World's biggest fishing on a huge scale - reporting a disaster in the making?.

This story from around the other side of the planet would appear to have a message for every, any and all those connected to the fishing industry, but especially those for whom fishing is of political or economic concern on a grand scale.

Aside from the sheer size of the statistics involved around the Jack Mackerel fishery (shades of mackerel fishing in the South West in the late 1970s perhaps) - a fishery in which ex-Irish and other EU vessels have been sold into - see this infographic - if some of the boats look familiar they were based in Killybegs at one time) the organisations involved in the management and research bear scrutiny also - right at the bottom of the article in a footnote appears the line -"ICIJ received a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts in the past." - the Pew Charitable Trust is thought to receive funding from the Oil Industry - who may, or may not, have a vested interest in where fish are caught.

Photo courtesy of Periódico El Ciudadano

As the article appears on the iWatch web site:

TALCAHUANO, Chile — Eric Pineda peered deep into the Achernar’s hold at a measly 10 tons of jack mackerel after four days in waters once so rich they filled the 57-foot boat in a few hours.

The dock agent, like everyone in this old port south of Santiago, grew up with the bony, bronze-hued fish they call jurel, which roams in schools in the southern Pacific. “It’s going fast,” Pineda said. “We’ve got to fish harder before it’s all gone.” Asked what he would leave to his son, he shrugged: “He’ll have to find something else.”

But what else is there to find? Jack mackerel, rich in oily protein, is manna to a hungry planet, a staple in Africa. Elsewhere, people eat it unaware; much of it is reduced to feed for aquaculture and pigs. It can take more than 5 kilos of jack mackerel to raise a kilo of farmed salmon.

Yet stocks have dropped from an estimated 30 million metric tons to less than 3 million in two decades. The world’s largest trawlers, after depleting other oceans, now head south toward the edge of Antarctica to compete for what is left.

An eight-country investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists of the fishing industry in the southern Pacific shows why the plight of the humble jack mackerel foretells progressive collapse of fish stocks in all oceans. Their fate reflects a bigger picture: decades of unchecked global fishing pushed by geopolitical rivalry, greed, corruption, mismanagement and public indifference.

St Ives fisherman Simon Rouncefield - text my fish!

Inshore hand line fisherman, Simon Rouncefield who puts his fish on to the market at Newlyn is making use of the latest communications tools to boost sales of his top quality fish to local customers. Fresh fish from his punt, Jen can be bought over the phone direct from the boat while still at sea. Customers can give their mobile number to Simon who will then text them his catch as he heads for port. Arrangements to pick up the fish are agreed beforehand to ensure that the day's catch gets to the customer direct from the boat, often still alive!

Here' Simon talking to Radio Cornwall's breakfast programme this morning explaining how he has joined the 21st Century and the technology available to exploit more opportunities for sales to customers. Later on in the audio extract you can hear the Harbourmaster at Looe commenting on the feasibility of selling fish direct to customers and the possible consequences for bigger vessels if they follow suit.

Sound recording courtesy of BBC Radio Cornwall Breakfast Show.

Mid-week and a relatively quiet market.

Just the one beam trawl trip this morning......

though there's a good selection of inshore fish from the finest line caught bass........

which always flies off the market floor........

as will these stiff little mackerel.......

then there's plenty of cuttles.......

that need shifting.......

from the man himself........

it's a wrap.......

one crabber all set for the off........

a few days off for the gill net fleet.......

outside its fronbt door, the Mission's 'resuss' kit is ready for action - let's hope the cobwebs gather on it!

Happy New Year - of the Dragon!

 

Potsticker pork pasties........

 haddock steamed with ginger........

served with spring onions, drizzled with smoking coconut and sesame oil and a dash of soy sauce .

Monday's market with megrim and mixed netting trips.

Any colour you like as long as it is black, plenty of cuttles with the Cornishman this morning......

Gary M, one of several netters to put their fish ashore at the end of the year's first neap tide

there's still plenty of bass around the reefs and rocky grounds.......

for the big netters, a good run of ground fish like cod, ling and pollack to go with the hake........

piped fuel aboard by the thousands of litres.......

a tale of three cats........

just time to check the megrim sales........

a reminder for anyone catching one of these at sea, there's a restriction on landing undulate ray - more information is available about shark, skate and rays from Seafish and the MMO.......

heavy cloud over the land, light enough out to sea.

A SUPPORT fund has been launched for the families of the crew of the Tit Bonhomme

Tit Bonhomme trawling- photo courtesy of Niall Duffy

Niall Duffy

A SUPPORT fund has been launched for the families of the crew of the Tit Bonhomme which sank in heavy seas at the entrance to Glandore Harbour early on Sunday morning. The account is held at the AIB branch at Bridge Street Skibbereen and the name of the account is ‘The Union Hall Trawler Support Fund’. 


Donations can be made to account number: 1000 9183, Sort Code: 93-63-75.

Harbour pretty full this morning.

 Despite the best intentions of the local council, it doesn't take long for nature to find its own course, the Wherry Town river now runs straight out to sea once again.......

a discarded hydrostatic release for a life raft washed up on the beach........

 after taking ice the netter Britannia IV makes her way back to her berth past busy quays with many of the big trawlers and beam trawlers trips finished and now home for the weekend.......

 plenty of working deck on the ex-landing craft.........

 likely showers this morning as a solitary gull wheels over the harbour......

 the old harbour crane doesn't see much action these days.......

 no end of unusual visual combinations to be found around the quayside.......

THV Patricia, taking a break from servicing the nation's buoyage system.