Fishermen needs good science and science needs good fishermen.

Research based on accurate data serves the industry best - Gary and Spike keep that flow of data working for Cefas on the market in Newlyn collecting data daily!

The more closely fishermen work with scientists and other the better they industry will be served in creating a solid working environment that respects the work done by both sides. 

This online survey will help that process by improving and understanding better the needs of those in the fishing industry.

This questionnaire should take no longer than 20 minutes and the data that you provide will be remain anonymous. The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between fishermen and the governing and scientific bodies in the fishing industry. To do this you will be asked a series of questions about your role in the fishing industry, your opinion of various governing and scientific bodies, your opinion about various management practices and your interaction with these bodies. This will provide our study with vital information about current issues in the fishing industry and how relationships between fishermen and governing and scientific bodies can be improved for the benefit of all stakeholders.

All information that you provide will remain anonymous, and your details will not be shared in a way that could identify you as an individual.

I'd love to help out, take me to the study please

The Discard Action Group

The Discard Action Group is a forum for the discussion of industry-wide problems relating to discards.

The Discard Action Group (DAG) was set up by Seafish in 2009 in light of the many initiatives being adopted by the fishing industry to reduce discards. It is a prime example of an integrated, interdisciplinary, co-operative approach to the issue, and is the only UK cross-industry group addressing the discards issue from all perspectives.

The group is indicative of the whole seafood supply chain with representatives from the catching sector, environmental non-governmental organisations, legislators, regulators, technologists, scientists, retailers, foodservice and, where appropriate, the media. It is a key forum to allow individual interests to have a voice in the debate and to explore means by which discarding can be reduced to the minimum level practicable.

The group is chaired by Mike Park, Seafish Board member and Chief Executive, Scottish White Fish Producers Association Limited. The group meets twice a year.

The Discard Action Group Terms of Reference can be read here. All the presentations and minutes from DAG meetings are below. The last meeting was on Tuesday 13 February 2018 in London. The next meeting will be in October 2018.

Seafish is undertaking a lot of work with regards to the introduction of the Landing Obligation (which will be introduced gradually, between 2015 and 2019 for all commercial fisheries (species under TACs, or under minimum sizes) in European waters. We are providing valuable services to industry and government and our coordination role in communicating about ongoing projects is limiting duplication of work. Key work areas for Seafish are: economic implications; gear selectivity; the Seafish Discard Action Group; briefings and guidance; outreach; a project to assess the impact of the LO on the UK supply chain; sectoral support; and marketing and communications. See

For more information about the Discard Action Group or to be added to the mailing list please contact Karen Green.


Landing Obligation

How to introduce the landing obligation is one of the most difficult issues facing the fishing industry under the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

In 2009 the Commission launched a wide-ranging debate on the way that EU fisheries are managed. The new CFP came into effect 1 January 2014. A key element of the reformed CFP is the progressive elimination of discards in EU fisheries through the introduction of a landing obligation. This is being introduced progressively from 1 January 2015.

This constitutes a new regime in European fisheries management and making this work for every part of the fleet will require a great deal more work - for both industry and government - to prepare to implement the landing obligation.

There are a number of documents and links below which explain generally what is meant by the landing obligation and the legislative framework, and the issues it is raising for the seafood industry.

Mid-week market in Newlyn.

Just a handful of boxes on the market this morning...

with the weather partly to blame...

for keeping much of the fleet tied up

along with these two visiting scallopers in port...

along with a few early-season visiting yachts...

the latest boat to join the Rowse crabbber fleet is nearly ready...

as work starts on breaking up the concrete plinth ready for the new harbour crane to be installed. 

Time to remember #100in10

Time to Remember and highlight the number of fishermen lost at sea in the last decade.

Called the 100-in-10 Campaign, we hope to raise the awareness of the dangers of being a fisherman and the devastating impact on families and communities when fishermen are lost at sea.

We will be selling 100 limited edition Fishermen’s Mission wellies with a Fishermen’s Mission logo at £45 per pair + £9 postage and packaging, you choose your size (5.5-13).

If you would like to be part of the 100-in-10 Campaign then you can join by email 100in10@fishermensmission.org.uk or call, using Freephone number on 0800 6341020 and place your order.

The work of the Fishermen’s Mission is necessary today as ever. Our vital services and support provides practical, financial and pastoral help to fishermen both active and retired, and their families as well as 24/7 emergency response for accidents or illness at sea.

The Fishermen’s Mission is a Christian charity established in 1881. We provide a range of support and guidance to fishermen and their families around the whole of the UK coastline. Years of experience and well-trained staff mean that we have a deep understanding of fishing and fishing communities. We receive no government or lottery funding.

Smartfish 2020 - International high-tech system project could revolutionise fishing industry

Hi-tech system trial to be implemented in fishing activities. (Photo: SmartFish2020)

As part of an international effort computer scientists at the University of East Anglia are developing a GBP 5 million project to contribute for the fishing industry to be more sustainable, environmentally friendly, and profitable.

The project, called SMARTFISH-H2020, is intended to revolutionise the fishing industry, which employs over 24,000 people in the UK and contributes around GBP 1.4 billion to the British economy.

Co-ordinated by SINTEF Ocean in Norway, the initiative draws on research from the brightest minds at universities in Norway, Denmark, Turkey, France and Spain, along with research institutes and industry partners across Europe.

Other UK partners include Marine Scotland, The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), and Safetynet Technologies Limited.

The project aims to develop, test and roll out a suite of high-tech systems that optimise efficiency and reduce the ecological impact of fishing on the marine environment. The pioneering new technology will also improve automatic data collection and provide evidence of fishing regulation compliance.

The team at UEA’s School of Computing Sciences will focus on developing image technology such as on-board CCTV and smartphone apps to automatically quantify the fish catch. It is hoped that this information will not only benefit fishermen, but also academic research and policy makers.

The project developers state that these developments will assist commercial fishers throughout Europe in making informed decisions during pre-catch, catch, and post-catch phases of the fishing process.

“In recent years we have experienced extraordinary advances in camera technology, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Machines have become capable of performing certain vision tasks, such as image classification and object recognition, in real time and with high accuracy,” pointed out project leader Dr Michal Mackiewicz, from UEA’s School of Computing Sciences.

The scientist explained that they will develop advanced image processing and machine learning software which can be used to analyse fish catch images from on-board CCTV and handheld devices such as smartphones.

“It will help those in the fishing industry make informed decisions and lead to better economic efficiency, as well as reduce unintended fish mortality. It will also help provide new data about fish stocks and automatically collect catch data to ensure compliance with fisheries management regulations,” Mackiewicz stressed.

For his part, Project Coordinator Bent Herrmann, from Sintef Ocean said that the new innovative technologies being developed in the project will improve catch efficiency for the fishers, as well as the fish compositions in the catches in fisheries across the EU.

"This again will lead to improved economic efficiency in the industry and for the individual fishers, all the while unintended fish mortality is reduced, so that there is less unnecessary fishing pressure and ecosystem damage," Herrmann concluded.

SMARTFISH-H2020 (Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Fisheries in Europe) project will receive funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme over four years.

More visitors to Newlyn and Cap'n Cod has plenty of weed.

Visiting scalloper Accord N262 heads for a berth...

after pulling away from fellow scalloper, Tjeerd Jacoba DS7...

after yesterday's near miss when the big (she draws a huge 5.7m aft) stern trawler Ellie Adhamh fell over at low water..

Photo courtesy of Patch Harvey

when two fisheries inspectors were aboard checking her catch...

Photo courtesy of JT

down below in her fishroom - which must have given them something of a shock when she heeled over on her side...

Photo courtesy of JT

before she was helped to right with the aid of a pump from Penlee lifeboat...

under the command of Penlee lifeboat cox, Patch Harvey - whom you can hear describing the role they played on Radio Cornwall's Martin Bailie show later in the day...

it didn't take long to get a coat of anti-fouling paint on the hull of the Admiral Gordon on the slip...

Copious FH145, another visiting scalloper but very much smaller than the big Irish boys...

the big beam trawler St Georges gets a shove against the quay by Stevenson's new tug boat...

Cap'n Cod giving the bottom of the good ship Butts a good scrub to get rid of all the weed - reminds me of the Lucy Marianna days ;-)... don't get rusty joints!

Seafish aims to unite UK seafood industry to secure bright future

Seafish, the public body supporting the UK's £6bn seafood industry, is urging its various sectors to unite in boosting consumption to make Seafish's vision of a thriving seafood industry a reality.

The call comes from Seafish as it publishes its new three-year Corporate Plan, which introduces a bigger focus on pushing the UK Government's recommended advice that people should eat two portions of seafood a week.

Recent research conducted by Seafish revealed that 72% of adults do not know that they should be eating two portions of seafood a week, one of which should be oily. This, coupled with stagnant consumer demand for seafood and strong competition from other proteins, has been recognised as an important issue for the seafood industry. It is one of the key challenges for Seafish in the 2018 - 2021 Corporate Plan.

The plan sets out a bold vision for a thriving seafood sector. Increased consumption is a key factor, which will bring benefits beyond the supply chain, creating prosperity, bringing job opportunities, contributing to sustainable communities and improving the health and wellbeing of the public.

Seafish has worked closely with its three industry panels which represent the seafood industry from catch to plate to identify the issues and challenges that matter most.

As well as boosting consumption, Seafish will address four other critical challenges over the next three years:

• Changing Landscape - A changing political, economic and regulatory landscape as the UK exits the EU.
• Safe & Skilled Workforce - Competing with other food production sectors for access to a suitably skilled workforce, while addressing complex challenges around workplace safety.
• Good Source & Supply - Sourcing sustainable seafood in an increasingly competitive global market, alongside continued public concern over practices that compromise human welfare and the environment.
• Deep Insight - Successfully accessing the data, information and knowledge that will ensure the sector is equipped to understand and respond innovatively to a changing environment.

Seafish CEO, Marcus Coleman, said:

"We believe seafood is the way forward for business, communities, the environment and for personal health and wellbeing.

"Our new Corporate Plan's message is clear. We want to unite the industry with a common purpose - a thriving seafood industry for all. Getting more people to eat more seafood, more often plays a big part in that but we want to support the industry with issues like Brexit and responsible sourcing too.

"We are in a unique position to offer an industry-wide outlook and work in partnership with the sector to overcome the challenges it will face in