If, it was all about 'Sovereignty', what happened?

This extract from a ByLine Times piece by Jonathan Lis 5 January 2021:

"In Its Search for Sovereignty, Britain has Defaulted to a Dangerous Sovereign"  

Yesterday, CFPO CEO Paul Trebilcock featured on @BBCCornwall about the disappointment Cornish fishermen feel about the 'FishingDeal'. The programme Afternoons on BBC Radio Cornwall also talks to Falmouth MP Cherlilyn Mackrory whose husband is a fisherman. Later this week the show is due to talk with another champion of Brexit, South East Cornwall MP Sheryl Murray - an ardent Brexit supporter who promised Cornish fishermen in the last General Election that Brexit meant we would 'take back control' - and now, like every other Cornish Conservative politician are now faced with having to explain exactly what that means.

“What was delivered is a massive disappointment.. politicians tried to dress that up as a good deal for fishing.” Paul Trebilcock CFPO CEO.

Listen here:

The CFPO represents over 150 Cornish fishing vessels.

Trailblazing a pathway for young careers at sea.

In light of International Youth Day, Episode 22 of the Fathom Podcast revisits the CFPO’s development of the first ever Commercial Fishing Apprenticeship Standard together with members of its Youth Board, and explores how young people can be encouraged to start a career in fishing.

The world can be a daunting and uncertain place for young people leaving school. For those with hands-on skills, the education system in the UK often feels geared toward academia and university, offering little vocational support for those seeking practical careers such as fishing.

Meanwhile, the fishing industry is experiencing a dearth of young entrants: the average age of a fisherman is 57. A multitude of barriers, practical, financial, and cultural, limit young people’s opportunities at sea. However, as podcast host Paul Trebilcock says, ‘the future of fishing is dependent on young people coming through and taking over. Without that next generation of skippers the future won’t be great. But hearing the enthusiasm from the work we’re doing on this apprenticeship scheme, the future looks bright.’

In September of 2019 the CFPO, with help from its Youth Board and with funding support from The Fishmongers’ Company, began working alongside the Institute for Apprenticeships to develop the first ever Commercial Fishing Apprenticeship Standard. 

Fishing careers have traditionally been handed down through generations, but as the world moves away from professions rooted in family and birthplace, and leaving school at 16 is no longer an option, more structured, formalised career pathways become necessary. The 18-month apprenticeship represents a step-change for the industry by carving out a clear entry point for young people to begin a fishing career. 

 

The latest episode of Fathom podcast revisits the apprenticeship to explore the latest updates as they unfold. The apprenticeship standard is being designed by young and prospective fishermen, with the guidance and expertise of experienced skippers and vessel owners. Regular workshops provided a platform in which the forward-looking Youth Board could share their concerns and aspirations, whilst older skippers could share knowledge born from years at sea.

This organic, collaborative, and on-the-ground process, ensures the standard is rooted in the needs of fishermen, rather than handed to the industry top-down. ‘It’s really coming from the industry. It’s exactly what the skippers want, what the vessel owners want. We’re building people here who are going to take the industry forward,’ says podcast host Chris Ranford. 

Now well beyond the halfway mark, the Youth Board are currently developing an end point assessment. The episode also features an interview with two young successful fishermen, Brax and Joel, who share their stories and thoughts on fishing as a young person. Brax has worked his way up to be a vessel owner. When asked about the apprenticeship and whether it will help young people enter the fishing industry, Brax said, ‘without a doubt. It’s going to be structured properly, seen as a proper career. That will attract more young people.’ 

One particular challenge lies in young peoples’ perception of fishing. As the podcast hosts discuss, despite the immense value of fishing to Newlyn, few surrounding schools include fishing in their career advice. The hope is that the apprenticeship will engender a sense of pride in fishing, encouraging a new generation of skilled, professional, homegrown fishermen.

Brexit discussions in Newlyn make national TV on the final #FishyFriday in November.

Filming me filming you; Folk Films' Luke Pavey, who is currently making a BBC2 documentary on the fishing industry films ...

Click image for video report

John Maguire doing his first piece for BBC Breakfast's first of its Brexit reports from Newlyn this morning talking to harbourmaster Rob Parsons and Malcolm Bell from Visit Cornwall...

with gales hitting the south west earlier in the week FishyFriday's market saw only a handful of boxes of fish like these plaice

monk tails...

Dover sole...

and a few cod on the market from shortened trips by two beam trawlers...

out side the market the BBC's Breakfast show crew were busy sending the next of  their live reports from the quay...

this time interviewing the CFPO's very own Paul Trebilcock and...

A-level Politics students...

Click image for the video clip.

Harry Doyle, Caitlin Trevithick and John Stephens from nearby Penwith College...

crabbers like the Nimrod skippered by Ben Rowse were taking on stores ready to sail...

Click image for the video clip.

as John Maguire interviewed local farmer, Jeremy Hosking and fisheries campaigner, Deborah Cowley...

while the resident harbour turnstones were busy looking for breakfast scraps...

as the netter Ajax took on boxes and ice ready for her next trip...

further down the quay crew on the netter Govenek of Ladram were about to sail...

while the beam trawler Aaltje Adriaante had her deck gear greased up ready for the next trip...

work continues on rebuilding the Galilee...

as young Charles on the St Georges took time out from repairing her starboard side beam trawl chain mat to pose for the camera...

the Sapphire III was busy taking boxes back on board...

as the rest of the fleet prepared to sail once again...

after taking ice...

its not only fish the boats trawl up, sometimes the crabbers et lucky and a lost string of puts is picked up and returned ashore to be overhauled before going back to sea again...

the final phase of the market refurbishment is nearing completion...

as Jamie Roberts drives in...

 to pick up another tub of sardines...

from the Resolute...

the fish are brailed ashore...

400 kilos at a time...

and dropped in tubs filled with iced-water...

with sardines from the Serene undergoing the same process...

what with all the uncertainties of Brexit on top of all the frenetic activity of another day running England's busiest fishing port, harbourmaster Rob Parsons is in thoughtful mode this morning.

Episode 5 of the fishing videos - and this week it's Mr Paul Trebilcock, head man at the CFPO.

Episode five of the CFPO fishing videos finds the film crew talking to CEO Paul Trebilcock down in Newlyn where the PO is based in an office overlooking Eng;an's biggest fishing port.

Further information and details of the work of the CFPO can be found on their website here:

CFPO fishing video 4 - features the Gilbert family from Newquay.

This week's CFPO video features the Gilbert family, two generations of crab fishermen from Newquay. Father Martin, sons Jake and Dan work two boats, the catamaran PW17 Serene and the Cygnus 32 Tizzardlee-On - PW 16. A normal working day hauling pots for crab starts around 4:30am with a 1-2 hour steam off to the grounds.

CFPO Episode 3 - Brackan

The backbone to sustainable fishing is strong, accurate science. Here at the CFPO we welcome scientists on board our vessels to help build a clearer picture of the health of our fish stocks. Although many fishermen were mistrustful of the work carried out by scientists involved in fisheries research many have now come to see that without accurate data the industry as a whole cannot fight those organisations who seek to curtail their fishing effort in the light of biased data taken from third party agencies. There are over 7000 UK fishing vessels - each one is potentially capable of contributing to a national bank of fishing data - citizen science is the most cost effective and efficient way to empower the industry.

Come and hear once such advocate for citizen science as skipper Brackan along with researcher, 'Spike' Searle aboard the Spirited Lady III both give us a glimpse of life on an over-10m fishing vessel and explain why sustainability and science are so important.

CFPO film prodiced by Nina Constable Media (https://www.ninaconstable.co.uk/) & Mindfully Wired Communications (https://www.mindfullywired.org/).

CFPO video number two - Cadgwith Cove's ever-smiling Danny Phillips tells all.

Danny Phillips is the second in the CFPO film series. Today, we make our way into the heart of Cadgwith cove where fishermen rely on each other to keep 16th century fishing traditions alive.  Cadgwith should figure on anyone's Lizard itinerary - an eclectic mix of centuries old cove working practices woven together by cliff paths, a boat-strewn beach and superbly run pub in the form of the Cadgwith Arms.

Ben Tunnicliffe - the first of CFPO's videos on fish, fishermen and chefs from around Cornwall.

Looking out of the window while dining at the Tolcarne Inn there's every chance that you will catch sight of the boat that caught the fish on your plate or even standing at the bar with one of the crew enjoying a quiet pint in his down time! 

Not more than a few hundred feet from the fish market, chef Ben Tunnicliffe cites the quality of produce first and foremost when it comes to creating the range of fine fish dishes that changes daily. With well over 50 species landed on Newlyn's market in any given week he's spoilt for choice - and so are his customers.

GOVE LAUNCHES FISHERIES BILL TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF UK WATERS

GOVE LAUNCHES FISHERIES BILL TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF UK WATERS

Camborne (Cornwall) MP for Fishing, George Eustice spoke on BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning before the Fisheries Bill was published.




Whatever Defra or the Government says, of all UK fisherman, it is the inshore Under 10m fishermen (who make up over 80% of the workforce) who will most likely to feel the consequences of Brexit and the new Fisheries Bill - and yet, even their collectively fishing effort, which was mostly never taken into account, has little consequence on the overall state of NE Atlantic ICES areas fish stocks.


Defra posted this summary of the Bill:

• The Fisheries Bill is a major milestone in delivering our promise to take back control of our waters, so that we decide who may fish in our waters and on what terms
• It creates the powers to build a sustainable and profitable fishing industry, in the best interests of the whole UK and future generations
• The Bill delivers a Green Brexit by extending powers to protect and enhance our precious marine environment
• Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland to get more decision powers than ever before

Legislation creating the powers the UK needs to operate as an independent coastal state after leaving the EU is being introduced into Parliament today (25 October 2018).

For the first time since 1973, the Fisheries Bill will enable the UK to control who may fish in our waters and on what terms.

The Bill also gives the UK the power to implement new deals negotiated with the EU and with other coastal States and manage fisheries more effectively and sustainably in future.

At its heart the Bill delivers on the UK government’s commitment to sustainable fishing and marine conservation as set out in the 25-Year Environment Plan by:

• Controlling access – by ending current automatic rights for EU vessels to fish in UK waters. In future, access to fish in UK waters will be a matter for the UK to negotiate and we will decide on the terms – foreign vessels would have to follow our rules. These negotiations with the EU are continuing and the Bill will provide us with the powers to implement the agreement
• Setting fishing opportunities – by proposing powers to ensure that the UK can set its own fishing quota and days at sea, which it will negotiate as an independent coastal State. As now, the UK government will consult the Devolved Administrations.
• Protecting the marine environment – by ensuring fisheries management decisions are taken strategically for the benefit of the whole marine environment. The Bill extends powers to the Marine Management Organisation and the Devolved Administrations to protect our seas.

The new legislation also proposes ways in which the UK government and the Devolved Administrations will work together to adopt common approaches to fisheries management in certain areas - including preserving UK vessels’ right to fish across the four zones of UK waters and creating a consistent approach to managing access of foreign vessels. The four fisheries Administrations will set out in a joint statement how they will work together to achieve the Bill’s sustainability objectives.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said:

“This new Fisheries Bill will allow us to create a sustainable, profitable fishing industry for all of the UK. It will regenerate coastal communities, take back control of our waters and, through better conservation measures, allow our precious marine environment to thrive.

“The Common Fisheries Policy has damaged the UK’s fishing industry and our precious fish stocks. The Bill will deliver a sustainable fishing industry, with healthy seas and a fair deal for UK fishermen.”

The Bill also provides powers to reform fisheries rules. To ensure legal continuity, the EU (Withdrawal) Act transferred CFP rules into UK law. This Bill allows government to amend fisheries legislation to respond to scientific advice and innovation quickly - something the CFP failed to do - and to meet our international obligations.

In addition, the Fisheries Bill introduces powers to create new schemes in England to help seize the opportunities of Brexit. These include:

• a new scheme to help the fishing industry comply with the landing obligation to end the wasteful discarding of fish, and
• powers to tender additional English quota

Forthcoming CFPO video series - meet skippers!

Time to #MeetTheMembers of the @Cornishfpo. Delighted to share this second teaser for our latest creative project - a series of stories fresh from the Cornish coast, exploring what #fish & #fishing mean to this beautiful region.

Stay tuned, the full film series launches from the 29th of October.

CFPO launches a new film series on fishing in Cornwall!

This Autumn, the CFP are launching an exciting new film series. There's a new film each week - sharing stories of fish and people around Cornwall, and showcasing the CFPO community on land and at sea.

Join us for a journey around the Cornish coast, to meet the people that catch some of the UK's most sustainable seafood.

Stay tuned, the full series of videos will be launched from the 29th of October.

The Discard Action Group meets again today.

The Discard Action Group is a forum for the discussion of industry-wide problems relating to discards.

The Discard Action Group (DAG) was set up by Seafish in 2009 in light of the many initiatives being adopted by the fishing industry to reduce discards. It is a prime example of an integrated, interdisciplinary, co-operative approach to the issue, and is the only UK cross-industry group addressing the discards issue from all perspectives.

The group is indicative of the whole seafood supply chain with representatives from the catching sector, environmental non-governmental organisations, legislators, regulators, technologists, scientists, retailers, foodservice and, where appropriate, the media. It is a key forum to allow individual interests to have a voice in the debate and to explore means by which discarding can be reduced to the minimum level practicable.

The group is chaired by Mike Park, Seafish Board member and Chief Executive, Scottish White Fish Producers Association Limited. The group meets twice a year.

The Discard Action Group Terms of Reference can be read here.

All the presentations and minutes from DAG meetings are below. We have archived presentations from previous meetings and the minutes prior to 2013 but these are available from E: Karen Green.

The last meeting was on Tuesday 13 February 2018 in London. The next meeting will be on 10 October 2018 in London.

Seafish is undertaking a lot of work with regards to the introduction of the Landing Obligation (which will be introduced gradually, between 2015 and 2019 for all commercial fisheries (species under TACs, or under minimum sizes) in European waters. We are providing valuable services to industry and government and our coordination role in communicating about ongoing projects is limiting duplication of work. Key work areas for Seafish are: economic implications; gear selectivity; the Seafish Discard Action Group; briefings and guidance; outreach; a project to assess the impact of the LO on the UK supply chain; sectoral support; and marketing and communications.  See

For more information about the Discard Action Group contact Karen Green. To be added to the DAG mailing list to receive our monthly news update and details on the meetings please register here 

A full breakdown of Seafish's involvement with the implementation of the Landing Obligation is here:

Landing Obligation

How to introduce the landing obligation is one of the most difficult issues facing the fishing industry under the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

In 2009 the Commission launched a wide-ranging debate on the way that EU fisheries are managed. The new CFP came into effect 1 January 2014. A key element of the reformed CFP is the progressive elimination of discards in EU fisheries through the introduction of a landing obligation. This is being introduced progressively from 1 January 2015.

This constitutes a new regime in European fisheries management and making this work for every part of the fleet will require a great deal more work - for both industry and government - to prepare to implement the landing obligation.

There are a number of documents and links below which explain generally what is meant by the landing obligation and the legislative framework, and the issues it is raising for the seafood industry.

General guidance

At EU and regional level

• Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF)
• North Sea Advisory Council
• North Western Waters Advisory Council
• Pelagic Advisory Council
• European Parliament Research Service briefing - Adapting EU fisheries to the landing obligation
• EU Guidance
• DiscardLess

Discard Atlases:

• Discard Atlas of North Sea Demersal Fisheries 2014
• Discard Atlas North Western Waters Demersal Fisheries 2014
• Discard Atlas North Western Waters Pelagic and Industrial Fisheries 2014

 General guidance at UK level:

• MMO/Defra
• Marine Scotland
• DAERA
• Welsh Government

We have also created a number of pages which look at more specific aspects of the implementation of the landing obligation.

• Pelagic Landing Obligation
• Demersal Landing Obligation
• Onshore Implications

Seafish Best Practice Guidance for Assessing the Financial Performance of Fishing Gear

Although there has been significant investment in new gear design, and research and analysis of gear effectiveness, very few studies have addressed the financial impacts of the Landing Obligation for vessel operators. Uncertainty surrounding the costs and benefits of gear modifications may make vessel owners reluctant to make gear changes due to potential losses in time and revenue during trial periods. Before gear modifications are adopted, it is important to assess the financial effectiveness of gear modifications to make sure fishing operations remain profitable with new gear.

Seafish has developed Best Practice Guidance for industry and scientist-led gear trials to help vessel owners choose the right gear for their business. Seafish has also developed a Financial Assessment Spread sheet for vessel owners and trial supervisors (to use alongside the Best Practice Guidance), to provide a straightforward, standardised way for users to collect, analyse and compare gear trial results and assess the financial effectiveness of fishing modifications.

Seafish Landing Obligation panel in Malta, February 2016.

Seafish facilitated a Landing Obligation panel at the Seaweb Seafood Summit in Malta on Monday 1 February 2016. The aim of this session was to share the impacts of the LO on fisheries and fishers and to describe some of the tools that have been developed to minimize any adverse impacts. The session was facilitated by Mike Park, Scottish White Fish Producers Association. There were three additional speakers: Liane Veitch, ClientEarth; Hazel Curtis, Seafish; and Helen Duggan, Seafish. The presentations can be downloaded below.

Seafish briefing notes can be found below. For further information contact Karen Green

CFPO response to the Government's Brexit Fisheries white paper

Read CFPO chairman, Paul Trebilcock's response to the Government's Brexit Fisheries White Paper.

Fisheries White Paper The CFPO's Response

The CFPO has now submitted its formal response to the Government's Fisheries White Paper: 'Sustainable Fisheries for Future Generations'.

The response reflects the collective views of our diverse membership and is clear about our priorities and vision for future management of UK fisheries in the post Brexit era.

What next?

This Autumn looks to be one of the most critical periods for the fishing industry in recent history.

Now the formal White Paper consultation has ended we will be looking to make sure our concerns and priorities are acknowledged and understood by Ministers, MPs, and officials at both DEFRA and DexEU.

In the coming months, we will be working to hold the Government to account and will be continuing to apply pressure to ensure fishing remains a UK priority throughout the Brexit negotiations.

The preparation, discussions and the strategising for the important December Fisheries Council, where TACs and quotas for 2019 will be agreed, have already begun and will continue in earnest until the meeting on the 13th and 14th December.

As well as Brexit and December Council, the CFPO will continue its work on the challenges presented by full implementation of the Landing Obligation from 1 January 2019, as well as a host of other issues that might impact your business such as bass management, gear conflict incidents, shellfish management and fishing industry reputation (both public and political).

In these uncertain times, one thing remains constant: the CFPO is your organisation and your views, comments and opinions are essential as we move forward. We will continue to need your valued input and we encourage you to get in touch by either coming into the office, by post, phone, email, Facebook or text. Please do not hesitate to get in contact and tell us what you think and what direction you feel the CFPO should be taking.

We will be providing updates on progress on all these issues in our next newsletter in December.

Presentation to the Cornwall FLAG

On the 21st August, our communications partner, Mindfully Wired Communications, presented at the Cornwall FLAG Board meeting. The presentation outlined why the CFPO values good communication and provided highlights on what we've been working on with MWC over the past year. Click the link to see the presentation.

Skate is a thorny topic for many - fishermen catch skate on a regular basis throughout ICES VII f & g yet there is a zero quota for these delicious fish.

Yet again, Newyn Harbour has made the Boardroom available for this important meeting for all those keen to add their thoughts and ideas into the mix - however controversial - the more views and ideas the better for a healthy debate.

West Country fishermen to support national protest when a fleet of 80 boats will assemble off Plymouth Hoe this Sunday!

BREAKING NEWS

It's been 25 years since West Country fishermen mounted a protest in Plymouth.

80 boats are expected to make a spectacular protest easily visible off Plymouth Hoe - watched by Drake as he played bowls and efied the Spanish Armada.

Fishing for Leave staging mass protests with fishermen
in ports nationwide with Top Torys & Brexiteers.

Fishing for Leave are staging mass protests with fishermen in ports nationwide throughout Sunday Afternoon (8^th April) against the Transition deal that will see the UK obeying 
all EU law including the hated Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

Around 200 vessels set to mobilize in flotillas. The demonstrations will be joined by top Tory MPs and Brexiteers.

These will take place in Whitstable, Hastings, Portsmouth, Milford Haven with the largest turn outs in Newcastle and a flotilla of over 80 vessels massing in Plymouth. (details below)

The flotillas are a regional replication of the infamous Thames flotilla during the referendum. These protests purpose are to show fishermen’s rage and to take our industry’s plight to the public.

This follows the Thames demonstration on the 21^st March where fish were discarded outside Parliament in response to the news that the government had capitulated to including fishing in the transition period – sacrificing fishing to the EU and betraying Britain’s coastal communities a 2^nd time.

Fishing for Leave and other Brexit groups are pushing for the public who are equally sickened by the governments actions to turn out en-mass around harbours to show support, solidarity and defiance and show their revulsion at the transition.

We implore fishermen to get behind support their fishermen and to invite friends, family and fellow Brexiteers to watch and show support.

The Transition is not just a 21month delay but a death sentence for what's left of the British fishing industry.

The UK will officially leave the EU and take back control but then 1second later will hand that control back to the EU. This is because the transition period means obeying all EU law including the disastrous Common Fisheries Policy but with No say or veto.

The EU will be free to enforce and impose detrimental rules on us to cull what's left of the UK fleet.

This would then allow the EU to use international law, UNCLOS Article 62.2, which says if a nation no longer has the capacity to catch its own resources it must give the surplus to its neighbours.

The EU would be free to easily eradicate what is left of our fleet and has every incentive to do so.

The EU can achieve eradication of our fleet using the failed quota system that forces fishermen to discard fish to try to find the species your allowed to keep.

The discard ban addresses the discard symptom not the quota cause. Now, when a vessel exhausts its smallest quota it must stop fishing - this will bankrupt around 60% of the British fleet – this is why we discarded fish outside parliament to highlight this existential crisis.

The EU can abolish the 12mile limit that protects inshore and shell-fishermen.
The EU can also change the EU relative stability quota share outs so the EU gets even more of our resources than the 60% they catch already.

Even worse, since the government has capitulated on an acid test,  Not only will we squander taking back control of a £6-8bn industry for coastal communities but the EU will use the governments weakness to give a rubbish trade deal.

We've been sold out to a worse position for nothing in return.  

Our nations fishing and communities were surrendered to the EU and have suffered immeasurably  through EU mis-management.

The vote to leave was a godsend to our struggling industry and communities. It provided a golden opportunity to automatically repatriate all our waters and resources, worth £6-8 billion, and to start new policy to rejuvenate our coastal communities and industry.

Fishermen are sickened and enraged that our government has capitulated to obeying all EU law after Brexit. Consigning us to remaining trapped in the disastrous CFP until January 2021, and possibly trapped forever in exchange for a deal trade.

The transition is a second betrayal of fishing, of the Brexit vote, of an opportunity and is a second surrender of our communities.

Our communities might not matter to them (politicians) but they matter to us.  Coastal communities count. MPs better remember that and that No deal is better than a bad deal or these flotillas will just be the start.

                             

VESSELS WISHING TO ATTEND

The more support we have the better, please make the effort to join the flotilla or come by land to support with banners and flags at your nearest demo.

We also have 30,000 leaflets to distribute - anyone who wants to help by donning an FFL t-shirt and handing these out please get in touch.

For port contacts for details of all the events below please email: contact@ffl.org.uk and we will pass you on to the appropriate person.

LOCATIONS – TIMES - CONTACTS

Newcastle First – 1000-1500  (30 vessels)
City Marina Pontoon

We ask that you join us in Newcastle on Sunday 8^th April for the flotilla arriving from 12.00hrs onwards. Press will be able to travel upriver from N. Shields by request.

We invite friends, family and fellow Brexiteers to watch the demonstration and show support on Newcastle’s Quayside

09.30 - Muster in North Shields
10.00 – Begin to depart North Shields vessels start to proceed slowly upriver to arrange into line astern.
10.30 – Flotilla fully underway and proceed upstream maintaining speed over ground of 6kts.
12.00 – Arrive Newcastle city centre and pass under Millennium Bridge. – Vessels to berth at pontoon and at North quayside downstream of pontoon (see red line on chart below)
13.30 – Vessels depart Newcastle city centre leaving under Millennium Bridge.
15.00 – Arrive North Shields and vessels berth or disperse to home ports.

                       

Plymouth Largest – 1500 -1800 (80 vessels)
The Hoe – Smeaton’s Tower

We ask that you join us in Plymouth on April the 8th from 15.00hrs onwards. Press will be able to go aboard vessels by request. Press ferry also available.

We invite friends, family and fellow Brexiteers to watch the demonstration and show support on the Hoe or Mount Batten.

15.00 - Muster in Jenny Cliff Bay in SE corner of Plymouth Sound.
16.00 – Begin two anti-clockwise laps of NW/SE rectangular circuit marked by 4 racing buoys (see chart below).
17.00 – Complete 2 laps - Finish North end. Smaller vessels pass through Smeaton Pass. Congregate under the Hoe. Larger vessels to stay south of Shoals within lap circuit (see chart below). 
17.30 – Vessels disperse to their respective ports or enter Sutton Harbour. Larger vessels may berth at Victoria Pier (see chart below) whilst awaiting tide for Sutton Harbour.

                          

Whitstable Last – 1700-2000 (40 vessels – boat to be torched on bonfire)
West Harbour Pier

We ask that you join us at Whitstable on Sunday 8^th April for the flotilla massing off the harbour from 17.00hrs. A whole fishing vessel will be brought ashore and torched to conclude.

1700 - Muster off Whitstable harbour – spread out from harbour entrance west.
1730 – Begin a slow anti-clockwise oval steam from east to west or raft up off harbour (tbc depending on weather)
1900 – Vessels begin to mass close in to harbour entrance stretching west along shore.
19.10 (approx.) – Shore side bonfire with vessel atop to be lit. Sound horns/fireworks.
20.00 – Vessels depart and return to home ports or berth in harbour.

                             

Milford Haven – 1000-1300 (15 vessels)
The Rath Fishermen’s Memorial or Mackerel Quay.

We ask that you join us in Milford Haven on April the 8th from 12.00hrs onwards.

10.00 - Muster to West side of Harbour entrance at Red Cunjic Buoy (Q.R).
10.30 – Begin 3 anti-clockwise laps of East/West 1.5nm oval circuit from Red Cunjic Buoy (Q.R) East to Red Milford Shelf Buoy (FL.R.2.5s).
12.00 – Complete 3 laps - Finish to SW side of Milford Shelf Buoy. Sound Horns/Fireworks/etc.
12.30 – Vessels return to harbour or disperse to their respective ports.

                                 

Portsmouth - 1400-1600 (15 vessels)
Clarence Esplanade War Memorial

We ask that you join us at Portsmouth on Sunday 8^th April for the flotilla massing off the shore from 14.00hrs.

1400 - Muster off Clarence Pier.
1415 – Begin a slow anti-clockwise oval steam from Clarence pier south to fortress.
1530 – Vessels begin to mass towards Clarence pier. Sound horns/fireworks/flares ~ burn EU flags.
16.00 – Vessels depart and return to home ports or berth in harbour.

                     

Hastings - 1600-1800 - (20 vessels)
Pelham Place Car Park

We ask that you join us at Hastings on Sunday 8^th April for the flotilla massing off the shore from 16.00hrs.

1600 - Muster off Hasting harbour pier – spread out from harbour entrance west.
1615 – Begin a slow anti-clockwise oval steam from harbour pier east to Hastings pier in the west.
1730 – Vessels begin to mass towards harbour pier stretching west along shore. Sound horns/fireworks/flares ~ burn EU flags.
18.00 – Vessels depart and return to home ports or berth in harbour.

BANNERS/FLAGS/T-SHIRTS

We have made banner templates that are free to download and send to your nearest banner printer for the size and design you want.
http://www.ffl.org.uk/banners/

If anyone requires a flag or t-shirt we have a small amount left. Please order asap and we will get them sent away next day delivery as late as Friday so you receive them for Saturday.

http://www.ffl.org.uk/shop/