Mitch and Matt's Big Fish on Dave - catch the boys in action again!

Being re-run on Dave at the moment is Mitch Tonk's and Matt Dawson's fishalogue, cooking their way round fishing communities around the UK. On a warm day in August, Mitch Tonk's set up a stove on the end of the quay at Newlyn and made the best of some prime local fish including line caught bass.

Trevessa IV engine room fire - images from Penlee lifeboat.

As the Penlee lifeboat approaches, the Trevessa IV is laid to with her derricks down and gear still out.......
another company boat, the Billy Rowney, stands by......
as the lifeboat moves in close to the stricken beamer.....
to standby and maintain a close watch on proceedings.

All pictures courtesy of Wayne Davey, Penlee lifeboat.

Some slushy snow settles.

Bringing fresh fish to your table - despite the snow.......
not that an inch is likely to have any real affect on the smooth running of the harbour.....
even with the unusual site of snow on the quays......
nearly thirty years ago when dogfish were landed in huge quantities by early gill-netters like the Boy Gary, dogs were heaped in 10 stone piles on the New Quay - and, on one occasion in 1982, were frozen in for a week.......
one of those times when having a shelter-decked boat is a real boon for the crew......
not like days of yore on the Ripple......
the morning sky doesn't look too heavy with snow at this time......
but if the temperature drops Newlyn will have its very own skating rink.

A good reason for Newlyn to stay focussed on the future

Cornwall's increasing reliance on the tourist industry, where jobs are often seasonal, has created real rural poverty - over the last twenty years in the Penwith area, almost all the light engineering and other manufacturing businesses that once employed many have shut their doors. Both Penzance and Newlyn, with fishing and other port based industries and businesses, must fight to extract as many employment opportunities as possible in the coming years.

Cornwall Works for Cornish Fishermen

Seafood Cornwall Training, the Newlyn based centre for Fish Industry Skills in Cornwall celebrated a bumper Christmas this year, thanks to a grant of £6,579.79 from Cornwall Works Working Neighbourhoods. The training school has been able to embark on a comprehensive project to purchase new computers for staff, presentation equipment essential for course delivery and laptops to provide fishermen with the tools to access online training resources.

Seafood Cornwall Training is approved by Seafish on behalf of the MCA to deliver mandatory safety courses including Sea Survival, Fire Fighting, 1st Aid and Health and Safety at Sea for new entrants to the Industry. Working closely with the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation the training school also delivers further training for fishermen working towards the under 16.5m skipper’s ticket and courses for the onshore sector.

Sarah Henshall, Training Manager advised, “We work with other community-led approaches to get people back to work and though our training courses are able to build motivation, confidence and the skills needed to allow people to embark on a successful career within the Fish Industry. The grant from Cornwall Works will help ensure we can continue to equip new entrants and experienced fishermen with the skills and qualifications required to react appropriately to emergency situations at sea.”

Carolyn Webster, lead for Cornwall Works said “The Working Neighbourhoods grants have made a real difference as they enable communities to develop local solutions to the employment and skills challenges that are relevant to their areas. Partners are encouraged to work together to maximise the impact that a relatively small amount of investment can make and it is clear that Seafood Cornwall Training have taken this approach to heart”

To find out more about Seafood Cornwall Training visit www.seafoodcornwalltraining.co.uk

2010 and the first market of the year.

" Top of the morning", Ryan greets buyers on the western end of the auction hall.....
where there's several boxes of new year bass to satisfy the quality end of the restaurant trade.....
almost full, a good start to the year for the trawler fleet.....
though jokes about selling hot or cold smoked fish from the Trevessa IV wore a a bit thin soon enough.....
a man at one with the world, Charlie surveys the scene and look satisfied that all is well at his end of the market.....
where ten boats made it to the arrivals board - maybe this year will herald a new dawn and the long talked of computerised auction will replace these somewhat dated methods of alerting the buyers as to what is being landed and when.....
green boxes on the go......
the Emma slips into berth alongside the market to discharge a shot of crabs.....
under the watchful gaze of fleet boss Mark.......
heavily iced pickup bonnet - not the temperate climate Newlyn normally enjoys even at this time of year - though, in 1987, the worst cold weather to hit the area in recent years saw the shipping forecast give light icing for sea area Plymouth - an unheard of event.....
tied up after landing, the Sapphire is positively aglow.......
under a big moon over the back of the village - the netters will not be able to sail until the end of the week in these big tides.

Trevessa IV update

With little wind it was indeed a Silver Dawn and, as the sun sank behind Paul Hill....
it was a very silver dusk.......
though this little chap is probably the only snowman still around the port.....
time to stop up those holes under the port side sheathing......
safely back in port, the Trevessa IV is minus hear gear but shows no obvious signs of damage above decks......
the Dutchman Sea Jager is till in port.......
the William Sampson makes ready to go through her gear alongside the fish market.......
while off the promenade, the Nellie from the Nowell fleet makes her way to Newlyn for ice before her first trip of the New Year.