Working the Irish way.

The green arrow marks the spot - well the approximate area the the Newlyn gill netter Ajax currently finds herself working. After several trips working west side of the Scillies the fish (hake) appear to have moved Northwards to the Kinsale rigs area as reported by skipper Alan on Tuesday. At times the netting fleet have to spend several days searching for fish if they have moved from an expected fishing ground.

SOS Penlee lifeboat - on yer bikes!

SOS - raising cash for much needed new lifejackets at a cost of £700 each.

This year's SOS day will see five hardy souls from the Penlee Lifeboat crew stretch their calf muscles as they cycle the 125 miles from Plymouth RNLI station to Newlyn via a tortuous coastal route taking in Looe, Fowey, Falmouth and the Lizard station visits on the way!  Like many lifeboat crews, this year's SOS event is being used to raise the cash required for new lifejackets that come in at over £700 each.

Out in all kinds of weather, the crews need every bit of protection from the salty waters off the Cornish coast they can get.

On the same day, January 28th,  Sennen, Port Isaac, Looe and the Lizard lifeboat stations will be running their own events all in the aid of new lifejackets for their respective crews. The lifeboat t on the Lizard will give the public its first chance to see inside the brand new building. Around the coast all stations will be busy engaged in similar events, popular among the crews is the annual car wash - 'Soap our Saloons' as the boys at Swanage RNLI call it at their local Jewsons' builders store.

Greenwich leads €4.6 million project to help regenerate fishing communities

Inshore fishing boats at Penberth Cove, Cornwall.

 Researchers at the University of Greenwich are leading a €4.6 million project helping to regenerate coastal fishing communities on both sides of the English Channel and the southern North Sea. Focussing on towns and villages with traditional small scale fishing fleets, they will look at the ways local inshore fishing contributes to the identity of places and their communities, as well as seeking new sustainable opportunities to boost regeneration and economic growth. 

 The University of Greenwich team is headed by environmental geographers Dr Tim Acott and Dr Julie Urquhart, and social scientist Dr Minghua Zhao. They joined forces with research colleagues in France and Flanders to secure co-funding from the European Interreg IVa 2 Seas programme for the three-year project, Geography of Inshore Fishing and Sustainability. 


 Dr Urquhart says: “Inshore marine fishing is at the heart of so many places, whether they have just a few small fishing boats pulled up on a shingle beach or a harbour that is the centre of activity for a larger fishing fleet. “You cannot think about places like Whitstable, Brixham or Newlyn without recalling fishing and local seafood. Inshore marine fishing is central to their identity as communities and places.” The project was one of just 12 successful bids out of a total of 49 applications to the most recent European Regional Development Fund 2 Seas cross-border programme. 


 Project leader Dr Acott says: “We will be building on valuable research we have already been doing in fishing communities. “Working with researchers in France and Flanders gives us a cross-cultural perspective and opportunities to share ideas and solutions to common problems – not least how the sense of identity within fishing communities can make a significant contribution to regeneration and sustainable economic growth. “Our findings will help to provide the information people need to develop new activities on the ground to regenerate their communities and feed into policy decisions which will ensure a sustainable future. We are hoping to help to create a sense of shared identity in fishing places across the region.” 

Still sorting and hand grading fish like mackerel on Newlyn Fish market. 

Plans include photographic exhibitions exploring life in fishing communities and a demonstration project of fishing heritage-led regeneration at the fishing village of Arnemuiden, in The Netherlands.

Grilled Salt cod supper.

 Soaked for 12 hours after a light salting - given a heavy dusting of rock salt for an hour the previous night - two cod fillets are given the skin-side-down-crispy-skin treatment before going under the grill for a few minutes to finish off the top side.......

meanwhile a mix of green veg leaves - savoy cabbage preferred if available - are blanched and added to crispy streaky bacon or pancetta fried with a chopped onion with chicken stock and half a bottle of ale reduced by two thirds to give a thickened sauce to go with the fish - from Rick Stein's Coast to Coast. 

Sanjay's Kitchen, a Taste of Tin menu for 2012.

Cornish fish fan Sanjay has put together an feast of fine fish given the working menu title, A Taste of Tin........Sample Cornish Menu 2012

2012's first Monday morning market.

 No big trips on the first Monday market for 2012 but plkenty of quality fish from the inshore boats......

 much of it line caught..........

 like these dozen boxes of bass from the single-handed punt Cynthia........

 taking a break from recording the landings this morning.......

Silver Dawn all set for the New Year.

Saturday sees changes for the new year.

 Pebbles piled on the prom after the recent weather has passed through........

 and the stream running through Wherry Town has been re-routed...... 

 Tom spots a break in the cloud cover.......

 as the Christmas lights team get to work taking down this year's display.......

 so says Emmerdale fan Debbie.........

 lot 178, the Heather FY89 on the hard at Mevagissey is up for auction at next week's David Lay's Art sale......

 early morning gulls check out a breakfast of worms on the fish market roof garden.......

fine weather means the North quay is devoid of working boats at last.