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Thursday, 13 September 2018
Fish Expo 2018 coming soon!
Wednesday, 12 September 2018
Extra fishing industry protection 'won't be ready before Brexit'
Whitehall's spending watchdog says the Treasury is delaying funds for more "control and enforcement" boats and personnel.
Extra fishing industry protection is not likely to be ready by the time Britain leaves the EU, a spending watchdog has warned.
The National Audit Office (NAO) said the Treasury is refusing to release cash for new ships, aircraft and personnel to staff them because the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has not provided a full business case.
This was meant to happen in July, but an outline case was only lodged in August.
The department estimated it would take eight months to strengthen "control and enforcement" in English waters, meaning this will not happen by March.
At the moment the UK uses a "risk-based intelligence-led approach" which makes use of a system in which EU nations share data.
Ministers want to add to this with more sea and airborne hardware, but has "not yet fully developed its plans to do this", the NAO said, noting that the fishing industry is worth £682m to the UK economy.
"DEFRA's contingency plan is to continue with the current level of surveillance and manage the associated risk of lower capacity," the NAO said in its report.
"The risk will be heightened if the UK loses access to EU intelligence and the mutual support that its current approach relies on."
It added: "In a no-deal scenario, DEFRA may have to scale up its capacity over time, but is confident that it will be able to manage the risk of any disruption in the interim."
In recent weeks footage has emerged of rival British and French vessels colliding with each other and objects being thrown - an incident referred to as 'scallop wars'.
A DEFRA spokesman said: "Since the report was written, we have continued to reprioritise our resources, expanded our workforce and made further progress on our extensive programme of work focused on preparing for a range of Brexit scenarios.
"Our work will mean that environmental, welfare, and biosecurity standards will continue to be met in a way that supports trade and the smooth flow of goods."
The warning concerning the fishing industry was one of a number from the NAO about DEFRA's preparedness for Brexit.
It is one of the government departments most affected by the EU divorce, with 55 of the 319 EU-related "work streams" covering the chemical and agri-food industries, agriculture, fisheries and the environment.
A particular focus for the auditor was what is likely to happen in the event no deal is agreed between London and Brussels.
The NAO highlighted concerns about Britain's multi-billion pound food export industry, warning it could be badly affected by a "no-deal" Brexit due to a failure on the part of the government to hire enough vets.
ex- Brexit Minister Steve Baker claims at least 80 MP's are prepared to vote against PM's Chequers plan. It said valuable products and livestock could be blocked or help up at the UK's ports and airports because of a shortage of qualified staff to sign off new export health certificates (EHC) covering EU countries.
The spending watchdog said work to "engage publicly with the veterinary market" was due to start in April but has still not been authorised by the government.
As a result, DEFRA will "launch an emergency recruitment campaign in October to at least meet minimum levels of vets required".
If there is no deal, Britain would need to introduce 1,400 new UK versions of documents covering trade with 154 countries outside the EU.
However, the NAO said DEFRA will only have time by March to focus on producing certificates for 15 nations which comprise 90% of exports to non-EU countries.
Amyas Morse, the head of the NAO, said: "The scale and complexity of what needs to be done to leave the EU is a significant challenge and DEFRA is impacted more than most.
"It has achieved a great deal, but gaps remain and with six months to go it won't deliver all it originally intended in the event of no deal, and when gaps exist, it needs to focus on alternatives and mitigations.
"Like other departments, it now must ensure its voice is heard by the centre of government to provide an accurate picture of what is possible if a negotiated settlement is not reached, and even if it is."
A DEFRA spokesman said the report also said the department had "already achieved a great deal in its preparations" for Brexit, including new IT systems and "new services to replace those currently provided by the EU".
Full story courtesy of By Alan McGuinness, political reporter for Sky News.
Extra fishing industry protection is not likely to be ready by the time Britain leaves the EU, a spending watchdog has warned.
The National Audit Office (NAO) said the Treasury is refusing to release cash for new ships, aircraft and personnel to staff them because the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has not provided a full business case.
This was meant to happen in July, but an outline case was only lodged in August.
The department estimated it would take eight months to strengthen "control and enforcement" in English waters, meaning this will not happen by March.
At the moment the UK uses a "risk-based intelligence-led approach" which makes use of a system in which EU nations share data.
Ministers want to add to this with more sea and airborne hardware, but has "not yet fully developed its plans to do this", the NAO said, noting that the fishing industry is worth £682m to the UK economy.
"DEFRA's contingency plan is to continue with the current level of surveillance and manage the associated risk of lower capacity," the NAO said in its report.
"The risk will be heightened if the UK loses access to EU intelligence and the mutual support that its current approach relies on."
It added: "In a no-deal scenario, DEFRA may have to scale up its capacity over time, but is confident that it will be able to manage the risk of any disruption in the interim."
In recent weeks footage has emerged of rival British and French vessels colliding with each other and objects being thrown - an incident referred to as 'scallop wars'.
A DEFRA spokesman said: "Since the report was written, we have continued to reprioritise our resources, expanded our workforce and made further progress on our extensive programme of work focused on preparing for a range of Brexit scenarios.
"Our work will mean that environmental, welfare, and biosecurity standards will continue to be met in a way that supports trade and the smooth flow of goods."
The warning concerning the fishing industry was one of a number from the NAO about DEFRA's preparedness for Brexit.
It is one of the government departments most affected by the EU divorce, with 55 of the 319 EU-related "work streams" covering the chemical and agri-food industries, agriculture, fisheries and the environment.
A particular focus for the auditor was what is likely to happen in the event no deal is agreed between London and Brussels.
The NAO highlighted concerns about Britain's multi-billion pound food export industry, warning it could be badly affected by a "no-deal" Brexit due to a failure on the part of the government to hire enough vets.
ex- Brexit Minister Steve Baker claims at least 80 MP's are prepared to vote against PM's Chequers plan. It said valuable products and livestock could be blocked or help up at the UK's ports and airports because of a shortage of qualified staff to sign off new export health certificates (EHC) covering EU countries.
The spending watchdog said work to "engage publicly with the veterinary market" was due to start in April but has still not been authorised by the government.
As a result, DEFRA will "launch an emergency recruitment campaign in October to at least meet minimum levels of vets required".
If there is no deal, Britain would need to introduce 1,400 new UK versions of documents covering trade with 154 countries outside the EU.
However, the NAO said DEFRA will only have time by March to focus on producing certificates for 15 nations which comprise 90% of exports to non-EU countries.
Amyas Morse, the head of the NAO, said: "The scale and complexity of what needs to be done to leave the EU is a significant challenge and DEFRA is impacted more than most.
"It has achieved a great deal, but gaps remain and with six months to go it won't deliver all it originally intended in the event of no deal, and when gaps exist, it needs to focus on alternatives and mitigations.
"Like other departments, it now must ensure its voice is heard by the centre of government to provide an accurate picture of what is possible if a negotiated settlement is not reached, and even if it is."
A DEFRA spokesman said the report also said the department had "already achieved a great deal in its preparations" for Brexit, including new IT systems and "new services to replace those currently provided by the EU".
Full story courtesy of By Alan McGuinness, political reporter for Sky News.
Tuesday, 11 September 2018
Entitlement of quota - FFL viewpoint.
Answering FFLs Position On Fishing Entitlement
REPATRIATED RESOURCES
FFL are adamant that all repatriated quota is held as a national resource and is divided out to all fishermen in a community.
Under the principle of one ton to one boat. If someone doesn't use their slice it goes back in the pot to be divided again.
That is what we've represented to the highest levels of government repeatedly and has had some acknowledgement in the white paper.
This is in spite of the SFF insisting all repatriated resources are distributed through the current Fixed Quota Allocation (FQA) system which has facilitated consolidation.
ECONOMIC LINK
We are adamant their needs to be a stronger economic link that British fishing vessels must comply with.
This is to realise what all policy should aim to deliver - that is maximum benifit from a national resource to communities. Whether through administration or sustainability.
We advocate 60% British ownership and 60% British crew - with a five year dispensation for 100% foreign in all waters. This is until new policy attracts British lads to a post Brexit industry on the up.
Most importantly, it must be stipulated that 60% of catches must be landed, sold and processed in the UK. This would revitalise ports, processors and their buying power.
Any foreign vessel granted access must also land here to deliver economic benifit from resources caught in our waters and ensure complaince.
This is to clamp down on flagships and stop them behaving like fishing tourists. Be a genuine British boat or pack your bags.
SLIPPER SKIPPERS & QUOTA RENT
We have been the only fishing organisation to highlight slipper skippers. Michael Gove hadn't been informed of this blight that until FFL had meetings with him.
We are adamant that slipper skippers should be banned, that any boat to boat rent is capped at 3% of the gross realised on that quota.
This is to end the financial illiteracy of ever more money being thrown at quota.
It's curently bleeding 40-60% of profit from the fleet. It is stifling reinvestment and curtailing wages which would incentivise young men.
Any fishing entitlement should be under the same stipulations as in Norway and other Nordic countries. Entitlement must be held on an active vessel, if not within two years you must use it or lose it.
QUOTAS WILL NEVER WORK
Quotas will never provide accurate science, as you only see caught what the quota is set to - not the natural predominance or fluctuations of stocks.
They will never conserve fish as we either discard to find what we can keep or stop the fleet on exhausting their lowest quota with choke species under the discard ban.
They mean we will always harvest out of balance with nature as we are imposing our own targets and trying to hit them.
Anyone advocating retention of quotas is seditiously trying to protect vested interests or doesn't have a clue about the practicalities of a mixed fishery such as ours.
They'll never work for fishermen due to the above because you either have to spend more time and money at sea discarding or choke and go bust.
As the system doesn't work its been a race to the bottom buying ever more Fixed Quota Allocation (FQA) unit entitlement to stagnate (FQAs = quota stocks and shares).
This drives consolidation to a few big corporates, killing coastal comminities and heritage that draws young men to an otherwise hard occupation.
All through nothing more than stupid policy where a select few hope they'll pockle the system to be the last men standing.
Those few MPs standing behind a federation that advocates this for an easy ride/sell should hang their head in shame.
Having a few big companies in a few big ports won't secure coastal communities and constituencies.
REFINED EFFORT CONTROL
That's why FFL advocates a system of refined effort control with Flexible Catch Compositions ( FCCs). We're happy the government proposes trials but they must be meaningful not designed to fail. They must crack on asap and not listen to those trying to stop them.
If the system won't work there is nothing to lose or hide from trying it, but everything to gain if it succeeds.
Under such a system everyone is limited to an equal, sustainable amount of fishing 'soak' time monitored by sensors as hours gear is deployed.
Such a system automatically solves and delivers allowing everyone big or small, static gear or mobile, an equal opoortunity to reach their potential and make a living.
Soak time is derived from calculating how long it would take the whole fleet to catch all the resources in a sea area amalgamelated together.
This makes it's impossible to overfish an ecology as we do currently discarding over the limits to find what we can keep under quotas.
FQAs are converted to FCCs which give the sustainable mix of species you should aim to catch. This preserves the investment and entitlement in FQAs for the bigger holders.
Exceed those percentage and you can keep what you catch. This means you've caught less but can land more and provides accurate data.
However, to stop a race to fish for high value or vulnerable species, any 'wrong' fish incurs a penalty of time equivelant to the value of the fish.
The 'wrong' fish pays for the time but there's no benifit to target the wrong mix as it curtails your year.
As there's time for the crime science knows what it sees is an accurate reflection of stocks and we'll get the TAC mix into line.
As there's no quotas and everyone gets a slice of time to fish it means; No rent. No consolidation and a chance to have a profitable industry that gives young lads a chance to make a career from deck to wheelhouse.
Most importantly as accurate catch per hour per size/type of gear is recorded it delivers a highly accurate Catch per Unit of Effort (CPUE) system.
This is the holy grail of accurate science to deliver sustainable fishing which reflects and is in line with natures fluctuations.
CONCLUSION
That's what FFL advocates. Sadly too many are stuck in the rut and don't want to get out.
Either people chose that vision above or keep the same old system, as the SFF and NFFO advocate, and the managed decline to the last few it causes.
That's why FFL, and its founder especially, were demonized by a few in the industry post referendum by folk in thrawl to big interests.
Although if it hadn't been for founding FFL and driving it to the Thames flotilla and onwards fishing wouldn't be on the map, with the federations hiding behind neutrality.
Everyone see's the way it's going but are others brave enough to put their head above the parapet and say enough, change course.?
www.ffl.org.uk/0809-2/
Monday, 10 September 2018
Sunday night, Monday morning in Newlyn.
It's Sunday evening and waiting for a berth at the iceworks...
the Vesta along with...
the Golden Harvest is about to embark on another night's sardine fishing...
as the latest crab boat to join the fleet...
lands her catch to the waiting vivier transport...
at 6am when the fish auction starts it is now pitch black outside...
and this morning's market is choc-a-block with some big landings of hake form the Govenek of Ladram...
and the Ajax...
and here's the man with the measure of things - Gary from Cefas records sample of certain species every morning for length and age...
today's landings include pollack...
lemon soles from the beam trawler Cornishman...
plenty of line caught mackerel...
bass...
and jigged squid...
while the beam trawler St Georges picked up a good shot of ray...
and a few scallops...
bigger fish included these cod...
John Dory and turbot...
the Ajax also put ashore a few spur dogs, easily recognised by their bright green eyes...
just a few of the three boxes of mackerel from John Boy handlining from his punt, Nik-Nak...
it takes a lot of mackerel to equal just a handful of bass, such is the difference in price per kilo...
Mr Smith steamed in with another good shot of line caught pollack..
much of the top quality beam trawl fish was auctioned in the second chill room of the market - boats and buyers alike will be keen to see the second phaser of the fish market refurbishment completed - in a few weeks apparently...
after a long night at sea...
the netter Asthore is landing her six tonnes of sardines...
getting the thumbs-up from young Aaron...
and his bessy...
a promising start to the day with some light in the sky...
finds the Lady of Avenel safely alongside the south pier - book a trip on this classic tall ship for a taste of a life long ago...
heading in to land with a shot of craws, (crayfish) or spiny lobster as they are sometimes known ...
most of the netting fleet are in Newlyn over the next few days waiting for the next neap tide to begin.
Sunday, 9 September 2018
Cornish fishing fleet urged to take part in vital industry survey
Seafish researchers are calling on vessel owners and skippers in Cornwall and Devon to have their say on the state of the fishing industry in its 13th annual economic survey of the UK fishing fleet.
This year’s survey is travelling across the UK gathering data on fishing and vessel costs to provide a comprehensive overview of the financial and operational performance of the fishing industry.
With the UK preparing to exit the European Union, it is vital fishers provide accurate data to paint a clear picture of the performance of the industry for policy makers.
Researchers will be visiting fishing ports between St Ives and Ilfracombe, Porthleven and Looe and Newlyn and Sennen from the 3-6 September.
2017 was a mixed year for the fishing fleet, with operating profit seeing a 4% decrease, but total fishing income rising by £38 million to reach £984 million. Many skippers raised the uncertain political and trade landscape, the availability of fish, oil and fuel price and quota as some of their main concerns. The 2018 survey is a chance for the industry to give up to date information on their successes and upcoming challenges, helping their voices be heard.
This year will also include a social demographic section, asking fishers about their age, qualifications and working arrangements, providing more insight in to the individuals in the catching sector.
The findings from this years’ survey, to be published in 2019, will be crucial for uncovering the direction the industry is moving in and give a clear insight on how fishers see the future of their industry.
Economics Project Manager at Seafish Steve Lawrence said “We have to find out from those on the front line of the fishing industry how their economic performance has been over the past 12 months. This insight means we can keep all those in the sector fully informed on the health of the fleet. For us to be able to keep policy makers informed with our reports we need as many skippers and vessel owners as possible to be involved and have their say.”
“This year we are also collecting data social data about the crews working on board UK fishing vessels. Collecting this social data helps us to build up a much more detailed picture of the UK fishing industry. This rich information is vital to ensure decision makers understand how communities and livelihoods are affected by changing management measures, particularly now as we head towards EU exit and a new fisheries policy.”
“We appreciate the continued support of the fishing industry in Cornwall and Devon and encourage all skippers and vessel owners in the area to speak to our researchers.
“There is an added benefit for participants; all vessel owners can request a free financial performance benchmark report which allows comparisons with the average performance of similar vessels.”
The survey is supported by the national federations and local associations around the UK. All information provided is treated as confidential and no individual vessel figures will be revealed in any report.
Anybody interested in taking part in the survey should contact Steve Lawrence at Seafish on 0131 524 8663 or email steven.lawrence@seafish.co.uk. To view the results of last year’s report, visit the Seafish website.
Visit www.seafish.org or follow @seafishUK
Saturday, 8 September 2018
Baie de Seine scallop dispute talks suspended until next week.
The UK and France have failed to agree a deal to end a dispute over scallop fishing in the English Channel.
Crews clashed in the waters last month over laws that allow British boats to gather scallops year-round, but places restrictions on French vessels.
The two sides had agreed on the principles of a deal earlier this week, but were unable to finalise it during negotiations on Friday.
A government spokeswoman said discussions were continuing.
Further talks have been proposed for Tuesday, but the meeting has not yet been confirmed.
Crews clashed in the waters last month over laws that allow British boats to gather scallops year-round, but places restrictions on French vessels.
The two sides had agreed on the principles of a deal earlier this week, but were unable to finalise it during negotiations on Friday.
A government spokeswoman said discussions were continuing.
Further talks have been proposed for Tuesday, but the meeting has not yet been confirmed.
Newlyn Harbour Development announces new plans and a new website during public consultations
Last night over 50 people in two groups attended the first public consultation presentations given by Lucy Parsons, project manager for the Newlyn Pier and Harbour Commissioners in the new fish market conference room. Lucy ran through some background to the proposed developments and fielded questions from the audience...
especially with regard to the very short timescale between revealing the plans and the final submission date - the middle of next month.
NP&HC are currently in the process of submitting the second phase of a funding bid to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the EU Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF)Growth Programme 2014-2020 for part-funding of a £6.142m project with the aim of developing core harbour activity and high value employment.
If successful, NP&HC could accelerate their planned development programme to maximise useable space; further enhance the efficiency and safety of harbour operations; improve the public realm; screen off industrial traffic, and construct a number of high quality industrial units during the next three years.
Specifically, this programme would involve the phased replacement of harbour buildings on The Strand and the construction of six to eight industrial units on the site of the inshore lifeboat shed when the RNLI have relocated their activities to the new Penlee Lifeboat Station.
These units would be designed to complement Newlyn’s heritage, maximise views, provide professional, customer-facing facilities and improve both commercial and pedestrian access. Green spaces would be incorporated within the overall development and hidden history would be revealed in order to further enhance public amenity.
“By providing premises for a broader range of fisheries and marine industry as well as improving value for our existing tenants, we can create more well-paid jobs and provide the catalyst for other local businesses to prosper,” explains Harbour Master & Chief Executive Officer, Rob Parsons. “This proposed development is about improving the townscape, the traffic flow and the economic vitality of Newlyn so we look forward to sharing our plans with local people to demonstrate how they could benefit everyone in our diverse community.”
These public consultation events will incorporate a rolling programme of tours of the recently-refurbished Fish Market and information slides in the Board Room between 5pm and 7pm on Friday 7thSeptember and 9am and 12 noon on Saturday 8th September. Further updates will be posted to the harbour's website for those who are unable to attend.
The meetings were told that the current Brexit situation had seriously eroded into the time left available to bid for EU (mainly ERDF) funding.
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