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Tuesday, 11 August 2015

Bound in and out through the gaps - #dontbelieveeverythingyousee




Hopefully those boxes have just missed Rob's head...


one in and one out...


one in...


maybe it's all just a dream though, for a minute I swear I saw the St Piran coming in through the gaps?

Fishing boats become citizen science data platforms

Fishermen in South Devon, UK, have turned their boats into "massive data platforms" for a citizen science study. They have become the first commercial fishers to gather data for the Secchi Disk Study, which is gathering data on the state of the oceans' phytoplankton.

To date, there is little scientific information on the health of the tiny marine plants that form the basis of global food chains. The data will also help fishermen manage stocks, a skipper told BBC News.

Skipper Alan Steer taking a secchi disk measurement (Image: Richard Kirby)

Fishermen like skipper Alan Steer recognise the importance of working alongside scientists "We've been working with scientists on-and-off for several years, doing studies on crabs and lobsters, migration patterns and it's been an easy progression to work with the Secchi disk to measure the plankton because nothing has really been done on the plankton," explained Alan Steer, a third generation fisherman and skipper of the Superb-Us.

"Understanding the plankton has a real relevance to what we do because it is the food source for everything in the sea." Mr Steer and other members of the South Devon and Channel Shellfishermen association have been collecting data for the Secchi Disk Study, a citizen science project.

Launched in 2014, the project allows sailors and fishermen to download an app to their smartphone that allows them to upload readings taken from their Secchi Disk.

The white disk measures 30cm (1ft) in diameter and is lowered into the water on the end of a tape measure. When it is no longer visible from the surface, the reading - known as the Secchi depth - is recorded.

Full story courtesy of the BBC Science & Environment.

Monday, 10 August 2015

After the deluge it's a mighty misty Monday!


Fish as far as the eye can see this morning on Newlyn market...


no shortage of John Dory...


thanks to the Dory king young Roger Nowell...


the boxes of the St Georges' megrims...


had to be stacked four high...


the reddest of gurnards...


trip number two for the ray men aboard the Danmark...


while the middle and western end of the market was full of hake from the Govenek...


and the Ajax amongst others...


with so much fish the market ran out of harbour boxes leaving the boats to use their own...


plenty of boats in this morning...


and plenty of leisure traffic weather bound...


though these hardy types on the yacht Lord Jim 2 have had to tie up alongside a fishing boat...


time for a gear change on the Crystal Sea ready for her paint up...


an hour or so before the Irene is due to sail...


fill 'er up!...


Daniel the tug is in port...


always innovative, those rubbish bags make excellent temporary viviers for the live shellfish on the beamer...


Chris Tacha looking smart in her new colours...


over the bow of the Irene...


still work to be done to put the AA's derrick back together...


so many yachts in town some have had to anchor outside the gaps - doable on a quiet night.

Sunday, 9 August 2015

Sunless- Sunday


A day on the scallops...


the Brit having to wait for a berth against the fish market...


Ajax hake Brixham bound by lorry...


keeping the wheels of fishing turning, greasing the gear on the beam trawler Algrie...


something is missing, well two things...


bound for a berth and a run ashore for the scalloper from Falmouth.

Fire up the BBQ! - Serene Dawn landing Cornish sardines in Nelwyn - HD video.


With the weather getting this year's sardine fishery off to a very patchy start it's good to see the boats making more regular landings of decent shots of fish. Here, Tom off the the Serene Dawn helps put around 9 tonnes ashore alongside the fish market in Newlyn. The fish are held in slush ice (water and ice mixed) in 600kg insulated tubs to maintain quality.

Friday, 7 August 2015

Newlyn Filmhouse will be at Newlyn Fish Festival!



Coming soon - a cinema near you. And coming sooner, Suzie and Alistair Sinclair of the Newlyn Film House will again be hosting Newlyn Fish Festival's "Fish Films in the Fridge". 


All day long, they will be showing film clips that will make you think about where our fish comes from and the dedicated people who work hard, often in perilous conditions, to deliver it to us.

In Cornwall? Don't forget it's #Newlyn Fish Festival on August Bank Holiday Monday!


This year's Newlyn Fish Festival promises a feast of fishiness for all fish fans of fish, fishing boats and fishermen! Come and see the fleet and enjoy the fantastic atmosphere of the port as it welcomes visitors, family and friends to show off the community that makes Newlyn the biggest and most important fishing port in the county.

With the sounds from two music stages on site the whole family can enjoy a close look at the port, the boats, the fishermen and fish merchants as they put on a display of fish fit for a king! There are plenty of fishing experts like the Dreckly Fish boys and Sue and Duncan Lewis from Passionate about Fish on hand to answer any fishy questions you might have on the day. You can even pick up your own traditional handmade lobster pot after seeing how they are made!

Children are fascinated about fish and can get to see and touch a fintastic selection - those who are fans of cooking fish can enjoy a morning of workshops from chefs like Ben Tunnicliffe and Fiona Were and a competition for the next Nathan Outlaw with student chefs from nearby Penwith College.

Follow @Newlynfish on Twitter of Facebook for the latest news of harbour, fish market events and up-to-date information.