Gales forecast and the Newlyn netters are bound away #EatMoreFish

First of the netters to get away this morning - dspite the poor forecast - the Ajax heads up the exit from Newlyn...

always a thoughtful moment for the skipper as the boat passes Through the Gaps and the trip begins in earnest...

the boys stow the fenders...

 and mooring ropes safely...

as the boat heads out into the Bay...

leaving the beamer fleet still tied up against the quay...

while the netters Ocean Pride and Silver Dawn race one another...

through the gaps...

and wind the power on...

a chance to make a quick call...

before settling down to the long steam ahead...

following close on the netter's heels the Ivan Ellen and IRB are...

out on an early exercise this morning...

making the most of the weather conditions

From gales in Cornwall to storms in Shetland

GUSTS WINDS - Windy says #Lerwick #Shetland just recorded a 95mph gust . . . . . . worse is still to come #Storm3 #ScotsStorm

— Windy Wilson (@WindyWilson88) January 10, 2015

The current weather systems courtesy of EarthNull show the main protagonist - an area of intense low pressure off the top of Scotland with the wind travelling in an anti-clockwise direction giving the hurricane force south westerly to westerly winds- while, unusually away to the west of the UK deep in the North Atlantic is a small(ish) area of high pressure - a bit of a renegade in meteorological terms as it is normally a huge area of high pressure that creates the 'North Atlantic blocking system' which forces successive lows coming across from the eastern seaboard of the US to travel north east across the ocean - giving the UK its familiar weather pattern of southwesterly - westerly winds that eventually go north west - only to start the cycle all over again as the next low hits arrives on our shores...

average wind speed from the weather buoy 64406 off the top of Scotland at 0700 today...

with the corresponding wave height data...

contrasted with the wind speed from the buoy at the Sevenstones off Land's End, Cornwall... 

looking ahead to the 14th when things don't look so good either!

Reliance BF800 heading for Peterhead in 50-60 knots of wind.

The Reliance tracked steaming in from east of the Shetlands yesterday - forced down to average under 7 knots owing to the big seas running on her way to Peterhead.

#EatMoreFish

A job for L.I.F.E.

L.I.F.E. is a recently formed european organisation established to represent the interests of the Low Impact Fishers of Europe. Its mission is to achieve conditions in which fishing is performed in a sustainable manner and small-scale low impact fishermen and women in Europe can maximise their social and economic viability.

L.I.F.E is setting up an office in Brussels and is seeking an experienced and highly motivated candidate to lead the Policy and Communications work in the demanding political environment of Brussels and also manage its EU office.

The main duties and responsibilities will involve working closely with and deputising for the Executive Director, contributing to and implementing the political and communications strategy of L.I..F.E, building the profile of the organisation in Brussels, liaising with EU Institutions and Media, advocacy on behalf of members, producing policy documents, political and media briefings and managing the office and staff.

The Deputy Director will report to the Executive Director.

The successful candidate will have:

• Proven experience of political advocacy and communications with the ability to identify political opportunities and achieve change.
• Knowledge of the EU Institutions and their working practices
• A clear understanding of the politics of fishing together with an equal understanding of marine environmental issues as they affect fishing and vice versa.
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• An academic qualification
• Proficiency in English and French;
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• Budgetary and staff management skills
• Willingness to work unsocial hours and travel as required

Employment conditions:

- Remuneration: between 50K€ and 60K€ annual gross salary depending on experience.
- Post to commence as soon as possible
- This is a fixed-term appointment for an initial period of one year
- Location: Brussels, Belgium

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your CV in English along with a covering letter to:  recruitment@lifeplatform.eu  A copy of the full job and person specification is available on request from the same e-mail address and has been posted on the LIFE Facebook page: Facebook page
CLOSING date for applications:  Sunday 11th January 2014

Wild and windy west of Scotland

With the depression being fed by warmer air from the south near the equator and cold air from alaska the west coast of Scotland has just been battered by the strongest winds recorded at Stornaway since 1970.

FFS it's #FishyFriday fisher folk! - apologies to #JayRayner1 who just hates alliteration

Two thirds of the beam trawl fleet blown back in for weather over the last 24 hours...

with only a few landings of day-haul fish from boats like the New Harmony...

though with the start of a new year and new quota allowances fish like ray are back on the market again - for the moment...

to keep the boats in the red...

unlike some of the harbour boxes suffering from an OD of cuttlefish ink...

name this #FishyFriday fish...

there's always a handful of big tubs with the beamers when they land...

fighting the inclement weather a handful of hardy punt men out in the time to fill their boots with mackerel...

and they should make good money as there won't be too many of these fish landed anywhere in the UK this morning!...

the intrepid Mission skipper Keith Dixon is at it again - this time he's on the road to Marrakech and running over 13 miles in the heat of west african sun - read how Keith's NHS daughter stitched him up in the name of family love and sponsor Keith in a good cause working for the benefit of all the fishing communities in Cornwall...

keeping things in the black...

but not as black as the mornings still are...

here in Newlyn as the transport are loaded with tons of those mysterious cuttles.

After she floats clear of her own accord - watch a 3D Dynamic Replay Of Höegh Osaka’s Grounding In The Solent

There are some interesting comments on this incident from other professional seafarers on the gCaptain web site.

Aerial footage of the grounded Hoegh Osaka on the Brambles Bank, near Cowes.

SRT Marine Technology, a UK-based AIS technology firm, was able to recreate the actual movements of the Höegh Osaka as she departed Southampton and eventually beached herself on Brambles Bank utilizing their GeoVS Dynamic 3D Viewer.