Cefas Endeavour blog.

The guys and girls aboard the Cefas Endeavour are getting in to the swing on blogging. The most recent posts give more information on the technology and techniques employed in the research work - like this explanation of the 3D topography sonar kit - something every trawler owner would love to have aboard there boats but hugely expensive.

On the fish.

Someone must be getting dizzy on watch aboard the Lisa Jacqueline! - must be good fishing.

Sailing day for the last trip of 2011.

 One small step.......

 big boats need big wire......

 pulled on the quay.......

 the quickness of the hand deceives the eye.......

 and back through the block.......

 before the next shower arrives......

 we was wanting words with you!.........

 off comes the trawl in preparation for triple rigging targeting monk and brill.......

 under the watchful eye of skipper Curtis junior........ 

 before a team talk on the quay......

 until Royden arrives with the forklift.......

 to help pack away the trawl on a pallet........

 all set to sail........

 all hands interested in the future of independent ice in Newlyn need to attend this special general meeting fo Cornish Ice Company shareholders on the 21st of December in the Mission at Newlyn.......

 there's an excellent exhibition of art work by Nick Praed who lives and has his studio aboard the ex-Newlyn netter Ar Bagergan.........

 a quick look down the quay.......

 as the 'little ol' tiger heads for the ice works.........

before heading off to sea for the last trip of 2011.

Christmas cheer from the Fisheries Council in Brussels

Ending in the early hours of this morning, these were the tweets from MP Richard Benyon as the Fisheries Council meeting took place:

"Richard Benyon Off to Brussels to negotiate for fishing opportunities for our fleet next year......

MP Richard Benyon Absurdity of CFP made clear as I discuss net sizes in Irish Sea with Commissioner. We need reform that let's UK deal with such matters! 22 hours ago........

MP Richard Benyon Just had good meeting with French Minister. Good agreement with Germans too. Can argue sustainability through every proposal we make 20 hours ago........ 

MP Richard Benyon Still in Brussels negotiating fishing quotas. UK delegation have sweepstake of time agreement will be reached. My money on 3.45am 9 hours ago .........

Richard Benyon @ @seafishinfuture Do support CRP! It just the days @ sea part that is lunacy and doesn't work in mixed fishery like ours. RB 9 hours ago..........

Richard Benyon @ @StuartHousden getting there. Result soon 7 hours ago.......

Got a good deal for UK Fisheries @ 3.45am (as predicted here!). UK's position backed by science throughout. 1 hour sleep. Now going home 14 minutes ago RichardBenyonMP".........

Some good cheer emanating from this year's Fisheries Council meting for the UK fishing fleet. news coming out of the council meeting indicate that for Scottish fishermen the 4 day at sea a fortnight ruling may have been overturned in favour of a 4 day week. Quotas for North Sea haddock and herring appear to have been doubled. News of quota targets that apply to the waters off the south west has yet to reach the shore of Cornwall.

Mme Damanki speaking after the fisheries council meeting.



See the full story from the BBC here.

UK FISHING INDUSTRY 


Newlyn in Cornwall has the largest number of fishing vessels in the UK (619), followed by Milford Haven (483) and Poole (476). But Fraserburgh in Scotland has the largest capacity by gross tonnage (36,264), followed by Shetland (23,632). 63% of UK fishing boats were built prior to 1991. While the number of boats being built has fallen, their average capacity and power have increased


Source: UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 2010

Wild weather for wild fish!

Scillies lifeline - the Gry Maritha is on her way!

The Scillies supply ship, Gry Maritha stranded since last Friday in Penzance dock, is finally on her way to the beleaguered islands thirty five miles off the storm battered Cornish coast.......

with all those important supplies......

like beer, although the chances are with many people having nothing better to do on the islands than retire to the nearest bar and discuss the terrible weather outside it is likely that supplies of Christmas cheer are running low - at just over 6 knots the Gry is making her way slowly towards the islands, no doubt much to the relief of locals, shops and pubs!

Tracked all the way to the Scillies - next question is, when will she return?

Tracked all the way to the Scillies - next question is, when will she return?

When the wind is in the west, the fishing is best.....

Shipping forecast for the south west:

Gale warnings - Issued: 0338 UTC Thu 15 Dec

Severe gale force 9 backing southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 soon, then increasing violent storm force 11 later

Shipping Forecast - Issued: 1130 UTC Thu 15 Dec

Wind Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, veering northwest 7 to severe gale 9 later.

Sea State High or very high.

Weather Rain or showers.

Visibility Good, occasionally poor.

But not when the wind has been consistently around gale force 8 for several days with gusts over 60mph........

and the wave height at the Sevenstones Lightship is beginning to approach 30 feet........

so as Cornwall is lashed by gales, dozens of property damaged by lighening strikes and any number of trees blown down - spare a thought for this group of French trawlers working south of the Dodman Point hoping to gain a little from being in the lee of the Lizard land mass!

The AIS tracks from VesselTracker show how some of the boats have steamewd stright from their home ports across the channel (that's at a time when the huge Brittany ferry has been cancelled) to fish their last trip for the christmas market when prices are sure to be sky high.