Fish provenance poll - results so far

The question was:

Is where the fish you buy comes from a significant influencing factor?

After a couple of days and 34 people kindly entering into the spirit of the first Through the Gaps straw poll the result would appear to be a resounding success. Take heart ye bass boys, the tuna boys annd the boys aboard the Ajax, people out there really are keen to know where their fish has come from.

Fishy Friday's fishy fought for the day

The Fisherman

 

One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish.

About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family.

"You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman to the fisherman, "you should be working rather than lying on the beach!"

The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, "And what will my reward be?"

"Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!" was the businessman's answer.

"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling.

The businessman replied, "You will make money and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!"

"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again.

The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman's questions. "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!" he said.

"And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman.

The businessman was getting angry. "Don't you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!"

Once again the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?"

The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, "Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!"

The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "And what do you think I'm doing right now?"

European Artisanal Fishermen's Congress - 2012 - a declaration.

 

Just published on the back of the small-scale fishers conference in Brussels. It would be helpful and worthwhile knowing what groups and organisations are behind this?

 

Marai Damanaki had this to say:

 

Commissioner Maria Damanaki has met today with representatives of artisanal fishermen. The meeting followed the adoption of a common European Artisanal Fishermen’s Declaration last Sunday at the European Artisanal Fishermen Congress. The Declaration asks EU decision-makers to restore the health of our seas in Europe and the rest of the world, to bring the number of fishing vessels in line with available fish stocks, to end harmful subsidies and to grant the right to fish to those who fish sustainably.

Commissioner Damanaki welcomed the main points of the Declaration and emphasized the special socio-economic role artisanal fishermen play in the EU. She encouraged representatives of artisanal fishermen to have their voices heard in the decision-making process, in particular during the ongoing negotiations on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.



Blown in

Not the best looking weather chart for the boats working in the Western Approaches.

Top notch hake filled the western end of the market this morning, with the result of four days of graft for the boys aboard the Ajax who have had to endure some pretty the terrible weather which would have made just staying on their feet hard work...

they even landed a few boxes of scad...

the voracious fish that is the hake...

the cuttles are all over the ground at the moment for the beamers...

a group of keen culinary customers from Rick Stein's Seafood School get the benefit of Lionel's in-depth knowledge of the local fish being landed to the market, seeing here a big tub gurnard...

buying and selling power...

some of these marvellous monk tails may well be on the menu for the seafood school later...

not the best of mornings.

Does where your fish come from matter?

Perhaps storm 10 later

Here's the latest blog post from skipper Alan aboard the Ajax - sounds like they will be glad to get their feet ashore tonight after a tough few days of poor weather. Though doubtless the boys aboard the Govenek of Ladram and the Sparkling Line who are fishing alongside over 100 miles west of Land's End will wish they could swap places!


We glad to be on the way home today, we have had a few very poor days of
weather 6-8..9s at times most of the trip.

They are giving up to force 10 tonight for our fishing area and off Lands End by night time.

Gale warnings - Issued: 0340 UTC Wed 21 Nov

Southerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Shipping Forecast - Issued: 1130 UTC Wed 21 Nov

Wind

Southwest 5 or 6, backing south 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later.

Sea State

Rough or very rough.

Weather

Rain or squally showers.

Visibility

Good, occasionally poor.

The Sparkling Line arrived on the fishing grounds this morning and the Govenek of Ladram is hauling hake gear there today..

We have only been working half our nets this trip cause of weather and not wwanting to leave nets down to long , fishing has been ok really. We have 115bxs hake 23bxs Pollock 12bxs Saithe and 8 mixed fish on Newlyn market in the morning Thursday.....take care Alan

Pollack boards

News from the Ajax:

AjaxAH32 @Hookandlines we've got pollock boards on board this week, first trip we've used them....

An example of a Pollack board and the catch