NOAA - a Teacher at Sea programme

It's not only Cefas that has joined the world of openness and fisheries research. The NOAA, our American Oceanic research fellows have a fantastic programme whereby a teacher from anywhere in the US is nominated to join every research trip. Maybe Cefas could run a similar programme in the UK aboard the Cefas Endeavour? Though there's a good chance that many fishermen would feel the industry best served if it was Politician at Sea programme! 

Here's the final entry from American teacher Kaitlin Bird who was lucky enough to be selected for a trip aboard the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow. 

"Last but NOT least, Did you know? According to the Guiness Book of World Records the American Lobster has been known to reach lengths over 3 ft (0.91 m) and weigh as much as 44 lb (20 kg) or more. This makes it the heaviest marine crustacean in the world! This one was pretty large!!

A big farewell to everyone on the Henry B. Bigelow! 

Thanks so much, I had a great time and learned a lot! Thanks for reading!

Coquilles St Jacques salvos of shells, scallop shells expended in a battle of words and rocks at sea on Monday.

The VesselTracker AIS gives a good indication of the small fleet of scallop dredgers still working in the area of the protests earlier this week.





Here's a French version of events (TV France3) in the Bay of Normandy earlier this week as French trawlers clashed with English and some big Scottish scallop fishing boats - the text below is Google's, hence the occasional odd trurn of phrase!

Forty fishing boats Lower Normandy decided to go to sea to meet the English vessels fishing off the Bay of Seine.

The explanation was verbal but muscular. French and British boats at sea deadweight Norman boats have this morning heading for the English ships, the ships that they would never see in their fishing area. For several weeks, the situation is tense between the shell fishermen of both countries. Lower Normandy fishermen have decided to take action and not wait until the situation is resolved in offices. A good forty French ships went to sea, off Ouistreham, to meet a dozen English and Scottish vessels.

Very quickly, the situation is tense invectives, bird names, obscene gestures. Fortunately, the battle was averted.  Fishermen on both sides were even able to speak more quiet boarding a boat. After two hours, the Norman fishermen are gone, but still angry, and with the feeling of being humiliated. Some have decided to return to fight with the English ... It is "ras-le-bol total," explained the French fishermen, who see in their eyes their "resources plundered" by the British. While they are working hard to preserve the resource, meet quotas and fishing dates.

Here's another view courtesy of the BBC from the skipper of the Vertouwen, a large Scottish scallop dredger.

A Scottish shellfish supplier has described how one of his boats was attacked by French fishermen. Andy Scott, of Dumfries-based Scott Trawlers, said the crew of the scallop boat Vertrouwen had feared for its safety during the incident.

He said it was attacked in the Bay de Seine, where it was permitted to fish. He said three French fishermen eventually boarded his vessel but the skipper had been able to satisfy them he was legally entitled to fish there.

Mr Scott said he would be looking for British Navy support after the Monday morning incident which reportedly involved a number of British boats. "About seven vessels came into very close quarters with the Vertrouwen and tried to stop it fishing," he said. "It tried to continue fishing at which time the French vessels started to attack with catapults, stones and nuts and bolts. "The crew feared for their safety, they feared that the wheelhouse windows were going to be broken."

He said the number of French boats then increased to about 30 and they tried to throw ropes and nets to snare the propeller on the Vertrouwen. Mr Scott sent another of his own boats and another Scottish vessel to "lend support" to the vessel. At that point three French fishermen boarded the Vertrouwen and spoke to the skipper. "He was able to satisfy them that he was legally entitled to fish there," said Mr Scott.

The Marine Management Organisation said the Vertrouwen was one of a number of UK vessels in the area at the time. A spokesperson said: "As soon as we were made aware of the situation we contacted the French authorities and encouraged them to intervene. "They did and are continuing to deal with this matter. "We are continuing high-level negotiations with our French counterparts to seek assurances that these issues will not recur."

This article in the Sun gets closer to the nub of the conflict - the French have a voluntary closed season for scallops in the area which starts on October the 1st - which is not recognised by vessels from the UK.

From the Sun:

A CLASH between British and French fishermen in the Channel over scallop beds has led to peace talks between marine officials.

Brit Anton Bailey told how his boat was attacked by a rival French vessel in a dispute over the lucrative scallop beds. The fisherman told how he was surrounded by a number of French fishing boats in international waters off the coast of Le Havre, northern France. He described how crew members pelted his boat with rocks, fired flares at it and even tried to ram it. Anton said: “They were just trying to stop us from our fishing activity. “They were shooting flares at other vessels, every underhanded thing you could think of. Then they threw rocks at us and tried to ram us. “I have never seen this before and I have been at sea 20 years.” A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokeswoman confirmed an incident had been reported. She said: “We contacted the French Coastguard who sent a French patrol vessel to the area to monitor the situation, which we now believe has been resolved.” The spokeswoman said the agency had received no further reports of trouble since the incident on Monday. Jim Portus, from the South Western Fish Producers Organisation, said it was not the first time such an attack had happened in the waters where British and French fishermen fish for scallops. He said: “The French have a self-imposed closed season for the five months ending on 1 October. “Their fishermen weren’t exploiting the beds over the summer, but the British fishermen were this summer and have done in the past. Irish boats do too. It causes friction.” The Marine Management Organisation confirmed that, at the time, a number of UK vessels were in an area where they were allowed to fish. It said a large number of French vessels were close by.

Archie Donaldson - Admiral Gordon skipper

Archie, the ever popular skipper of the Admiral Gordon has died following a heart attack shortly after leaving the boat to go ashore in Torquay. 

Apart from that warm smile, his Facebook page says little, simply revealing him as being "interested in women".

Guaranteed to put a smile on your face within seconds of being in his company, Archie will be missed by a fishing community now without one of its most endearing characters.

Mostly top quality day boat fish on the market this morning

There's a buzz amongst the buyers on the auction floor with half a dozen landings of the brightest, freshest Cornish fish from a handful of day boats....

with a smattering of shellfish...

good haddock from the Elisabeth Veronique and the new Imogen II...

delightful Dovers from the Billy Rowney...

rotund ray...

red red gurnard...

and a shot of line caught pollack from the Sea Spray.  All photos courtesy of an iPhone 3G this morning.

After 3100 miles Wayne Davey is knocked of his bike with 27 miles to go!

A Penzance man and former Pirates hooker who was taking part in one of the world's toughest cycling challenges narrowly missed out on finishing after being hit by a bus.

Wayne Davey, 34, a paramedic, who works with 771 squadron at RNAS Culdrose, was part of a four man team attempting a mammoth 3100 mile ride across the USA for charity when he was hit by a school bus just 65 miles from the finish line at Times Square, New York on Wednesday.

After his brush with a bus, Wayne Davey was posted on Twitter, barely able to grasp a pint of Guiness!

Wayne broke his arm and shoulder blade in the crash but said it was "insignificant" compared to what could have happened.

Mr Davey said: "It's pretty close to the finish, but we've had a chat about it and I was pretty close to going under the back wheels of the bus, so the injuries that I've sustained are pretty insignificant to what could have happened." Justin Morgan, a Royal Marine at RNAS Culdrose who was also part of the group, which set off on 24 September, witnessed the incident. He said: "We were overtaken by a school bus which made an immediate right turn and basically rode straight over Wayne."

Shortly after the crash outside of New York, Justin Tweeted: "The trip is over for me and Wayne! Wayne is currently in hospital after being hit by a bus! Broken shoulder but ok." Following the accident comments have been flooding in from well-wishers concerned about Wayne. Kim Hopkins, who lives on Bryher tweeted: "?@Bryher_Kim @3100miles so sad for wayne, hope he isnt hurt too badly! hope the rest of you make it there safe and sound! not far now!"

Since then the team have posted a picture on Twitter captioned: "Wayne with his clipped wing and pain relief!!" Showing the cyclist's arm in a sling but holding a pint of Guinness.

Wayne is no stranger to tough challenges. In 2008 he was part of a team that attempted to break a 3,200-mile, 55-day rowing record from New York to the Isles of Scilly. The Scilly Boys capsized in stormy weather 650 miles off the US coast and had to wait eight hours before being rescued by an oil tanker The remaining members of the cycling team, Ben Carthey and John Williams have now completed the 3,100-mile (5,000km) route, which started in San Diego. 

They were aiming to complete the gruelling challenge in to raise money for Cornwall Air Ambulance and two other Cornish charities – Children's Hospice South West and The Royal Marines Benevolent Fund.
Follow the team's progress on Twitter @3100miles or visit the website at www.3100miles.co.uk.

Story courtesy of the Cornishman and ThisisCornwall.

Penlee lifeboat out on a middle of the night shout - tow job

@coastguard_sos We would like to thank Falmouth CG, St Marys Lifeboat @penleelifeboat and the FV Sparkling Line in assisting our tow today

The yacht involved was becalmed in very poor visibility and concerned for their safety being in the middle of a very busy shipping lane for traffic bound between the Lizard and Land's end.

IFCA - protecting the marine environment around the Cornish coastline

Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority is staging a series of 12 fishing meetings during October and November to look at ways of protecting the marine environment around the Cornish coastline. The Authority is responsible for managing fishing activities within the six mile limit around the coast of Cornwall, including in the inshore marine protected sites (MPA’s ) around the coast.

As part of this process it wants to harness the enthusiasm and wide experience of individuals and organisations that have an interest in the fisheries. The aim of the meetings is to consider future management options for MPAs). The meetings are being held in ‘workshop format’ to inform, exchange and gather information with commercial fishermen, recreational sea anglers, divers and other sea users.

Meetings have already been held in Mevagisisey and Falmouth, with further meetings due to take place in Hayle, Newquay, Sennen, Millbrook, Port Isaac, Padstow, Newlyn, Cadgwith, St Ives and Looe.

The schedule for the meetings, all of which start at 7pm, are:

*HAYLE Wednesday 10 October at Hayle Community Centre

*NEWQUAY Friday 12 October at Newquay Rowing Club

*SENNEN Wednesday 17 October at Sennen Community Hall

*MILLBROOK Monday 29 October at Millbrook AFC

*PORT ISAAC Wednesday 31 October at Port Isaac Village Hall

*PADSTOW Friday 9 November at the National Lobster Hatchery

*NEWLYN Monday 12 November at The Fishermen’s Mission

*CADGWITH Friday 16 November at the Pilot Gig Shed

*ST IVES Wednesday 21 November at the Shore Shelter Lodge *LOOE Friday 23 November at Looe Council Chamber