Welcome to Through the Gaps, the UK fishing industry's most comprehensive information and image resource. Newlyn is England's largest fish market and where over 50 species are regularly landed from handline, trawl, net, ring net and pot vessels including #MSC Certified #Hake, #Cornish Sardine, handlined bass, pollack and mackerel. Art work, graphics and digital fishing industry images available from stock or on commission.
The daffs were out in force this morning as a contingent of Celtic cousins from Wales hit town - members of the Cywain project whose aim is to foster, develop and market primary produce for the region...
and unlike last year's visit there was with a pretty full market compared to last year's when those appalling winter storms meant there were no fish on the market...
an opportunity to see some properr Corrnish fish, though milford Haven was a legendary hake fishing port back in the day...
and a few of the buyers just couldn't resist the opportunity for a little jollity...
while the bidding was keen...
with auctioneer Ian keeping the sale moving at a pace...
there were plenty of big white fish on the market...
and the visitors found out that Cfas regularly sample a huge number of fish on the market daily...
by recording size and taking otolith samples from selected species...
the visit will feature on both BBC Wales and South West TV this evening...
as Lionel gives the low down on how to skin the mighty meaty gurnard - the fishy party get to make a guided tour of Matthew Stevens fish factory over at St Ives before heading off to Padstow and a meal at a well-known restaurant with strong Newlyn links - no doubt Rick Steins will serve up a sumptuous fishy feast...
down the quay as the light breaks in the sky there is evidence of continued harbour development - the new meters installed putting an end to the free supply of electricity that the port has enjoyed since time immemorial...
adding to the cool ambient light of a March morning...
as some heavy clouds continue their journey eastwards...
many of the boats are still weather-bound...
but that doesn't stop the fuel arriving down the quay...
on its way to service the beamer fleet
the harbour wakes up...
not much fun on a building job at this time of year between hail showers!
March quotas for an under 10m boat on the south coast in ICES VIID: Quotas - sent out in an email last thing on Friday for March - 100 Kg - Plaice, 150 Kg - Cod, 750 Kg - Dover what's not there! This is the reaction of just one fisherman faced with the quoat allocation for March - along with a brief explanation about how much of each fish is on the grounds:
"Skate (whole weight) 250 Kg - we are getting paid about £1-£2 a kilo - so average will be a total of £375.
Sole - 750 Kg - just brilliant at present there is hardly anything on the ground! How many plaice are we going to trawl through to get that much sole! The ground is full of it, one tow 10 minute will get 100 Kg of plaice and about 3 soles. Plaice - 100 kilo - £1.10 per kilo - £110 Cod - 150 kilos - £1 a kilo- £150 Total - £635 predicted income This is not even enough to cover costs. I don't even know what to say I am totally speechless! Basically this month we can't even fish, this is a sheer disaster, you will probably bankrupt me and my husband this year, what a round of applause!"
The fishermen of North Devon who, like the boat above, rely an a single species for certain seasons suffered hugely as a result of the MMO quota cuts at the end of last year - seems we have made an early start this year to bankrupting more of the fleet! Watch the TV report below - which includes some commentary from Nina Shrank who led the Nutfa/Greenpeace Coastal Champs launch party on Saturday in Porthleven.
Greenpeace in association withNUTFA 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 underwhom 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.
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
