Peter Neale 13th January 1947 - 29th November 2011

Yet another fisherman from Porthleven has gone to the great wheelhouse in the sky - anyone hoping for tea and buns at his wake in the Blue Anchor stands about as much chance of doing so as seeing Peter the Greek walk in wearing guyliner!

David Cameron's Xmas mesage to the EU!

Must have made Grimmy's day!

Succorfish win high praise from government for 'groundbreaking' tracking device.

L-R   Succorfish Managing Director, Richard Hooper and Commercial Director, George Henricks

Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, and Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon, have hailed a new hi-tech vessel monitoring system that has been designed by North Shieldscompany, Succorfish, as ‘groundbreaking’ in a bid to improve commercial fishing whilst saving marine protected areas.

Government officials visiting local fishermen trialling the device in Lyme Bay, Dorset, saw first

hand how Succorfish’s SC2 global tracking system can allow fishermen to monitor their position to within one metre worldwide without breaching protected zones which would otherwise endanger marine habitats and damage the seabed. Trials funded by Defra and carried out by the Marine Management Organisation have shown how fishermen can prove exactly where their vessel is operating minute by minute via satellite technology, a requirement being introduced under EU legislation in Jan 2012. This will allow them to work alongside environmental groups such as Natural England to potentially open up ‘closed waters’ in sensitive areas.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman commented, “This groundbreaking equipment proves just how innovative the UK fishing industry is. By embracing new technology, it shows that the sector is ready and able to respond positively to the need to protect the marine environment while continuing to make a living from the sea.” Following the Marine Management Organisation’s evaluation of this trial, expected in Spring 2012, the Government hopes that fishermen around the country will be able to adopt this new technology to help ensure that fishing can continue without damaging sensitive marine habitats.

George Henricks, Commercial Director of Succorfish which developed the SC2 system added, “In essence, we are bringing together three parties within one industry and giving them one solution to a major problem, not just here in the UK but worldwide. Commercial fishermen need to sustain and boost their livelihoods and the SC2 will allow them to do so legally whilst improving overall fishing methods.

“Similarly, marine authorities and environmental groups need to monitor and protect vast areas of water from damage or overfishing and must have a means of doing so effectively and within EU guidelines. The SC2 will allow them to work alongside commercial fishermen to gather invaluable fishing and environmental data to support a sustainable fishing policy whilst controlling fishing grounds from illegal practices. “It is a bespoke, low cost device designed specifically for the marine industry and we are delighted with the response from all those involved.”

Succorfish has worked closely with UK industry authorities, Seafish, and CEFAS, and received

funding from Defra as part of its remit to undertake economic and social research in the marine environment, to design and develop the SC2. It was recently launched in front of local fishing administrations, naval enforcement representatives, government bodies and members of regional fishermens’ associations.

Demonstration of Succorfish system from pyxle on Vimeo.

Chairman of the South West Inshore Fisheries Association and vessel owner, Nick Prust, is one

of many commercial fishermen now hailing the system as a possible answer to a worldwide industry problem. He explained, “Fishermen, in general, are working in a tough and often challenging environment therefore when a product becomes integral to the way that you operate, regardless of your methods, it makes a huge difference.

“Having taken part in the trials, it has proved to give much greater access to fishing grounds

and report back instantly. It solves a huge problem for the industry.” The SC2 uses real time satellite and mobile phone technology, as well as online tracking software to relay data back to a password protected website. For vessels 15m and over, it is also e-log ready and directly interfaces with a specialist, state-of-the-art catch reporting software system via a global satellite network.

To order SC2 or other Succorfish products, please contact Andrew Masson at UK distributor,

Selex Elsag, on t | 01346 518 187 or e | andrew.masson@selexelsag.com

Twitter: succorfishvms

Florece sinks after collission with chemical tanker Aphrodite.

Photo courtesy of Joop Klausman at http://brugbarendrecht.punt.nl/ on VesselTracker.

Clay carrying cargo ship Florece sank quickly after being involved in a collision with the chemical tanker Afrodite. The Florece had left Plymouth loaded with clay and was bound for Gazaouet in Algeria. The seven crew were able to don their survival suits and take to the liferaft before being picked up by another ship involved in the rescue, the Ocean Titan which is headed for Lisbon in Portugal.

Falmouth Coastguard Updated report:

Falmouth Coastguard have been working with coastguard colleagues in Spain, France and the USA during the early hours of this morning to assist the crew of a small cargo ship, ‘Florece’ which was in collision with the chemical tanker ‘Afrodite’.

The incident happened at 3.30 this morning. Following the collision, the crew of the cargo ship took to their liferafts, whilst their ship sank. The chemical tanker sustained little damage and was not taking water. All seven crew, who are a mixture of Russian, Polish and Ukranian nationalities, have been rescued by a container vessel ‘Ocean Titan’ .

Falmouth Coastguard were alerted to the plight of the crew when the emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) was set off as their vessel began to sink. The Florece was 240 miles south-south-west of Lands End at the time of the incident and was therefore within the UK’s search and rescue region. Falmouth Coastguard used ‘long range information tracking’ to locate the nearest ship to the position given. When they spoke to the master of the ship, ‘Afrodite’ he informed them that he had been in collision with the cargo vessel ‘Florece’ and that the crew had abandoned to liferafts. The Afrodite had attempted to deploy its fast rescue craft but had been unsuccessful due to the sea swell. During this time the American coastguard had also received a distress signal from the Florece and reported this to Falmouth Coastguard.

Falmouth Coastguard then used ‘enhanced group calling’ to make a request for assistance to any ships in the area. They also discussed the incident with the Spanish coastguard who began to make preparations for sending a helicopter and fixed wing aircraft. The ‘Maersk Kampala’ and the ‘Ocean Titan’ responded and the Ocean Titan was able to go the scene to rescue the crew. All seven crew are now safe on board the Ocean Titan with no medical assistance required.

Falmouth Coastguard Watch Manager Terry Collins says:

“I am pleased to report that all seven crew of the Florece are safe and well which is an excellent outcome. This was an internationally coordinated response with coastguards from Spain, France, the USA and the UK joining forces with the crew of the Ocean Titan to ensure the safe recovery of the seafarers. Satellite technology and modern communications made all the difference with this incident, meaning that we were able to pinpoint the location of the sinking ship, call the nearest vessel and coordinate a response within minutes.”

Fishing weather - "not very nice".



Twenty four hours of wind speed data from the Sevenstone Lightship measured in feet.



Twenty four hours of wave height data from a SW Irish weather buoy measured in feet.

Just to get some idea as to the weather conditions currently being experienced by the hake netter fleet working west of the Scillies. With winds gusting to nearly 40 mph and wave height giving an average swell height well into double figures this week's fish will be hard fought for indeed.

Gill netter Ajax's position around Thursday lunch time 50.07N..007.30W
The wind SW 7-9, in fishermen's parlance, "not very nice".

In some sea areas this morning's shipping forecast was giving storm force 10 at times, worse still off Scotland and the North Sea.

Inside Out in Newlyn.

Regional BBC Tv programme Inside Out ran a story on Monday evening covering the ongoing saga of the Harbour Commissioners at Newlyn.

The programme came on the back of the apparent paralysis of the NPHC chairman Gilbert Mcabe to be forthcoming publicly - to date, their own web site has not been updated since May 20011 - in that time two commissioners have been 'sacked' and a third not considered for re-election, no sound of a public announcement or sign of an alternative to the £5million plus development plan that was ditched last year as promised in the new year (ie January gone) and increasing disquiet amongst many of those in the port that yet again the interests of a few are clouding the judgment of those supposedly at the helm of the port. The names of the three new board members are supposed to be being made public this week - check the NPHC web site for more details.

"This new website and the meetings of the Commission in public are an expression of the open and transparent way in which the Commission will be conducting this vital and important opportunity for Newlyn in the 21st Century."

For the first time in many years, Brixham overtook Newlyn and is once again England's largest fishing port. Despite being much smaller ports at one time, both Brixham and Plymouth have invested in new fish markets and auction systems with obvious results.

Despite this the port is still doing very well thank you very much as the fleet continues to take advantage of improved fishing and greater marketing opportunities in some areas. In recent times, several skippers and owners have invested in the future and more boats have joined the local fleet - including a modern beam trawler for the Nowell family and two netters (one being the biggest in the UK) and a new build (the biggest UK ring netter) as well as several other new builds nearing completion - ironically, most of these new boats choose to land their fish through Plymouth or even French fish markets.

In 2012 - when it is technically possible to buy fish, live, online on your mobile phone on most significant UK and European fish auctions - all these and other boats are looking for in Newlyn is a fish market capable of handling their fish to the highest quality standards and fetching the highest possible price - which, given its remote location must include the internet.

Over to you Gilbert.

Ajax end of year do - at the Boatshed, by Penzance Dock

The Boatshed.



Celebrating the end of 2011 - the skipper, crew, owners, family and friends of the Ajax AH32 will come together at the Boatshed adjacent to Penzance Dock - time and date to be announced! No doubt a few others might want to join in the fun - if so, best get hold of Nigel to pre-warn him of impending good night!