Monday's fish auction at Newlyn.

The Ajax was one of several netters that put their fish on the market this morning........

along with the Harvest Reaper seen here alongside the market......

no equal ops for some white good then.......

topping up the ice tubs.......

the new fender production line shows work in progress.......

as the Mount's Bay gig rowers fail to spot the Mount while on a practise session!

Bound in!

Gill netters Ajax and Silver Dawn make their way back to Newlyn at the end of the neap tide. Silver Dawn's fish will go on a lorry to be auctioned elsewhere while the Ajax's trip of hake and other white fish will be split between the market at Newlyn and Brixham.


The two other tracks show the trawler Crystal Sea working south of Newlyn wile the big netter Govenek of Ladram works her gear a few miles south of the Lizard.

Rain on the way today

 Latest migrant to the Bay, the Anglian Earl at anchor enjoying slightly warmer waters than she has for the past few years.......

 legacy from winter gales, big pebbles heaped on the promenade.......

 spot the ball competition........

 old Police song.......

 monk like.......

 fish like.......

 Tom on watch from Tolcarne beach at low water.......

 recycled railway track.......

 the birds........

 sea defences at Tolcarne beach.......

 the Mission from below........

 visiting Brixham beamer Carhelmar goes through the gear........

 call crab man Dave Mazzio for some bargains, head ropes, foot ropes and long lines........

caught in action at last.

Cefas Endevaour back out to sea after crew change.

The VesselTracker AIS picks up the Cefas Endevaour after she has left Swansea docks for a re-fuel and crew change. The boat is currently engaged in the MCZ Characterisation Study in the Celtic Deeps area, well known prawn ground for many Breton boats.

Romantic touch

AIS trawl track left by beam trawler.

Ever the romantic, skipper Michael Nowell aboard the Louisa N was, like many fishermen the world over, at sea over Valentine's Day has sent this message home - in the shape of their dog it seems!

Trawl tracks on the seabed.

Image courtesy of Koen aboard the Cefas Endeavour.

Both blogs aboard the Cefas Endeavour are continuing to give an insight into the work of the research teams, especially the use of multi beam sonar. The image above is taken from a grey-scale rendering of the seabed showing clearly the tracks from a trawler working in the same area as the survey vessel.


This post immediately attracted a comment: This image actually goes to show just how little of the seabed is touched by the trawlers. We simply do not have enough trawlers left in the EU fleet to cause the widespread impacts alleged by eNGOs!


It would be useful to have an indication of scale on the image - given the stability of the track scribed on the sea bed these tracks are those of a beam trawler - nicknamed a chain-harrow gang by some - but then why does a farmer use a chain harrow over his fields?


From the web site Master Farm Services:

Reasons for harrowing? Several reasons for harrowing are listed below: 

- Pasture renovation; breaking up & levelling heavy soil. 

- Root aeration; for better water infiltration & growth. 

- Works in fertiliser to both spread & maximise effectiveness. 

- Surface levelling in equestrian centres, race tracks & running tracks. 

- Stimulates growth by aerating & loosening thatch.

Not often we turn to our land-based welly-booteed cousins for help! 

Friday finds a fishy market full of fish!

A more esoteric shop window on Penzance seafront.........

booted and suited on the market........

where white meets black.......

or just plain black........

it's that time of year when the roes begin to appear in big white fish like cod and pollock.......

just a smattering of mackerel up for auction this morning........

and a handful of extra large (for Newlyn) cod.......

alien-like apparition in the harbour, another job for the boys........

she's looking good, a new punt waiting to hit the water.......

fish move fast when there's lots of it.........

the trail -blazers leave their mark thanks to the ink from the cuttles.......

best time of year for those fat looking lemon soles from the Imogen II and the Harvest Reaper............

the permanently fixed no parking cones that appeared a few weeks ago are certainly proving effective - so is the knock-on effect on local traders who want to know where people who normally stop for just a few minutes to shop can park without having to pay in the car park or risk being clamped - in the name of community spirit?