As feared in the lead up to the annual quota carve-up - the South West has come off badly this year with cod being given a 25% cut - despite claims by fishermen that they are seeing evidence of cod stocls flourishing and thicker on the grounds than ever before. Historically, tagged cod in the region has only ever been caught within a short distance of the initial tagging site - as a result there seems little or no evidence that cod migrate in or out of their home territory.
There's more coverage here from Reuters and a broader perspective.
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Wednesday 15 December 2010
Cod quota cuts one of many to hit the South West.
Tuesday 14 December 2010
On the eve of the quota debate - Oh, the irony of it all!
Pioneering skipper's vessel thrown out of the scheme for monitoring discards - as the relief skipper, applying a little common sense to his fishing activities when faced with a huge 700 box haul of cod, dumps some fish he can't handle - a sure indication of the scarcity of cod on the ground?
Could a cost conscious climate promote Coatsguard cuts and cost lives?
RNAS Culdrose's Rescue 193 on exercise. |
Cut to just three coastguard stations offering 24/7 cover around the coast - and down to 19 stations around the UK - the stark news from the agency that oversees manned stations here in the South West. Announced earlier this year, cuts in safety services at sea in the form of the standby tugs like the Anglain Princess that will end next September.
In addition, air sea rescue services are being farmed out to private contractors and some reduced from the present 24/7 cover with obvious serious consequences should you hit trouble, 'out of hours'.
NCI Gwennap Head |
Acoustic devices keep dolphins and porpoises at bay.
Porpoise caught in gill nets around 1992. |
More details here.
Monday 13 December 2010
New wave of new fish shops - New Wave opens in Cirencester.
Always good to see the return of a wet fish shop to the high street (even if they source their fish from Plymouth and Loe) - though it will be a long time before we return to the days when Mac Fisheries stores were found in every significant town in the country!
From their web site: "Tim Boyd, who, in 1989, founded New Wave Seafoods, suppliers to top restaurants has teamed up with Ben Hoggett who has been a chef with a seafood background for 15 years, spending many years at Bibendum and several other London landmark restaurants. Together they are offering a full selection of responsibly-sourced fish, much of it freshly and sustainably caught by dayboats from England's coastal waters in Plymouth and Looe, as well as live shellfish, herbs, wild mushrooms, organic vegetables and gourmet produce from the world's largest and finest food market, Rungis Marché in Paris, to complement their range."
Those old enough to remember Mac Fisheries shops will find that the web, as usual, comes up with answers to all those unasked questions like - did Mac Fisheries sell their own branded beer?
From their web site: "Tim Boyd, who, in 1989, founded New Wave Seafoods, suppliers to top restaurants has teamed up with Ben Hoggett who has been a chef with a seafood background for 15 years, spending many years at Bibendum and several other London landmark restaurants. Together they are offering a full selection of responsibly-sourced fish, much of it freshly and sustainably caught by dayboats from England's coastal waters in Plymouth and Looe, as well as live shellfish, herbs, wild mushrooms, organic vegetables and gourmet produce from the world's largest and finest food market, Rungis Marché in Paris, to complement their range."
Those old enough to remember Mac Fisheries shops will find that the web, as usual, comes up with answers to all those unasked questions like - did Mac Fisheries sell their own branded beer?
Is it legal? - UK quota system for under 10m boats challenged.
Is it legal? |
That is the question that many in the under 10m sector will be asking in the wake of a recent report. Tom Appleby, University Law lecturer at the West of England University is convinced that the present quota system is weighted heavily in favour of PO managed boats, largely made up of >10m vessels - with a mere 10% of the national quota left to be divied up amongst the <10m fleet who, in reality, represent around 75% of UK fishermen!
Surfeit of silver.
Around three thousand kilos of the finest Cornish grey mullet graced the market this morning courtesy of the Sennen Cove Beach Boys.....
one prize tub gurnard fights its way from a box of lesser fellow red gurnards.......
at the other end of the market a mass of silver - top of the range bass from the local handliners out in force over the weekend on some big fishing.....
with many of these quality fish sure to be headed for the top restaurants and fish shops in the big smoke - no doubt a few of these will be gracing the slab of Chelsea Fishmonger Rex Goldsmith's emporii (if that's the plural for more than one emporium)........
in the black again......
whiting being graded the easy way.......
there's a bit more festive cheer around the harbour now that the tinsel has been added to the tree......
time to stock up with seasonal pickled products from the Cornish Pickle Company.......
just one of the pictures up for auction at WH Lanes.
the Charisma from Padstow makes an early start.........
one prize tub gurnard fights its way from a box of lesser fellow red gurnards.......
at the other end of the market a mass of silver - top of the range bass from the local handliners out in force over the weekend on some big fishing.....
with many of these quality fish sure to be headed for the top restaurants and fish shops in the big smoke - no doubt a few of these will be gracing the slab of Chelsea Fishmonger Rex Goldsmith's emporii (if that's the plural for more than one emporium)........
in the black again......
whiting being graded the easy way.......
there's a bit more festive cheer around the harbour now that the tinsel has been added to the tree......
time to stock up with seasonal pickled products from the Cornish Pickle Company.......
just one of the pictures up for auction at WH Lanes.
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