unilateral restriction of fishing zones for French vessels could sign the death warrant for our already very weakened fishing industry. »

Brussels gets involved

A missed opportunity?

On April 19, elected environmentalists from the Brittany Regional Council voted on a request to ban bottom fishing in protected marine areas on the Breton coast - like the British decision and echoing the wishes of the new Citizen Coalition for the Protection of the Ocean led by Bloom. Two thirds of Breton elected officials rejected this proposal. 

A few days later, the Secretary of State for the Sea and Biodiversity, Hervé Berville , then in Guyana, assured his support for the sector. To which he had already assured, in April 2023, that with regard to European Union MPAs, France would ensure that no ban on bottom fishing would be imposed “neither in 2024 nor in 2030” . At the very end of March, Jean-Noël Barrot, the Minister Delegate in charge of Europe, took his turn to the challenge, denouncing a “potentially discriminatory” decision – in particular with regard to the terms of the post- Trade and Cooperation Brexit (TCA) between the United Kingdom and the European Union – calling, along with other affected member states, for “retaliatory measures” . And on April 15, it was a priori done. That day, the British daily Financial Times revealed (5) that an informal meeting of European ministers responsible for fisheries was organized by the European Commission and that on this occasion, the Brussels executive was responsible for conduct a “thorough review” of the situation. In response, the British Prime Minister's spokesperson maintained the environmental and scientific merits of his decision and recalled that it had been taken after consultation with "all stakeholders, including French fishing groups" .

Greece enters the game

“Greece has just shown that there are countries that take seriously the destruction of the climate and living species on Earth” Claire Nouvian, Bloom For the Bloom association, this political escalation highlights the “true anti-ecological nature” of the policies of the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron. And the NGO recalls, on the one hand, that the United Kingdom's environmental decisions do not infringe the ACC which it concluded with the EU and which allows it to "take conservation measures in their own waters, provided that these measures apply to fishing vessels of all countries, including British vessels, which is the case with the United Kingdom's proposals . And on the other hand, that the European Commission , on the other side of the Channel, has been recommending since February 2023 “to prohibit bottom trawling in all marine areas of the Union supposed to be protected, starting with areas Natura 2000 by the end of March 2024 .

But what France has not decided to apply, leaving another country, Greece, to set the example on the Old Continent. At the new “ Our Ocean ” conference, held in Athens from April 15 to 17, the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriákos Mitsotákis , announced the creation of two new MPAs and made a promise to protect all the “marine national parks” of the trawl fishing country from 2026, then to extend this ban to all Greek MPAs, covering 32% of the country's marine surface. All while committing to investing 780 million euros, notably in setting up drone surveillance. “Greece has just shown that there are countries which take seriously the destruction of the climate and living species on Earth and that when a government wants, it can, (and) highlights the unforgivable negligence of the French government » , attests Claire Nouvian, the founder of Bloom. A snub towards France which will organize the next United Nations meeting on the ocean, in Nice in June 2025, but whose own National Strategy for the sea and the coast is still awaited.

Further reading:

1.  Download the British order
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65bb6a79c4734a000dd6cb78/Marine_Protected_Areas_Bottom_Towed_Fishing_Gear_Byelaw_20231.pdf2.  Consult the article on the France Info website
https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/europe/la-grande-bretagne-et-l-ue/interdiction-de-pecher-en-eaux-britanniques-le-comite-regional-des-peches-des- Hauts-de-France-requests-retaliatory-measures_6437905.html3.  Consult the decree on Legifrance
https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT0000463682894.  Consult the column in Le Marin
https://lemarin.ouest-france.fr/peche/tribune-la-restriction-de-peche-au-royaume-uni-pourrait-signer-larret-de-mort-de-notre-filiere-32c2f144-e79d- 11ee-9618-4414a90184dc5.  Consult the Financial Times article
https://www.ft.com/content/e2bab43c-e63b-455c-a7d5-4c55038ce529
Story courtesy of FelixGouty

Cornish Maritime Trust lugger Barnabas sets sail for Ullapool and new masts.

 

News from CMT: The crew of Barnabas had a busy week sorting, sieving, and stashing everything they needed for their voyage to Ullapool. They even loaded new mackerel hooks and weights, and a large shipment of Cornish Sea Salt (which is still in Dave's van and will be loaded tomorrow in 12 beautiful boxes).

Unfortunately, there's no more space for physical donations onboard, but the CMT is grateful to everyone who has supported them so far. If you'd still like to contribute, you can visit their website [cornishmaritimetrust.org].

The only thing they're looking for now is a delicious chocolate cake to enjoy before they depart! If you're in Newlyn, come down to see them off and join them at the Fisherman's Rest on the Old Quay afterwards.

The crew would like to thank everyone for their support as they get ready to set sail. They just have to wash the deck quickly, and then Barnabas will be ready to begin its adventure to Ullapool. There's also still one space available on the Ayr to Holyhead leg, with a stop at the Isle of Man during the TT race! Contact Toby if you're interested.

Everyone is excited to see Barnabas sail and follow its journey!

Un-crewed vessels off the Scillys.

 

In action this week, remotely controlled vessels better known as, X-24 Uncrewed, 

and X-15 Uncrewed have been sailing from from Hugh Town on the Scillys. X-24 is currently (Wednesday midday) some 18 miles WSW of the islands. She is one of a fleet of remotely operated vessels run by XOcean - the world's largest operator of survey class USVs.

This illustration from the XOCEAN website is possibly a clue as to the purpose of the voyage off the Scillys.

Although the vessels are unmanned, they are managed throughout each 24hour operation, piloted remotely using 360° cameras and are equipped with other navigational aids/markings, including AIS, navigation lights & sound signal, active radar reflector, superstructure painted yellow.

In December last year, the Crown Estate set out its plans for investment in a huge wind farm project off the coast of South Wales and in the Western Approaches.

'Floating wind farms are set to power more than 4 million homes, bringing jobs and skills in exciting new chapter for UK offshore renewable industry' according to the Crown Estate's own website.

Newlyn Harbour has a vested interest in any offshore developments in the waters off Cornwall especially with regard to the plans to develop deepwater berthing and shoreside service industry potential at Sandy Cove. The harbour is looking to increase its ability to handle the more modern and larger vessels that are increasingly using the port to land fish, allow crew changes and access local services.

Plenty of fine fresh fish headed for the eating tables of the UK and beyond!

No chance of missing the harbour's big all-white bollards at the start of a rather chilly, dull day...

first up on the auction this morning, JDs from the Crystal Sea...

monk from young Brackan...

JDs from the Still Waters...

and soles, but not your normal Dover...

a box of black bream...

along with plenty of big silver fish like these mullet...

and bass...

and more...

always take a chance and try one of these cracking tub gurnards of you ever see one on your lcal fishmonger's slab - bake whole for best results...

plenty more Dovers heading for the door...

and some lovely lemons...

and no doubt these mackerel will make amazing money...

Silver Dawn heads for the gaps..

pile them high...

inshore boats, Lauren Anne and the Sara Lena wait for the strong winds to abate.