Not for a long time

The Lisa Jacqueline (ex Hubenada) has left the quay for the slip ending the longest period of slip in-activity in living memory - not many years ago it was not unusual to see a boat go up and down the slip on the same tide such was the demand.....
the harbours 'mini-slip', space on the end of the New Quay alongside the crane allows punts the chance for a quick bottom scrub or other repair work, today it's the turn of Pete Downing's Sea-Jay seen being carefully chocked.....
the Silver Dawn is undergoing a hauling system modification on a grans scale, skipper Hosking making some final checks on the now removed Spencer Carter N10 hauler on the quay.....
back in town again, the Three Sons from Brixham......
two more visitors cast their light on the harbour waters.....
wandering the perimeter of the Penlee Marin development, a security guard checks out the blooming daffodils.

Its a long steam from Icleandic grounds - but worth it says Icelandic trawler owner.

For the first time in ten years Icelandic fishing boats have landed fresh catches to Grimsby market on the East coast. You may spot the rural corespondent's (obviously a landlubber) error in the story where the boat is described as being 50 ft in length when, judging by the size of the wheelhouse and the containers being landed in the video, she is more likely to be at least 50 metres! - see the video report here.

Petition to No10 in support of Fishermen prosecuted in the UK

Anyone with access to a computer can visit the petition pages in the Governement's website. If you wish to support the petition outlined below started by Darren Rosson, follow the link:

DEFRA have recently prosecuted Fishermen in both Scotland
and Cornwall for landing fish in contravention of their quotas or licences. They have received fines which are not commensurate to the 'crime' when compared to career criminals who seem to get away with very little sanction. However once the fines have been imposed the authorities have pursued the families stripping assets using the proceeds of Crime Act. The act is on the statute to strip assets from criminals who have amassed their wealth from criminal acts. Fishermen have amassed what little they have through work in the most harsh of
conditions!!!!

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/FishermenPOCA/#detail

Spring fishing

Captain Leach and son Gary head the Achieve back into a berth after landing their trip to the market.....
view of the stern arrangement on the Plymouth multi-pupose trawler/beamer Admiral Gordon......
all the netters, like the Ajax here, will be hoping for good prices this morning with big trips of superb quality hake.....
evidence of the time of year in the shape of mixed boxes of hard and soft roes.....
Robert George from Seafood Cornwall casts an eye over 61/2 tins of poillack from Kenny Downing's Golden Harvest......
a fine shot of ray from the inshore fleet runs the length of the chill room ....
while Edwin keeps the head office of Ocean Fish up to date with the big gill-net trips on the market.....
it takes time to ice over nearly 7 tons of fish from the Ajax....
in the scrap bay someone has had enough of their on-board exercise machine....
back go the boxes on the crabber Pen Glas.....
seems there are some keeping the landlady on her toes in the Star.....
while she promises to keep the punters happy by fixing prices till the end of the month, well all except the Stella for some reason!

On the breadline

Stacked alongside the boat, boxes showing signs of cuttlefish ink.....
reduced to fighting over the contents of a bag of bread, the indiginous gull population scrap for breakfast.....
and a cross appeared in the sky to the East....
not a breath of wind to disturb the waters of Penzance wet dock in the ealry hours.....
the latest job for the Dry Dock company has just arrived......
with a paint job to match the sky, the Abbey Hotel stands out....
the local anging boats will be hoping for a spell of quiet weather over the forthcoming Easter break to kick-start their season.....
and no doubt many of their customer will take advantage of some dockside culinary delights from the Waterside Meadery.....
it won't be long before the Scillonian III is back in action......

Spring is in the air

The Lady Maureen graces the end of the New Quay with her presence.....
the harbour guys have been out with the bleach doing a bit of spring cleaning, the steps are like an ice-rink when covered with weed....

and signs that the winter month are drawing to a close are evident in the old harbour as some of the classic boats get a makeover.....
or just a check over as Merv is doing here.....
back from another hard training session....
a chance to buy some of the best views in the harbour overlooking the old quay.....
all that remains of another boat in the skip.

Captain Don and crew

Just as the sun goes down the Pride of Cornwall heads out on a Cornish Sardine hunt.....
there's a local angling boat on the quay for with even more tropical fish in mind.....
doing a brisk trade down Jack Lane.......
basking in the early morning sun, the Filadelfia waits alongside the fish market after landing a two day trip.....
aboard the boat, the crew includes some notable local characters, like Rambo.....
alongside youngest crew-member Scott complete with on-board laptop, part of the......

father (skipper Don)and son team complete with one of an increasing number of ship's mascots.....
as ever the prime roe on the market was snapped up by Smart's fish.....
on the end of the New Quay, the skipper of the Lady Lou keeps an eye on the deck as the port side gear is raised for repairs......
a handful of bongos comes off the Dom Bosco.