The answer is simple...
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| nice one Phil ;-) |
EAT THEM!
Monday 2 March 2015
Sunday 1 March 2015
Put Local Fishermen First - Coastal Champions' Tour 2015
Greenpeace in association with NUTFA have launched their Coastal Champions Tour from Porthleven by launching the Rising Tide which will carry their message to every key port in England and an action plan to:
- Give local, sustainable boats a fair share of quota
- Give low-impact fishing boats priority access to coastal waters (up to 12 nautical miles off land)
- Give low-impact fishing representatives a permanent seat at the table where EU-wide decisions on fishing are made
- Put marine protection measures in place in a way that benefits low-impact fishermen and coastal communities
- Reward selective fishing in order to restore fish stocks
At every port Greenpeace are inviting local MPs to sign up their support - as a result the launch party at Porthleven was attended by representatives from three local parties that included the Green Party's Tim Andrews whose manifesto on fishing makes for good reading - as does their plans for for Parliamentary reformation , Labour's St Ives candidate Cornelius Oliver and sitting Lib-Dem MP Andrew George - no sign of a representative from the Conservative party under whom Ted Heath signed away UK sovereign waters when we joined the then Common Market - and as a result were forced to sign up to the CFP (Common Fisheries Policy) which has served many of our inshore fishermen so badly.
NATIONAL RECRUITMENT DRIVE FOR #COASTGUARD #VOLUNTEERS
People living in coastal communities across the UK are being asked to get involved and make a difference by becoming Coastguard Rescue Officers.
Her Majesty's Coastguard is the emergency service responsible for coordinating maritime search and rescue in the UK. One rescue resource that can be called into action at any time, day or night, is a Coastguard Rescue Team.
Minister of State at the Department for Transport John Hayes MP, has launched the new recruitment campaign this morning for volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers at Humber Coastguard. The Minister unveiled the new campaign posters and welcomed three new recruits to the Withernsea and Hornsea Coastguard Rescue Teams.
There are 347 teams throughout the UK made up of over 3,500 volunteers but there are always vacancies. Currently there are over 300 vacancies across the UK including 80 in the East of the Country.
Coastguard rescue officers help rescue people trapped on the coast, be it on cliffs, stuck in mud or in the water and search for missing people. They report and deal with pollution and other hazards and help emergency services and local authorities during emergencies, for example flooding.
Minister of State at the Department for Transport John Hayes MP, said:
“The men and women in the Coastguard Rescue Service voluntarily dedicate themselves to keeping others safe and sound. They work around the clock to protect communities and people around our coastline and the seas which surround our island nation.
“I admire and thank all the highly skilled, courageous and hard working volunteers who devote their effort and expertise to providing this vital service.”
Head of Coastal Operations Charlie Ball said:
“Coastguard Rescue Officers are trained in first aid and a variety of rescue techniques, from water, mud, rope and cliff rescues, to search methods and assisting helicopter operations. Aside from giving your time to a worthy cause, volunteering has a number of key benefits for your career too. It can help you stand out from the crowd, learn practical skills, and will look great on your CV.
“If you’d like to join, we’ll ensure you have regular training, and all we ask in return is that you are situated within 20 minutes of the Coastguard base, and be available to respond at most times.” Notes to Editors To request copies of the artwork call Heather Skull in the MCA Press Office on 02380 329401
Her Majesty's Coastguard is the emergency service responsible for coordinating maritime search and rescue in the UK. One rescue resource that can be called into action at any time, day or night, is a Coastguard Rescue Team.
Minister of State at the Department for Transport John Hayes MP, has launched the new recruitment campaign this morning for volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers at Humber Coastguard. The Minister unveiled the new campaign posters and welcomed three new recruits to the Withernsea and Hornsea Coastguard Rescue Teams.
There are 347 teams throughout the UK made up of over 3,500 volunteers but there are always vacancies. Currently there are over 300 vacancies across the UK including 80 in the East of the Country.
Coastguard rescue officers help rescue people trapped on the coast, be it on cliffs, stuck in mud or in the water and search for missing people. They report and deal with pollution and other hazards and help emergency services and local authorities during emergencies, for example flooding.
Minister of State at the Department for Transport John Hayes MP, said:
“The men and women in the Coastguard Rescue Service voluntarily dedicate themselves to keeping others safe and sound. They work around the clock to protect communities and people around our coastline and the seas which surround our island nation.
“I admire and thank all the highly skilled, courageous and hard working volunteers who devote their effort and expertise to providing this vital service.”
Head of Coastal Operations Charlie Ball said:
“Coastguard Rescue Officers are trained in first aid and a variety of rescue techniques, from water, mud, rope and cliff rescues, to search methods and assisting helicopter operations. Aside from giving your time to a worthy cause, volunteering has a number of key benefits for your career too. It can help you stand out from the crowd, learn practical skills, and will look great on your CV.
“If you’d like to join, we’ll ensure you have regular training, and all we ask in return is that you are situated within 20 minutes of the Coastguard base, and be available to respond at most times.” Notes to Editors To request copies of the artwork call Heather Skull in the MCA Press Office on 02380 329401
Saturday 28 February 2015
Collaborative Approach To Fisheries #GAP2
This week saw a truly international gathering of speakers and attendees at the three day Gap2 Symposium in Barcelona. The symposium was to showcase of the work of an EU funded project addressing collaboration between the industry, policy makers and science.
One of the ironies of the fishing industry is that when it comes to work events like the Gap2 there are often very few fishermen in attendance. This is in no way a criticism - it simply reflects the fact that the vast majority of fishermen are unable and their working lives too precarious to be able to afford the luxury of attending events like Gap2 - where individuals and organisations, some representing fishermen - come together and influence directly or indirectly the future of the industry.
So it was great to see the work aboard the trawler Crsytal Sea II presented to the conference on Day 2 by skipper David Stevens in person!
It's always good to get feedback on any event so here are some initial post-conference thoughts from David:
The two video excerpts below cover the panel debate with the audience when David made his contribution.
One of the ironies of the fishing industry is that when it comes to work events like the Gap2 there are often very few fishermen in attendance. This is in no way a criticism - it simply reflects the fact that the vast majority of fishermen are unable and their working lives too precarious to be able to afford the luxury of attending events like Gap2 - where individuals and organisations, some representing fishermen - come together and influence directly or indirectly the future of the industry.
So it was great to see the work aboard the trawler Crsytal Sea II presented to the conference on Day 2 by skipper David Stevens in person!
It's always good to get feedback on any event so here are some initial post-conference thoughts from David:
"I have just returned from the @Gap2 conference in Barcelona, and I have spent the last 24 hrs going through my mind what I have learned from it.
The Gap2 was set up to promote Participatory research and co-management in fisheries. The symposium in Barcelona was the end of the project and was the meeting point for all the participants to show case the work that they had been involved in.
I got involved very late in the Gap2 project, we were asked to show the work that we had been doing with the CQT scheme, in partnership with the MMO and CEFAS. I was very pleased to be given a chance to go to the Gap2 as the work we have been involved with, mirrors what the Gap2 is about.
From our experience with the CQT scheme and the work we did last year, we have come to realise how vital it is for the industry to have real time data being continuously recorded and for that data to be interpreted and used quickly to help mange our fishery better.
The only way this works, is with the collaborative approach of all the agencies working together, our role was to collect and collate the data, this then went to the MMO who then interpreted the data and turned into something useful, then CEFAS validated the data and worked it into the science.
So I was more than happy to go to the conference and support this approach, It was really good to see the work that other fisherman were doing, that had the same collaborative approach and there was, a lot ideas sharing going on.
The UK was well represented with work also being undertaken by the south Devon crab fisherman and the Devon IFCA, there was also plenty of other presentations by other member states.
On the first day in the morning we had some presentations from country's outside of the EU, one was from the Canadian lobster fishery off Newfoundland and the other was from an Australian scientist from the east coast and pacific area.
Both of these presentations were great and they showed how when fisherman scientists and managers listened to each other, they could deliver far more sustainable fisheries.
I couldn't help feeling jealous as they talked of their approach and how the simple bottom up led approaches had really delivered the very much needed results. This was primarily down to communicating the problems they all faced and thinking around how to achieve the best results.
Another huge factor in their success over ours, was they only had one member state to deal with so the level of bureaucracy was far lower.
What I have learned from the Gap2, is that the UK is delivering a good route for real time data, and has the right equipment to achieve this, its just that at EU level this approach is not receiving the incentives that it requires for it too move up a level and deliver the greater coverage we need, for a more reactive fishery.
This work is important as we work towards the discards ban, we met with DEFRA yesterday and they came to Newlyn to discuss the implementation process. I was really pleased to hear how much they had listened to the industry, and that they were going to take a very pragmatic approach.
I am sure we will have our difficulties along the way, but DEFRA are looking at an incentive led approach which will reduce discards but maintain economical fisheries. This has come as a huge relief to us as an industry, as the discards ban at face value was causing a lot of anxiety, we will still encounter huge difficulties as we work towards 2019 but at UK member state level it seems they well understand the problems we face.
So for us facing the discard ban we need more real time data and more reactive science and policy at the EU level. This is going to be where we encounter the greatest problems. Particularly where member states differ on how to implement it, and for us down here in area 7 the huge issue of relative shares, how will the EU deal with this very large obstacle?
Gap2 has shown that fisherman are more than willing to participate in the collaborative approach and they have support at the local level of managers and scientists.
The technology we have at our disposal these days is mind blowing but it is under utilised and we have to ask ourselves why?
So before we all slap each other on the back and congratulate ourselves we have to remember that fisherman doing science is nothing new and we have known for a long time that this is the approach needed. Gap2 is an EU funded initiative and it has to be the policy makers and scientists at this level who learn the lessons from this. It's just a wonder that it has taken so long for the EU to realise this and they should take from this that we still have a long way to go, and it will be the policies from EU level that help drive this approach forward."
The two video excerpts below cover the panel debate with the audience when David made his contribution.
Friday 27 February 2015
Greenpeace on a mission to save sustainable fishing and fish stocks with tour starting at Porthleven
On a mission to save our local, sustainable fishing industry and fish stocks, Greenpeace and fishermen are undertaking a mammoth pre-election tour by sea. They will stop in twenty five ports in key marginal constituencies around the English and Welsh coast that hold the key to winning the upcoming general election.
With the New Under Tens Fishermen’s Association (NUTFA), Greenpeace will sail their fishing boat, the Rising Tide, to the ports where fishing has a proud history and are in constituencies that have been identified to be among the tightest election races in the country. The two month epic election tour will encompass over fifty constituencies to put pressure on candidates to become coastal champions.
The tour will launch from Porthleven in West Cornwall on Saturday where there will be a boat naming and flag raising ceremony. Both the events in Porthleven and Plymouth will combine a family friendly atmosphere with face painters, games and a photography exhibition of local fishermen from around the UK with the chance for people to ask questions of their MPs and candidates on the vital local issue of regenerating the local, sustainable fishing industry.
The Rising Tide will stop later in the week at the ports of Mevagissey and Looe. People will be able to attend evening public meetings where they can quiz their MP and candidates about whether their fishing policies will put local fishermen first. .
. Hannah Martin, Greenpeace campaigner said: “During the tour, hundreds of MPs and candidates will be invited to the events and pledge to become coastal champions. They will need to answer tough questions and convince voters that they will put local, sustainable fishermen first if they win the next election. Greenpeace will expose the MPs and candidates who fail to make the grade as this will clearly show the differences between the political parties on this vital local issue. These events are not to be missed, look out for the Rising Tide as we bring the election trail to the coast and force candidates to promise to put local fishermen first.”
Flags bearing the name of the port will be signed by the new coastal champions and will be flown on the Rising Tide throughout the tour. Everyone attending the events can sign bunting which by the end of the trip will reach over 300 meters long and will be covered in thousands of signatures. The tour will culminate just days before the election in the Fisheries Minister George Eustice’s constituency of Hayle. The campaigners are hoping that the Minister will respond to the breadth of support for the campaign from the public and cross party MPs and candidates as the government is failing to implement the Common Fisheries Policy in a way that benefits local fishermen and the environment.
Greenpeace launched the campaign ‘Our net gain’ in November last year with the shocking statistic that nearly half of the English quota is used by foreign industrial fishing corporations. While a meagre six per cent is given to local, low impact fishermen who fish sustainably and directly contribute to local economies. Greenpeace believes that through putting pressure in these key coastal battle grounds is a prime opportunity to force the next government to finally put local fishermen first in the queue for fishing quota.
Hannah Martin, Greenpeace campaigner said: “This is a huge effort to force the next government to end the historic neglect of local fishermen and fix a broken system which has led to the fishing quota ending up in the hands of foreign and industrial-scale fishing businesses. This has led to a crisis of the seas and coastal economies that can be turned around if enough MPs become coastal champions. The next government should implement new EU fishing law that says more fishing quota should be given to sustainable fishermen. That will create and protect jobs, inject cash into the economy and boost fish stocks.”
Greenpeace want to get as many politicians as possible to sign up as coastal champions - dedicated to promoting our five point action plan - in the run up to the general election: Give local, sustainable boats a fair share of quota Restore fish stocks by rewarding selective fishing methods Protect the ocean in a way that benefits local fishermen and coastal communities Give local, sustainable boats priority access to coastal waters Make sure small scale fishermen are represented at the highest level in Europe The tour will continue round the south coast stopping at Lyme Regis, Weymouth, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Brighton, Hastings and Ramsgate over the next few weeks. The tour will cover East Anglia, the North East, North West and Wales, before arriving back in Cornwall.
With the New Under Tens Fishermen’s Association (NUTFA), Greenpeace will sail their fishing boat, the Rising Tide, to the ports where fishing has a proud history and are in constituencies that have been identified to be among the tightest election races in the country. The two month epic election tour will encompass over fifty constituencies to put pressure on candidates to become coastal champions.
The tour will launch from Porthleven in West Cornwall on Saturday where there will be a boat naming and flag raising ceremony. Both the events in Porthleven and Plymouth will combine a family friendly atmosphere with face painters, games and a photography exhibition of local fishermen from around the UK with the chance for people to ask questions of their MPs and candidates on the vital local issue of regenerating the local, sustainable fishing industry.
The Rising Tide will stop later in the week at the ports of Mevagissey and Looe. People will be able to attend evening public meetings where they can quiz their MP and candidates about whether their fishing policies will put local fishermen first. .
. Hannah Martin, Greenpeace campaigner said: “During the tour, hundreds of MPs and candidates will be invited to the events and pledge to become coastal champions. They will need to answer tough questions and convince voters that they will put local, sustainable fishermen first if they win the next election. Greenpeace will expose the MPs and candidates who fail to make the grade as this will clearly show the differences between the political parties on this vital local issue. These events are not to be missed, look out for the Rising Tide as we bring the election trail to the coast and force candidates to promise to put local fishermen first.”
Flags bearing the name of the port will be signed by the new coastal champions and will be flown on the Rising Tide throughout the tour. Everyone attending the events can sign bunting which by the end of the trip will reach over 300 meters long and will be covered in thousands of signatures. The tour will culminate just days before the election in the Fisheries Minister George Eustice’s constituency of Hayle. The campaigners are hoping that the Minister will respond to the breadth of support for the campaign from the public and cross party MPs and candidates as the government is failing to implement the Common Fisheries Policy in a way that benefits local fishermen and the environment.
Greenpeace launched the campaign ‘Our net gain’ in November last year with the shocking statistic that nearly half of the English quota is used by foreign industrial fishing corporations. While a meagre six per cent is given to local, low impact fishermen who fish sustainably and directly contribute to local economies. Greenpeace believes that through putting pressure in these key coastal battle grounds is a prime opportunity to force the next government to finally put local fishermen first in the queue for fishing quota.
Hannah Martin, Greenpeace campaigner said: “This is a huge effort to force the next government to end the historic neglect of local fishermen and fix a broken system which has led to the fishing quota ending up in the hands of foreign and industrial-scale fishing businesses. This has led to a crisis of the seas and coastal economies that can be turned around if enough MPs become coastal champions. The next government should implement new EU fishing law that says more fishing quota should be given to sustainable fishermen. That will create and protect jobs, inject cash into the economy and boost fish stocks.”
Greenpeace want to get as many politicians as possible to sign up as coastal champions - dedicated to promoting our five point action plan - in the run up to the general election: Give local, sustainable boats a fair share of quota Restore fish stocks by rewarding selective fishing methods Protect the ocean in a way that benefits local fishermen and coastal communities Give local, sustainable boats priority access to coastal waters Make sure small scale fishermen are represented at the highest level in Europe The tour will continue round the south coast stopping at Lyme Regis, Weymouth, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Brighton, Hastings and Ramsgate over the next few weeks. The tour will cover East Anglia, the North East, North West and Wales, before arriving back in Cornwall.
Generous fishermen's friends' make a £2.5 million investment in Fleetwood Fish Park!
Prime Minister David Cameron has today announced that £2.5m from the Regional Growth Fund has been allocated to Fleetwood Fish Park.
A bid was made by Reform Energy with a plan to develop land in Fleetwood into a fish park and create an innovative energy recovery plant adjacent to the park.
The announcement follows a visit to the area by Communities and Local Government Minister Penny Mordaunt MP last week at the request of Eric Ollerenshaw, MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood. During the visit, she acknowledged the potential of the project and praised the passion of local people to make it work.
Councillor Peter Gibson, Leader of Wyre Council, said: "I would like to thank Eric for all his hard work in making this come about and the Minister for coming to Fleetwood and recognising the potential that can be released with a fish park. I would also like to thank the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership for their support in this bid." Councillor Pete Murphy, Cabinet member with responsibility for economic development at Wyre Council, added: "This is fantastic news, not just for Fleetwood but the whole borough. It's not just about a fish park though. There will be jobs created at the energy plant, in construction and possibly new retail and housing. It will have a massive positive impact with long term benefits."
Eric Ollerenshaw MP said: "I am absolutely delighted that the Fleetwood Fish Park project has been allocated £2.5m. My thanks to the Prime Minister and to Penny Mordaunt MP who visited Fleetwood to see the site last week.
"The idea of regenerating Fleetwood and the fish processing industry with a fish park has been around for a while. I am really proud to have played my part in getting this money on the table to finally get this project started and my thanks to Reform Energy and Wyre Council for their work in supporting and designing this successful bid. This is another vote of confidence in the future of our town."
The Regional Growth Fund supports projects that also raise private sector investment to create economic growth and employment. The funding will be used to create a fish park on land at the docks, creating new accommodation for existing fish processing businesses and expanding the industry.
Plastic film manufacturing firm Victrex, based at Hillhouse International Business Park in Thornton, was also successful in a £2.5m bid for a world class research and development high performance polymer innovation centre. It will undertake industrial and experimental research of new products and markets, triggering the next phase of business growth and creating 64 high quality new jobs. Main activities will be the construction of the innovation centre (approx 18 months) followed by the execution of a portfolio of research projects, scaling up new products to full production and commercialisation.
Garry Payne, Chief Executive at Wyre Council, said: "I am delighted that both Regional Growth Fund bids have been approved which supports our ongoing growth agenda and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership for their continued support".
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| Fleetwood, well past its heyday even in 1988 |
Councillor Peter Gibson, Leader of Wyre Council, said: "I would like to thank Eric for all his hard work in making this come about and the Minister for coming to Fleetwood and recognising the potential that can be released with a fish park. I would also like to thank the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership for their support in this bid." Councillor Pete Murphy, Cabinet member with responsibility for economic development at Wyre Council, added: "This is fantastic news, not just for Fleetwood but the whole borough. It's not just about a fish park though. There will be jobs created at the energy plant, in construction and possibly new retail and housing. It will have a massive positive impact with long term benefits."
Eric Ollerenshaw MP said: "I am absolutely delighted that the Fleetwood Fish Park project has been allocated £2.5m. My thanks to the Prime Minister and to Penny Mordaunt MP who visited Fleetwood to see the site last week.
"The idea of regenerating Fleetwood and the fish processing industry with a fish park has been around for a while. I am really proud to have played my part in getting this money on the table to finally get this project started and my thanks to Reform Energy and Wyre Council for their work in supporting and designing this successful bid. This is another vote of confidence in the future of our town."
The Regional Growth Fund supports projects that also raise private sector investment to create economic growth and employment. The funding will be used to create a fish park on land at the docks, creating new accommodation for existing fish processing businesses and expanding the industry.
Plastic film manufacturing firm Victrex, based at Hillhouse International Business Park in Thornton, was also successful in a £2.5m bid for a world class research and development high performance polymer innovation centre. It will undertake industrial and experimental research of new products and markets, triggering the next phase of business growth and creating 64 high quality new jobs. Main activities will be the construction of the innovation centre (approx 18 months) followed by the execution of a portfolio of research projects, scaling up new products to full production and commercialisation.
Garry Payne, Chief Executive at Wyre Council, said: "I am delighted that both Regional Growth Fund bids have been approved which supports our ongoing growth agenda and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership for their continued support".
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