Sponge Bob square crab

Photo courtesy of Anthony Mcclary.

This strange looking crab was caught about 8 miles off St Ives by local fisherman, Anthony Mcclary.  Thought to be a sponge crab - the unusual beast was returned to see the sea another day!

Would an EU ban on fish discards be effective?

Andrew George talks to reporter Julie Scantlebury and Fisheries Mnister Richard Benyon talks cod and discards on BBC Radio Cornwall's breakfast show with James Churchfield. After an early morning start and a tour of the market the minister was due to meet with fishermen in the Mission at Newlyn.

Top of the agenda is cod, cod quota and discards - in the wake of a group of MPs most recent decision regarding discards - see Hugh's FishFight.


This visit follows last weeks publshed article in the Guardian follows the exchange in the House and received many subsequent comments.

Would an EU ban on fish discards be effective?  The EU is proposing a ban on fish discards, but a group of MPs says this is a 'knee-jerk reaction'. Leo Hickman, with your help, investigates. 

Get in touch below the line, email your views to leo.hickman@guardian.co.uk or tweet @leohickman

Fisheries minister Richard Benyon in Newlyn today

Top of the agenda during Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon's visit to Newlyn today will be cod - the current quota is so small that many tonnes of cod are being dumped by boats unable to avoid catching cod. It is likely the Minister is going to short shrift from local fishermen very keen to see something done to end cod discards on such a large and wasteful scale. Many boats are capable of catching the quota in a day or even single haul!

Local Lib-Dem MP, Andrew George invited the minister to meet with representatives of the Under10m sector in particular. After visiting Newlyn Fish Market, a meeting with the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation and a period on board the IFCA Fisheries Protection vessel, the St Piran, Mr George will then welcome the Minister to a meeting with fishing industry representatives in the Fishermen’s Mission at Newlyn.

In the past well, known local fisherman 'Grimmy' Mike made his point to the then Fisheries Minister, Jonathan Shaw when the fish in question being dumped in huge quantities was haddock.

Monday's market is a black start to the week

Surprisingly slack market for a Monday morning with all but one of the bigger boats at sea........

not the best looking fish on the market this morning........

there's still a good run of cuttles colouring everything in near proximity.......

undergoing a refit, the big beamer's derricks are waiting on the quay to be fitted.......

mysteriously, the crabber Emma J has a wheelhouse again......... 

in the money, inshore mackerel are thin onthe ground these days........

as ever, the Imogen's fish look top quality.......

with the Sarah Beth making sure the buyers are aware his fish were taken yesterday.......

back to black.

BBC1 Countryfile tonight at 7pm - Cornish Sardines and more!

Filming the White Heather as she comes alongside the fish market to land sprats.

Don't forget to watch BBC One's Countryfile programme tonight and see chef Sanjay Kumar in action along presenter Jules Hudson aboard the Cornish Sardine boat White Heather with skipper Stefan and crew.

The Ajax AH32 has a brand new web site!

Local gill net fishing vessel, Ajax AH32 is seen here leaving Newlyn. She is bound away nearly two hundred miles west of Newlyn looking to fish for hake. Skipper Alan Dwan and his crew of 'binge worker' are all set for their fifth trip of the year.


The Ajax, like all net boats, is restricted to a limited number of days in the year at sea by virtue of the tide - she can't fish over the bigger spring tides. As of now you can follow the progress of the Ajax live on her web site - get to find out how she fishes, what she fishes for and get daily updates on daily hauls of fish.

'Mackerel war' background from Channel 4 news, August 2010

At the time this report on the impending 'mackerel war', Iceland were looking to join the EU. Today, despite polls in Iceland showin that over 50% of Icelanders do not want to join the process continues - with fishing and access to fish like mackerel potentially jeopardising entry.  This Channel 4 news clip highlights the one remaining fishery open to many of the big pelagic boats from Peterhead and Fraeserburgh - whom some, along with boats from the Shetlands, have been making the news recently for other reasons.

The talks continue to this day and are of much interest to mackerel fishermen in the South West as changes to quotas could, potentially, have a negative impact if previous intentions are carried out. After nearly three years of talk there is increasing frustration that the talks have so far failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion.