Fireworks as Internos arrives in Newlyn!

Time to celebrate...

with family and friends at the end of the quay...

pic courtesy of the skipper's wife

and some very excited offspring to greet the arrival of the latest boat to join the fleet in Newlyn...

the very first 15m Maxus Cat from G Smythe boatbuilders in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland...

fittingly, the harbour was bedecked with lights...

and a Christmas tree...

as dozens of well-wishers welcomed the latest sardine boat to join the feet...

laden with ballast to stand in for the net yet to be put aboard...

as every cat fan knows, you get the equivalent deck space for a boat almost twice the length...

a fact well appreciated by the assembled crowd of family and friends  assembled on the quay just before midnight...

with the festive lights adding to...

the sense of occasion...

on a day of other significance...

so while the crabber Nicola of Ladram landed her pre-Christmas trip of crab and lobster...

it was down to crewman Treeve to pop a cork...

and skipper Will to celebrate...

along with the next generation of potential Newlyn fishermen and women!

Here she is the following morning courtesy of crewman, Treeve.

Plenty of quality fish on the final week's market before the Xmas break in Newlyn.

Last time the beam trawlers Billy Rowney and St Georges will land to the market in 2023...

as some merchants appear very keen to get their fish away....

boats are picking up bass almost everywhere, from offshore beam trawling...

to inshore handlining...

ray-a-plenty for some...

and some decent brill...

last landing for the St Georges...

more bass...

very festive box tallies from the Plymouth registered boat...

even the mackerel guys had good pickings...

while the AA team score four times over the weekend with their best haul yet of bluefin, which inlcuded this 182kg fish...

safely iced away in their holding bags...

before little Graham acts as a counter balance to move the huge fish...

cod like you seldom see it, with its golden scales...

jogged squid also look stunning...

while the pamrket sees the last of he pollack to be landed this year...

caught by inshore...

 and offshore alike..

all lit up...

with all hands busy on the gear...

watched over by skipper Jimmy Barnes...

as the crew cut out some of the chain mat links...

and clear the fishing line...

before adding new dollies in the chaffing mat...

and make the final adjustments to the fishing line...

there's only one boss on a boat, what the one in the wheelhouse says, goes...

except for the fishroom...

as Sheriff gets handed an unusually large haul of spider crabs for the time if ear from Phillip and Isaac...

left hand down a bit to get that tuna stowed on the lorry...

last landing for the Billy Rowney almost done.

Politicians talking talking pollack.

 

BBC1 Spotlight South West hosted a discussion on the pollack situation - where, as of January 1st 2024, a zero quota for pollack will be enforced. 

The Maverick fishes all year round for pollack using rod and line.

For many inshore fishermen this move could put some fishermen out of business - some like Dave Smith from Newlyn fish exclusively for pollack all year round and is one of the fishermen hit the hardest by such a draconian move. 

When fishing, the fish are kept in insulated tubs full of slush ice to keep the pollack in the best possible condition to land to the market at Newlyn.

There were also some serious mis-quotes during the conversation that need addressing - as one online commentator said "A worrying situation not helped by a confusing article. It's #pollack (not pollock) & I'm pretty sure Mike Cohen is quoted out context talking about Fisheries Management Plans"

Jerry Percy penned his thoughts in an open letter to Defra on the Government's line since Brexit (when they promised to "take back control") and the recently announced Fisheries Management Plan. A moot point missed by some during the Brexit campaigns and after was that the overall Total Allowable Catch quotas, by which the EU (and the UK) adhere to, are set by ICES - and not the EU.

Latest news - Fisheries management plans.

Fisheries management plans (FMPs) set out the plans and policies to secure the long-term sustainability of UK fish stocks.

Fisheries management plans (FMPs) are evidence-based action plans, developed in collaboration with the fishing sector and other stakeholders. Their purpose is to deliver sustainable fisheries for current and future generations.


The first 5 FMPs were published in December 2023.

• Bass fisheries management plan

• Channel demersal non-quota species fisheries management plan 

• Crab and Lobster FM for English waters

• King scallop fisheries management plan

• Whelk fisheries management plan for English waters

FMP consultations

All fisheries management plans (FMPs) will go through a public consultation, giving interested parties the opportunity to give their views.

Consultations for the first 6 FMPs opened in July 2023 and closed on 1 October 2023.

We are still analysing responses to the consultation on the Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel mixed flatfish FMP.

Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel mixed flatfish: proposed fisheries management plan consultation


The Fisheries Act 2020 requires the UK fisheries policy authorities (Defra, and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) to publish fisheries management plans (FMPs) to help deliver our ambition for sustainable fisheries.

This paper sets out how Defra will prepare and publish its FMPs for the waters around England.

List of Fisheries Management Plans

Fine forecast for #FishyFriday in Newlyn.

Fine mornings in December are something to be cherished...

and with half the fish landed on the market being bass, for some, there was much to smile about...

though mackerel are still proving somewhat elusive...

every bluefin tuna caught by the South West Handline Association boats gets an individual ID tag to add provenance...

before being aded carefully on to the waiting transport...

a handful of inshore trawlers like the Guardian landed a mix of quality fish like monk...

John Dory...

red mullet...

and turbot...

and it's not only Red Bull that gives you wings...

which fish?..

the Karen N gets to see the sunrise...

as does the Crystal Sea...

while the Hosking feet of netters, Stelissa and Silver dawn are all decked out for the Xmas break having fished their last tide before the market closes for the year...

and gone to town on their fancy festive festoonery!..

back in Penzance, the town hall is about to get a makeover.