Sailing by - RV Celtic Explorer

On passgage from her base in the Cork, the Irish Fisheries Research vessel steams past Land's End and then the Lizard. There are one or two ex-fishewrmen aboard the vessel who must have felt twinges of homesickness as the towering cliffs of Land's End and the familiar flash of the Longships lighthouse greeted them during the night!

Council deal on fisheries fund criticised for boosting overfishing

Updated: 2012-10-29, 17:48 Fisheries ministers have reached a provisional agreement on the future fisheries subsidies scheme, reintroducing controversial modernisation subsidies.

Hurricane force winds like Sandy? - we get them here too they're just not called hurricanes!

Just as well this sort of depression doesn't hit the coast here too often - Hurricane Sandy's got nothing on this low which hit the west coast of the UK on the 9th January 1993 as seen in the surface analysis chart...

it was predicted to go much lower within 48 hours as this printout from the Fleet and Oceanographic Centre at Northwood shows...

luckily it never hit 911 - note the extreme winds given around the centre of the low.

Sandy's on her way!

What the US gets today we get in a few day's time! Hurricane Sandy looks set to cause chaos and possible severe damage to the east coast of the US in the New York area if she goes ashore as predicted.

Hurricane Sandy image courtesy of NASA.

Potentially the biggest storm for over 20 years will eventually travers the Atlantic as all hurricanes do and hit the west coast of the UK - normally having lost the bulk of its destructive power.

Google have extended its mapping technology to include this crisis map in an attempt to keep the US informed at all levels.

How does Sandy measure up in the statistics league? The Guardian rates her features against the norms.

Get your ideas to the FLAG in Newlyn - Flying the FLAG for Cornwall & Isles of Scilly

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG)
 

Flying the FLAG for Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Over £1.13 million of European Fisheries Fund (EFF) money has been secured to support the sustainable development of fishing communities in Cornwall & Isles of Scilly. The funding has been made available from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) and DEFRA through the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), and is managed locally by Cornwall Development Company (CDC). It will be used by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) to maximise available private investment to build a sustainable future for local fisheries communities. The FLAG area extends along the entire Cornish and Isles of Scilly coast, plus approximately 1 mile inland. The fund will be available for projects to bid into for investment up to a maximum of 100% of total project costs, depending on the project activity and proposed outcomes. The decision making board will comprise of representation from the local community including fishing, private, public and voluntary sector organisations. The FLAG would like to hear from projects that will contribute to one or more of the following key themes: Developing sustainable supply chains and market development Providing infrastructure and communal facilities for fishing communities and cooperatives Capacity building, cooperative development and networking Training, retention and recruitment including diversification Coastal communities, tourism and economic development Advocacy and engagement for fishermen Regional sustainable management engagement Projects will have an on-the-ground support mechanism available to them from Cornwall Rural Community Council to aid development and help through the application process. The FLAG recognises that whilst the industry landed over £27m worth of catch last year, the changes it continues to face mean these communities, their residents and workers need a boost to support their well-being. Suzanne Bond, Chief Executive of Cornwall Development Company, says “This fund recognises the importance of fisheries communities in Cornwall & Isles of Scilly. Driving forward the local economy is at the heart of CDC’s mission and the FLAG offers the means to invest in sustainable development at the community level.” Alison Thompson, Director for the Marine Management Organisation said “I’m pleased that, through this scheme the MMO is providing support to local fishing communities, such as in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, to develop and implement their own sustainable solutions to the challenges they face. “The FLAG involves a wide range of representatives and we believe their combined knowledge, experience and ideas could make a real difference to the future of the local fisheries sector. This is reflected in the significant amount of funding awarded to them.” Paul Trebilcock, Chief Executive, Cornish Fish Producers Organisation said “The involvement of the Cornish & Scillies fishing community in shaping the FLAG means that the benefits of the fund will have a real impact locally, regardless of the size of the project”. Peter Jefferson Chief Executive of Cornwall Rural Community Council commented “This funding is a real opportunity for Cornish coastal communities to develop projects that will enable them to become vibrant, sustainable and inclusive, which is our aim as a charity”. How to apply for funding: This is the FLAG Delivery Plan for this year. It sets out how the FLAG plans to deliver the Strategy and shows where and how the investment is intended to be used. A good tip for potential projects is to check how what you are intending to do, fits with the Delivery Plan. It is also a good idea to discuss this with the Animateur as they will be able to help you identify what areas of the delivery plan your project targets. Please read the FLAG Guidance Notes below. There is a three stage application process. The Project Idea Form enables the Animateur to provide feedback; the Expression of Interest will provide the Board with an outline of your project. If that is approved, you will be invited to make a full project application, which will contain evidence of need or demand, risk assessment, cash flow forecasts etc. The FLAG board meets once every 2 months to consider projects so you should consider your project's timescales in line with this. The FLAG cannot pay for any work or defrayed money that has occurred before approval has been given.

Busy markets with top quality fish in Newlyn and Penzance Farmer's Market.

Friday's market had more than its fair share of top quality inshore fish to tempt the buyers this morning, like these red mullet...

irresistible bass...

with just enough...

to go round...

the big Padstow netter, Charisma had a solid trip with plenty of white fish like these pollack...

stretched the length of the western end of the market...

and including plenty of those ultra scarce cod...

the relief boat for the Penlee boat, Ivan Ellen which is due for a bottom job on the slip...

it's Friday so it must be Penzance Farmer's market...

someone, somewhere has cold hands this morning.

January to September figures just released for French fishing ports

Trawl fish on the market at Loctudy, Brittany.

There's a chance to compare the price of fish across almost a full year from all the major French fishing ports as France AgriMer release their latest round of data sets. See their web site for a full set of downloadable documents here: