Nice one Jack! Well done England Triple Crown winners 2014 #6nations
Sunday 9 March 2014
Six crew rescued from a coaster by the #Lizardlifeboat
UPDATE: 10.15am - Coastguards have reportedly said there is no hope of salvaging the ship and its cargo, thought to be limestone. The vessel was registered to Barbados. The captain and his five crew members are all safe.
UPDATE: 9.15am - ALL six crew members are now aboard RNLI lifeboats. It has been confirmed that the cargo vessel is sinking.
UPDATE: 8.50am - IT is understood the ship is now sinking. The RNLI have confirmed that the crew members are being taken to safety. A spokeswoman tweeted: "The pumps are not able to cope and the crew are being taken off the vessel."
EARLIER: A SHIP carrying six crew members is in difficulty 11 miles off Lizard Point after its engine room flooded. RNLI lifeboat crews, coastguards and the search and rescue helicopter were called out to the scene at around 7.10am. It is understood that the pump, designed to carry water out of the engine room, failed on the 87-metre vessel. Other ships in the area have also been asked to assist, and are en route.
A spokeswoman for the RNLI said: “We are trying to help pump the vessel out. A number of other vessels are also making their way to the scene to see if they can assist.”
Read more: http://www.cornishguardian.co.uk/Ship-crew-trouble-Lizard-Point/story-20785493-detail/story.html#ixzz2vSb0j7gl
Saturday 8 March 2014
#ukstorms Financial help for fishermen!
The Government has announced further measures to help fishermen affected by the recent storms.
It pledged financial support under the European Fisheries Fund to reimburse up to 60% of the cost of replacing lost or damaged fishing gear such as lobster pots.
Lighthouse dues will be paid by the Government for a further year, saving the industry up to £140,000. Ministers had already announced fishermen will have access to the government's storm relief fund, including a £10 million package initially designed for farmers.
Industry leaders had warned that 4,000 fishermen and 2,000 vessels - chiefly in the South West – had been impacted by storms, with damage caused to everything from harbours to valuable fishing gear. The call for help was made by the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations when it met Fisheries Minister George Eustice in Newlyn, west Cornwall, last week.
Mr Eustice, also Conservative MP for Camborne and Redruth, said yesterday: "The appalling storms over the last few months have had a severe impact on fishing communities and we recognise that many fishermen have lost static gear such as lobster and crab pots. "I saw first-hand the damage to net gear during a recent visit to Newlyn. We have made this funding available to minimise the impact on their livelihoods and help them to get back on their feet as quickly as possible."
Paul Trebilcock, chairman of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and chief executive of the Newlyn-based Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, welcomed the announcement. He said: "It is a positive gesture, there's no doubt about that. I think it will be appreciated by those fishermen who have had such a difficult start to the year and have lost income and gear due to the unprecedented storms. "I'm pleased that the minister has listened to what we had to say about the effects of the storms on the industry."
In the House of Commons earlier this week, Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston, whose constituency includes the fishing port of Brixham, warned of the "desperate plight of fishermen" and that some faced bankruptcy. She said the help was "welcome news".
Read more: http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/Government-cash-pledged-pay-storm-damaged-fishing/story-20777939-detail/story.html#ixzz2vJ2jceyT
It pledged financial support under the European Fisheries Fund to reimburse up to 60% of the cost of replacing lost or damaged fishing gear such as lobster pots.
Lighthouse dues will be paid by the Government for a further year, saving the industry up to £140,000. Ministers had already announced fishermen will have access to the government's storm relief fund, including a £10 million package initially designed for farmers.
Industry leaders had warned that 4,000 fishermen and 2,000 vessels - chiefly in the South West – had been impacted by storms, with damage caused to everything from harbours to valuable fishing gear. The call for help was made by the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations when it met Fisheries Minister George Eustice in Newlyn, west Cornwall, last week.
Mr Eustice, also Conservative MP for Camborne and Redruth, said yesterday: "The appalling storms over the last few months have had a severe impact on fishing communities and we recognise that many fishermen have lost static gear such as lobster and crab pots. "I saw first-hand the damage to net gear during a recent visit to Newlyn. We have made this funding available to minimise the impact on their livelihoods and help them to get back on their feet as quickly as possible."
Paul Trebilcock, chairman of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and chief executive of the Newlyn-based Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, welcomed the announcement. He said: "It is a positive gesture, there's no doubt about that. I think it will be appreciated by those fishermen who have had such a difficult start to the year and have lost income and gear due to the unprecedented storms. "I'm pleased that the minister has listened to what we had to say about the effects of the storms on the industry."
In the House of Commons earlier this week, Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston, whose constituency includes the fishing port of Brixham, warned of the "desperate plight of fishermen" and that some faced bankruptcy. She said the help was "welcome news".
Read more: http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/Government-cash-pledged-pay-storm-damaged-fishing/story-20777939-detail/story.html#ixzz2vJ2jceyT
Friday 7 March 2014
Full on #FishtFriday means fish for supper #eatmorefish
Roe roe roe roe, roe the boat ashore...
gills - blood red - perfect...
one ugly conger...
which ray?...
red mullet - top quality and not so much top quality...
which fish...
eyes down...
Friday fish suppers ready to go...
clearing out the AA during her major refit...
not exactly sleek lines, a purposeful hull for serving the wind farms...
its the Billy ready for sea...
as is the Sapphire II with her gear aboard again - one main winch back in action...
that Brixham visitor...
and her boxes ready to go aboard...
for the next trip...
Newlyn tops the country for re-cycling gill nets...
can't beat them in the winter!
Thursday 6 March 2014
48% of fishermen do not think their job is dangerous - statistically, 94 deaths in 10 years make it the most dangerous UK profession.
An emotional safety at sea campaign, Sea You Home Safe, fronted by TV broadcaster and Fishermen's Apprentice, Monty Halls, is calling for the 12,000 fishermen across the UK to think about their safety before setting sail.
Research, launched today by Seafish, the industry authority on seafood, has shown that a quarter of fishermen have experienced a significant accident at sea where their life was at risk. Over half (52 per cent) of the fishermen surveyed agreed that their job was dangerous, yet only 25 per cent of fishermen said they regularly wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD).
The most recent annual figures show that there were 260 accidents involving UK fishing vessels with 44 serious injuries and six deaths. Ninety four fishermen have lost their lives in the past 10 years, making fishing the most dangerous peacetime profession.
Monty Halls said: "Fishermen are our last, true, hunter-gathers and the profession comes with inherent dangers. The research that Seafish conducted highlighted that UK fishermen know their work can be dangerous and they even acknowledged that their families worry about them whilst they're working. Yet a large number are not wearing the appropriate safety equipment.
"PFDs not only help to save lives but wearing the device will mean that, should the worst happen, a body can be recovered. If a body is not recovered a death certificate cannot be issued for seven years and this can cause additional stress to a bereaved family. The consequences are vast, from insurance not being paid, wills not being settled and bank accounts not able to be closed.
"If you were in a car, you would wear a seatbelt, the same should go for a PFD when you're at sea."
Simon Potten, Head of Safety, Training and Services at Seafish commented: "At Seafish, our purpose is to help secure a sustainable and profitable future for the UK seafood industry. The safety and welfare of its primary producers, the fishermen, is fundamental to this.
"Fishing safety is a concern and fatalities are unacceptable. A PFD can save a life and it is disappointing that such a high number of fishermen put themselves in additional danger by not using them."
Working closely with the fishing industry, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, the RNLI and the Fishermen's Mission, Seafish is backing a Fishing Industry Safety Group (FISG) initiative to promote the wearing of PFDs by fishermen.
FISG aims to ensure that every commercial fisherman in the UK is provided with a PFD. So far, around 7,000 fishermen in Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of England and Wales have benefitted from the initiative, with rollout to the remaining fishermen expected throughout 2014 and 2015.
For more information and to show your support for our fishermen's safety, please visit www.seafish.org
 |
| #Moneywhereyourmouthis - good to see Monty wearing his PFD when he took up fishing from Cadgwith two years ago! |
Research, launched today by Seafish, the industry authority on seafood, has shown that a quarter of fishermen have experienced a significant accident at sea where their life was at risk. Over half (52 per cent) of the fishermen surveyed agreed that their job was dangerous, yet only 25 per cent of fishermen said they regularly wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD).
The most recent annual figures show that there were 260 accidents involving UK fishing vessels with 44 serious injuries and six deaths. Ninety four fishermen have lost their lives in the past 10 years, making fishing the most dangerous peacetime profession.
Monty Halls said: "Fishermen are our last, true, hunter-gathers and the profession comes with inherent dangers. The research that Seafish conducted highlighted that UK fishermen know their work can be dangerous and they even acknowledged that their families worry about them whilst they're working. Yet a large number are not wearing the appropriate safety equipment.
"PFDs not only help to save lives but wearing the device will mean that, should the worst happen, a body can be recovered. If a body is not recovered a death certificate cannot be issued for seven years and this can cause additional stress to a bereaved family. The consequences are vast, from insurance not being paid, wills not being settled and bank accounts not able to be closed.
"If you were in a car, you would wear a seatbelt, the same should go for a PFD when you're at sea."
Simon Potten, Head of Safety, Training and Services at Seafish commented: "At Seafish, our purpose is to help secure a sustainable and profitable future for the UK seafood industry. The safety and welfare of its primary producers, the fishermen, is fundamental to this.
"Fishing safety is a concern and fatalities are unacceptable. A PFD can save a life and it is disappointing that such a high number of fishermen put themselves in additional danger by not using them."
Working closely with the fishing industry, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, the RNLI and the Fishermen's Mission, Seafish is backing a Fishing Industry Safety Group (FISG) initiative to promote the wearing of PFDs by fishermen.
FISG aims to ensure that every commercial fisherman in the UK is provided with a PFD. So far, around 7,000 fishermen in Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of England and Wales have benefitted from the initiative, with rollout to the remaining fishermen expected throughout 2014 and 2015.
For more information and to show your support for our fishermen's safety, please visit www.seafish.org
Wednesday 5 March 2014
Big boats = big hauls = big bucks
Now back under her old name, the Margiris (ex Abel Tasman) is now busy towing north east and south west off the coast of Donegal - she is rumoured to be targeting blue whiting. Keeping her company is another Dutch owned freeze trawler the Alida.
High seas need international police force, says former UK foreign secretary
David Miliband says bringing order to the high seas is critical to managing fish stocks and safeguarding food supply
The former UK foreign secretary and president of the New York-based International Rescue Committee, David Miliband, is urging the creation of a seagoing police force to bring order to the "wild west" free-for-all on the high seas that is damaging the health of the world's oceans.
Miliband and the former Costa Rican president, José María Figueres, who together serve as co-chairs of the Global Oceans Commission, will formally unveil their ideas for ocean reform in a report next June. But the two leaders have begun to sound out international reaction to a set of proposals for protecting oceans, from a crackdown on illegal fishing to a clean-up of the vast churn of plastic particles in the Pacific and expanding marine protection zones. The two men will preview their ideas at a high-level gathering in California on Tuesday organised by the Economist and National Geographic. Bringing order to the high seas is critical to managing existing fish stocks and safeguarding the world's food supply, Miliband said.
"The high seas are seriously undergoverned," Miliband, said in an interview. "There are parts of the high seas that are certainly anarchic. There are parts of the high seas that look too much like the wild west." The commission is understood to be in discussions with Interpol about the deployment of an international ocean-police force. Miliband said his vision of an ocean protection force would lean heavily on the deployment of new surveillance technologies to identify and track fishing vessels operating on the high seas, as well as their catch. "If you are to have an enforcement regime, it needs to be policed," Miliband said. But he cautioned: "It is not about having people in boats necessarily." Illegal fishing on the high seas is stripping oceans of fish stocks, and threatening a major food source for 1 billion people, mostly in the developing world.
Two-thirds of the fish taken on the high seas are from stocks that are already dangerous depleted – far more so than in those parts of the ocean that lie within 200 miles of the shore and are under direct national control. Estimates of the unreported and illegal catch on the high seas range between $10bn-$24bn a year, overwhelming government efforts to track or apprehend the illegal fishing boats. The illegal fishing makes it impossible for countries to manage sustainable fisheries and hurts responsible fishing crews.
Miliband said the commission was talking to the International Maritime Organisation about adopting new regulations to require all fishing vessels to be fitted with transponders.
The tracking devices would enable police forces to identify and track all vessels operating on the high seas, including those that venture illegally into marine protected zones or areas of depleted fish stocks. "We are talking about relatively small number of vessels doing a large amount of damage. In a situation where those vessels are not marked you are obviously inviting trouble," Miliband said. "Every fishing vessel should be identified." He said the enforcement effort, to be effective, must also extend to ports where fishing vessels land their catches. "The ultimate thing is that you track the individual fish from where it is caught to where it sold … The middle men, the retailers who buy from fishermen and sell to supermarkets are obviously key to this," Miliband said.
The coming years are expected to see growing competition for ocean resources – from offshore oil to seabed mining and prospecting for the global pharmaceutical industry. The laws governing the high seas – which make up 45% of the Earth's surface – have not kept pace with those economic developments, or with the new reality of climate change.
The authority over oceans is divided up between nearly 50 separate international and regional organisations – including about a dozen under the United Nations. UN agencies have pushed for years for a voluntary registry for high seas fishing boats as well as tougher sanctions for those that break the rules. But those efforts have failed to gain much traction.
Meanwhile, the threats facing oceans are being multiplied by climate change. Sea water sucks up the carbon dioxide emissions that are driving climate change, throwing the entire ocean chemistry off balance.
Up to 40% of the Arctic is now open water in the summer months, opening up potential new shipping lanes, offshore oil drilling, and commercial fishing – increasing the urgency for more effective governance of the oceans. "You could do everything that is necessary within the high seas but if you don't tackle climate change then you are still taking huge risk with the future of the oceans," Miliband said.
Courtesy of the Guardian.
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