Mid-week market in Newlyn.

The legacy lives on...

changing times, there are more visitors landed on the market this morning than local boats...

with the Lisa putting ashore a few boxes of scampi tails as the smallest size of monk tails are known...

while the prawn boats piled their haddock high...

there are a few good lemons still around...

and plenty of big monk tails with the beamer...

haddock and more haddock...

and a few of Roger's JDs have been caught up in the big prawn nets...

along with some sizeable plaice...

the hands...

that do the bidding...

and buying...

or wait patiently for a bargain...

all, eventually go down in Ian's little blue book...

the biggest red mullet on the market this morning...

no match for the quantity of megrim soles put ashore of course...

and more tails...

and even a handful of big JDs with the Twilight's broken trip...

work still to be completed on the Sapphire II up on the slip...

one French and one American flag-flying yacht in this morning...

time to Rejoice, well time for a major paint-up for the scalloper...

and even on a boat with a big working deck the number of paint tins soon adds up...

while across the quay the boys, a long way from home, set to with the deck wash...

and brushes scrubbing down the boat.

Cod at the heart of the North Sea debate over access post Brexit

Some fine Cornish cod.

The Financial Times talks about a "4th cod war" in a recent article:

"Thanks to sustained efforts by the EU and Scottish fishermen, North Sea cod has moved from the danger zone to relative abundance. The Marine Stewardship Council, an independent conservation group, is soon expected to declare the stock sustainable, allowing restaurants to serve it without guilt and capping an extraordinary comeback.

The cod’s recovery has taken place under a framework of international agreements that have divided the annual catch between Norway and the EU, with the latter share apportioned again among the group’s 28 member states. But British fishermen, among the most ardent of Brexiters, are demanding those agreements be torn up when the UK leaves the bloc. Many still fume that Edward Heath effectively handed over their fish when the-then prime minister negotiated the UK’s accession to the European Economic Community, the forerunner of the EU, in 1973.

Scottish fishermen, in particular, believe they are now entitled to a much larger share of North Sea cod, based on geography and the sacrifices they made to ensure the stock’s survival.

For the full article visit the FT website.

Monday morning in Newlyn

If it was warmer it would be muggy, but it isn't, so this morning it is mainly overcast and misty...

which does not affect the spirits of those inside the fish market participating in Monday morning's market with a mix of boats landing including another invisible netter with a huge trip or turbot...

the beamers landed their usual haul of megrim soles...

some heads, some tails...

and the Algrie had a good shot of Dover soles including these monsters...

while the Spirited Lady III managed a few John Dory...

and the Scottish prawner, Orion hit the haddock...

top cooking tip this morning - Saturday's St Ives Food & Drink Festival saw Mitch Tonks cook up a dish using octopus - and he explained that the species of octopus normally caught in North Atlantic waters - which have a single row of suckers as can be seen in this photo - are not suitable as, despite the efforts of many chefs, all have failed to produce a tender fleshed dish - the kind needed are those with multiple rows of suckers down their tentacles apparently...

at nearly 11kg this turbot is big enough to feed a wedding party...

a ten foot version of this would panic the most hardened swimmer...

red fish in red boxes...

good to see Cod's boat, Butts on fish tallies again...

named and dated, ray wings from team Curtiss...

pristine turbot from the mystery netter...

auctioneer Ian in full flow...

easy pickings, a good selection of paws this morning...

one punt for sale - see Boats for Sale...

come on you blues, by far the most popular colour for the Scottish fleet...

as the Bracoden pulls on her trawl again after a long night of mending...

just made it in at high water...

the transport waits for the prawns to come ashore.

St Ives Food & Drink Festival

The stunning location of Porthminster beach plays host to this year's St Ives Food & Drink festival...  

and a superb line up of Cornish chefs headed up by...

Nathan Outlaw,  with two stars,  Michelin's highest rated fish chef who whisked up a dish based on abundant Cornish haddock...

which proved something of a challenge for the festival photographers to get a shot of under the strong midday sun!...

Photo courtesy of Crystal Sea skipper David Stevens 

after years of virtual correspondence Through the Gaps finally gets to meet Mr Outlaw, the natural successor to Keith Floyd who did so much to champion the cause for home-grown fish consumption through his ground-breaking BBC TV series, Floyd on Fish - maybe we'll see fish-chef extraordinaire Nathan carry on where the great Floyd left off?...

what a backdrop, another chef gets down and dirty on the beach...

and another great champion of South West fish, Mich Tonks, Rockfish's beacon of fish cuisine just over the border in Plymouth wrestles with a dish of octopus - the pig's trotter texture of the dish truly mouth-watering...

he was closely followed by the lively Jack Stein who never fails to engage with the audience ably assisted by equally vivacious Sophie Mitchell who entertained the audience with a great, largely add-libbed double act...

it isn't all fish at the show of course so there are food and drink stalls to suit all tastes...

in some cases literally from all round the world...

strolling on the beach...

local crab company, Real Cornish Crab Company was kept busy all day...

as were the nachos, wraps & pulled pork...

burritos...

all consumed to the backdrop of a lively music stage...

inside the huge exhibitors marquee and eclectic mix of local produce...

and food related products...

some fiery...

some consummately coffee...

or chocolaty...

and the inevitable truly British cuppa were all available...

and will be for Sunday too! 

Check out the weather at the beach live on the festival webcam!