Wales' fish extravaganza - June 25th to July 3rd.

Dowload the Fish Week Brochure 2011 or view it here.

This weekend sees the start of the 11th Pembrokeshire Fish Week; a celebration of Pembrokeshire's wonderful fish and seafood - not to mention its spectacular coastline.

The week is packed full of family-friendly activities based around the coast and waterway, including cookery demonstrations, fishing competitions, boat trips, children's workshops, and much more.

Pembrokeshire Fish Week is truly a county-wide event with well over 150 businesses taking part. Get hooked and have yourself a lot of fun!

No Fish left on the Plate

What can we expect from the Common Fisheries Policy Reform?

The Conference aims to raise awareness about the urgent need for a radical Common Fisheries Reform, ahead of the Commission's proposal which is expected on 13 July. This event will be a way to maintain the topic high on the agenda in order to encourage an immediate response to the Commission's proposal once it comes out.

The discussions should aim to spell out what might be the worst-case consequences if reform is not undertaken, and highlight by how much fishing resources have been depleted in terms of fish and of employment within the industry.

Speakers will include the fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki, an academic from York University, Callum Roberts and Tony Long, Director of WWF who will present the current state of the stocks and point out what the consequences would be if we continued the same fishing practices as usual.

Fishermen will also be represented and will provide a practical experience of what the common fisheries policy has led to in the past and why there is an urgent need for action. Contributions will also be made from other actors involved in the fishing industry such as fish processors and retailers.

Maria Damanki's speech in full here.

For more information and registration, please send full name, date of birth and ID number (passport or ID): diana.gierstorfer@europarl.europa.eu


ProgrammeClick here to download the programme

The full video of the debate will be available soon.

The creative side of things.

There's a permanent display of street art on the prom, but this week all eyes will be on the more serious works available during Golowan week.......

Marine artist, Nick Praed, whose studio is aboard the ex-fishing vessel Arkincastle berthed in Penzance wet dock.......

is happy to receive visitors and take orders for his works on display or on commission.......

if your preferred medium is big, bold 3D then head for Tony Lattimer's new gallery in Morrab Road........

desperate Dayle aboard the Shikari is after a stripper - to the uninitiated this is not something for removing clothing but mackerel from a line of hooks - give him a ring on 07917 817539 if you know of a stripper up for grabs.......

there's a set of monk, sole and gill nets going, all on good ropes for a monkey.........

the market was desolate apart from mackerel this morning.......

polyvalent doors in blue.........

today's growing collection of passing yachts waiting for a weather window - Newlyn is strategically placed for yachts en route for bigger journey including those making the crossing to Ireland or heading south for France and beyond........

the fishermen's friend - not.........

just the mackerel to go this morning........

weather from the South, wet, warm and windy.

Flags, fairs and frogs as Le Diament sets sail.

 Adding to the spectacle, one of many St Piran flags decorate the fair........

 along with the Penzance Arts Club all set for Golowan festivities......

 with rides for all........

 far removed from the glitz, PZ Gallery's Charlie Roff prepares for a busy week ahead........ 

 as do the resident boats in the Dock for Quay day on Sunday.........

where visitor will get the chance to purchase some memorable marine art courtesy of Nick Praed.........

 first cruise ship to visit the Bay this year, Le Diament heads out towards the Mount........

and then 'round the corner' heading north for Cobh in Ireland...........

 a few mackerel found round the gear Pole off Battery Rocks........

with much wind in the sky heading across the Bay.

Goan mackerel curry- kudos to the spice king, Atul Kochhar!

This is a 'must try' dish - with line caught mackerel off Cornwall abundant and available superfresh in local wet fish shops and even supermarkets at the moment - be prepared for a surprise as this dish is a winner on all counts - never has getting a dose of your OmegaIII been more pleasant!.........

first off gently soften the onion, garlic and bayleaf before adding the first batch of ground spices - top tip, be sure to grind your spices fresh .......

once doen and the coconut milk added, reduce to thicken (if you suddenly discover that the stock cupboard is devoid of coconut milk then a 100g of dessicated coconut, soaked in 400 ml of boiling water, whizzed with a blender and then strained through a seive will produce a worthy substitute) probable time to reduce around 15 minutes........

having prepared the mackerel fillets (scored and rolled in the second batch of spice) give them a couple of minutes skin side down in butter and oil before flipping over to finish off........

most important, don't forget the finely sliced purple onion that really does put the finishing touch to this superb dish........

veg of choice and pour the reduced sauce over the basmati rice to complete the scene.......

two fillets left to fight over.........

amidst stiff competition!

Full recipe from the BBC web site here.

Le Diament cruise ship just anchored off Newlyn.

Around 150 passengers are due to come ashore via the ship's lifeboats today as Le Diament becomes the first cruise ship this year to visit Newlyn. A number of coach tours are planned for the mainly French visitors, including visits to St Ives and some key Cornish sites like St Michael's Mount..

Pelagic port - Bonito tuna, mackerel and Cornish sardines.

Gourmet dining.........

the fair's in town for Golowan Festival........

low water at Wherry Town boating pool........

apparently so, look out Tuesday evening.........

spider time..........

in a case of mass insomnia, the boys from IFCA were up well early this morning measuring brown crab from the Intuition........

as the boat landed to a waiting vivier lorry.......

a bongo at a time........

this can only be done when the vivier aboard the boat has been pumped dry.......

down the quay there's an unusual set of beam trawl gear not seen in these parts before.......

aboard the Troon registered Solea..........

very light gear hanging from a hydrofoil type beam........

first time the market has seen any quantity of Bonito tuna........

created some interest from the buyers.......

and an intrigued Ollie ponders the species in question.......

early season Sardina Pilchardus.........

and a good weekend's work for the mackerel fleet.......

with the might megrim currently topping the list of flat fish being championed by many for ethical fishing reasons given the healthy state of the stock........

the Gallic prawn boats will be pulling aboard good lifts of prawns at the moment judging by the number of boxes the beams are catching!