Sardines galore in Newlyn.

It's all smiles from the crew as they land 150 boxes of hard won hake from the Govenek of Ladram after they endured 24 hours of up to storm Force 10 wind and heavy seas at the start of their five day trip...

astern of them sardines galore...

are brailed ashore from the Asthore...

plenty of slush ice to keep the fish in tip-top condition...

and it's all smiles from the latest crew member still high on the excitement of only his second trip with another big haul of 19 tons under his belt...

those smiles can be seen down on the deck as the last of the fish come ashore...

swung over the tubs...

before being released...

and the brail sent back for another lift...

this short video shows the whole process in action...

another landing of brown crab in progress...

before the Asthore prepares to leave her berth ready for tonight's foray into the bay in the hunt for more sardines.

 

New Deep-Sea Marine Protected Area to be established off Scotland

Europe’s largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) has been announced by Natural Environment Minister Mairi Gougeon. The new MPA, off the West of Scotland, will give additional protections to some of the deepest parts of Scotland’s seas, protecting Scotland’s unique deep sea marine ecosystems.

The addition of the site will mean more than 30% of Scotland’s seas are now covered by MPAs, taking Scotland past the proposed new global target for 2030 currently being negotiated by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. The designation of this site is part of a final package of MPAs that aim to reach the international target of 10% global MPA coverage by the end of 2020. 

The West of Scotland MPA covers an area of over 100,000 square kilometres, making it the largest MPA located in national waters in the entire North-East Atlantic. Featuring the deepest parts of Scotland’s seas at over 2,500 metres, the site will safeguard some of the most vulnerable habitats and species on the planet, including deep sea sharks, coral gardens and a diversity of other fauna.

Ms Gougeon said: “Scotland’s deep sea waters are home to a number of threatened species and habitats including coral gardens and deep sea sharks."  

“The designation of this site will address one of the last gaps in our MPA network and will be key in achieving the international target of 10% of the world’s oceans covered by an MPA by the end of 2020." 

“It also clear evidence of Scotland’s commitment to lead by example internationally on environmental protection. “Protecting Scotland’s marine environment is crucial for supporting the sustainable recovery of our marine industries. This designation will also form a key element of our Blue Economy Action Plan, which we committed to developing in our Programme for Government.”

Local Decision-Making for UK Fishing

As the Fisheries Bill progresses through Parliament on the way to becoming law, the way that UK fisheries are managed is likely to change in the future. One area of interest is the potential role of regional decision-making and governance, such as through local councils, enterprise partnerships and community-led initiatives.

The balance between national and regional decision-making is often debated. Whilst national policy and regulations can help standardise practices, implementation can be ill-fitting at the local level due to regional variations in fishing fleet composition, target species and interactions with other marine activities. Regional decision-making can ensure regulations are better suited to the local context, but it must consider national efforts and work effectively with other sectors.

Fisheries management decisions rarely fall under the remit of local councils, but this is changing in some parts of the UK, as increased connectivity between fisheries and other sectors is sought. Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are also becoming more involved in fisheries in certain areas, such as through supporting seafood businesses. Additionally, regional initiatives such as Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) are experiencing changes, as the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) comes to an end for the UK and is replaced by a national funding programme.

In light of this pivotal period for the UK fishing industry, this online event seeks to shed light on how regional governance and decision-making for fisheries management can intersect with national decisions. The event will explore successful case studies in regional decision-making for UK fisheries and fishing communities.

If you wish to attend, or for further information, contact us at secretariat@fisheriesappg.org.

Final September #FishyFriday from Newlyn.

Just a few days ago there were no yachts on passage berthed...

the current wintry weather saw several take cover including the classic Banff registered Hekla...

as concerns rise over a second wave of Covid-19 buyers like Godfrey from Trelawney Fish take the appropriate measures...

as young Mr Cleave and Craig Tonkin discuss the latest developments...

back to a less than busy #FishyFriday market with just a quick shot of quality hake...

from the Ygriane...

together with a splattering of big white fish like this cod...

while beam tralwer St Georges put ashore a full trip fish including a good run of monk...

at this time of year and quality mackerel this big make excellent money...

Stevenson's chief auctioneer Ian Oliver in full Covid-19 mode records the winning bid - in the not too distant future this sight will be a thing of the past when the fish market is graced with a computer run clock auction......

Smart's grabbed the one big turbot landed...

along with a sole selection...

which just left the megrim soles with homes to go to...

via forklift back to the processing shed...

the back end of a very fresh night with winds hitting nearly 50mph...

saw the fleet safely back in port...

 save for the netting fleet all of whom must have had en extremely uncomfortable night dodging in the weather

the sardine boats won't be going out this evening for sure...

there's been plenty of sardines caught between these two vessels...

just a small sample of the seabed litter picked up by the Crystal Sea...

passing storm clouds head east...

they were prepared before and showed their support...

looks like there's a boat on the move this morning

and a new home working from Beer in Devon...

yet more pots...

is indeed a sign of the times...

Newlyn Art Gallery has several exhibitions running at the moment reflecting the pandemic's affect on the community in Newlyn...

all hands hoping this is sooner rather than later!

 

Create a coronavirus NHS QR code for your venue

Use this service to create a QR code for display in your venue. Get visitors to scan the QR code when they arrive, using the NHS COVID-19 app. This is to help trace and stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

You should create and display a QR code if you are:

• a business, place of worship or community organisation with a physical location that is open to the public 
• an event which is taking place in a physical location 

If you have more than one venue, you need to create a separate QR code for each location. You can add multiple locations in the service.

This service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

This service is only available to venues in England and Wales.

Start now

Before you start You will need:

• your email address 
• the address of your business, place of worship, community organisation or event 

If you have more than one venue, you will also need:

• the address of each location an email address for the manager (or point of contact) for each location 
• a phone number for the manager (or point of contact) for each location 

Getting your QR code

You’ll receive your QR code poster by email soon after you have submitted your information. If you have more than one location, the manager (or point of contact) for each location will also receive a unique QR code poster by email.

What to do when you receive your QR code 

When you receive your QR code poster you should:

• print the poster

• display the poster somewhere visitors can see it and scan it when they arrive, for example next to the entrance 
• ask visitors to scan the QR code when they arrive, using their NHS COVID-19 app display as many posters as you need to, to avoid queues forming 

If you do not have a printer, you can show the QR code on a display screen, such as a TV or tablet. Make sure it’s within reach so visitors can scan it with their mobile phones.

Help and support

For more information on creating a QR code for your venue, visit the NHS website.

Big tides in Newlyn over the weekend.

Traditionally, big spring tides are when the deeper drafted boats take the hard to scrub off below the waterline and/or give the hull a fresh coat of anti-fouling paint...

weed grows very quickly at this time of year and those boats that spend much of their time steaming to and fro the fishing grounds like these crabbers need to do so as efficiently as possible - heavy weed growth can reduce the speed of a boat by two or more knots and also increases fuel consumption......

this is what the hull below the waterline should look like...

which means the crabber Bon Accord can get out to sea more quickly...

the St Ives based Keriolet caught fire in the harbour last week...

and has been rowed round to Newlyn for fire damage assessment and repairs...

the previous Keriolet was based on a 32' Cygnus hull...

though skipper Traz's first Keriolet was a 60' ex Lorient trawler, which he trawler and netted with over 20 years before she was decommissioned in the 90s...

Tom's Harvest Reaper sits neatly against the quay ready for work...

the area known as 'the hard' is now showing severe signs of erosion as a combination of scouring from the severe storms in recent ears and the odd boat running aground at inopportune moments...

has led to a banking up of silt in some places...

and exposed rocks in others...

fresh in from sea to land for Monday's market, the flagship of the Stevenson fleet; the Cornishman waits for a lorry to arrive to get her boxes offloaded to the market coldstore.