Fishing Industry Welcomes Minister for Food Security to Cornwall

 

Accompanied by senior members of Defra and representatives of the Marine Management Organisation, Daniel Zeichner met with the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation to better understand the vital role Cornwall’s fishing industry plays in the UK’s food supply chain.

Welcoming the Sardine season in with a grilling day by the harbour courtesy of Argoe restaurant.

On Sunday, some young fishermen network members educated consumers on the story behind their food, customers met the fishermen that caught their lunch and learned how! With a wheelhouse tour and a chat about ring-netting, customers were couldn't wait to head back to the restaurant to taste the sardines!

For more info head over the Cornish Sardine website!

Bluefin season underway from Newlyn.

With well over 100 bluefin tuna licence applicants applied for and only ten handed out this year looks like supplies will be at a premium.

Kicking off the season, Andrew Pascoe fishing aboard the Huers, landed a brace of bluefin after locating a school feeding around 10 miles SSE of Newlyn...

On the downside, Andrew spent the previous two days, 30 hours at sea and steamed over 100 miles with no fish coming aboard - that's why they call it fishing!..

To land these hugely popular eating fish at their very best, each are gilled, gutted then individually packed in ice in insulated bags designed specifically for the job...

so that buyers like PyskFish from Falmouth can supply their customers with the fish in the very best condition.

Local Fishing Industry Leaders Stand for Penwith Town Council: Advocating for Fair Share of Budget and Vital Infrastructure

Local Fishing Industry Leaders Stand for Penwith Town Council: Advocating for Fair Share of Budget and Vital Infrastructure

Next week’s Penwith Town Council elections will see two well-known figures from the local fishing industry stepping into the political spotlight. Godfrey Adams of Trelawney Fish and Nick Howell of the Pilchard Works are standing as independent candidates, motivated by a shared determination to ensure that Newlyn, Mousehole, and Paul receive their fair share of Penwith’s budget. Their deep-rooted commitment to the fishing community is evident, and they aim to bring their expertise to bear on the broader needs of the area if elected.

Central to their campaign are housing, transport and parking—two crucial elements for the continued growth and prosperity of Newlyn as a working harbour. By tackling these challenges, they hope to enhance the area’s infrastructure and support its economic vitality.

As the election draws near, the community will have the chance to decide whether these experienced industry leaders will secure a better deal for Newlyn, Mousehole and Paul.

 

Fishy Filaments: Revolutionizing Fishing Net Recycling.

In the picturesque harbours of Cornwall, a revolution is taking place—one that could dramatically change the landscape of fishing net disposal and recycling. Ian Falconer, the innovative mind behind Fishy Filaments, has launched a Crowdcube campaign aimed at funding the next phase of his groundbreaking recycling solution. This campaign seeks to raise £150,000 to support the expansion of Fishy Filaments, the world’s first company to transform end-of-life fishing nets into high-value materials for 3D printing and injection moulding.

A New Life for Old Nets

Founded in 2016, Fishy Filaments tackles a significant environmental issue: the disposal of old fishing nets. Each year, approximately 200,000 tonnes of these nets are burned, buried, or discarded at sea, posing a threat to marine life and contributing to CO2 emissions. Fishy Filaments' innovative solution not only addresses this problem but also provides an eco-friendly alternative by converting these nets into virtually carbon-free marine nylon.

Local Impact and Global Ambitions

Operating out of Newlyn, Cornwall, Fishy Filaments has already made significant strides. By offering a zero-cost recycling solution to local fishing fleets, the company helps fishermen save on disposal costs while reducing the volume of nets sent to landfills or incineration. Their transportable processing plants, which fit into a 40ft container and require only water and power to operate, are designed to be deployed in remote parts of the world, making recycling accessible even in unregulated areas.

Re-cycling station.

The company's vision extends beyond Cornwall. Falconer envisions a future where fishermen globally can recycle their nets locally, creating new income streams and reducing environmental impact. These plants are a potential game-changer, with the capability to displace up to 2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emitted by the production of new Nylon 6 each year.

From Fishing Nets to High-Value Products

carbon fibre reinforced filaments and powders

The recycled materials produced by Fishy Filaments are already in high demand. Companies like Philips Lighting and BMW are trialing these materials, recognizing their potential in advanced engineering and manufacturing. The next step in Fishy Filaments’ journey involves advancing their product line, including the development of 0rCA® carbon fibre reinforced filaments and powders. These products, optimised for Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing, represent a significant leap forward in performance and sustainability.

A Future with Global Impact

Fishy Filaments is scaling up its operations to meet growing demand. With a £126,000 loan from SWIG Finance and a nearly £50,000 grant from Cornwall Council’s Growth Hub, the company is building the first modules of its automated fishing net recycling plant prototype. This plant aims to increase raw material production to 20 tonnes per annum within the next year, scaling up to 50 tonnes annually.

 
The long-term goal is ambitious yet attainable: to sell their chemical-free recycling plants to NGOs, local governments, and entrepreneurs worldwide. This network of production centres in coastal communities would deliver economic, social, and environmental benefits on a global scale, potentially generating towards £100 million per year for these communities and transforming the global recycled monofilament fishing net market.

Investors and environmentally conscious individuals interested in supporting this innovative solution can find more information about the Fishy Filaments Crowdcube campaign here.

 

Fishy Filaments is not just a business; it’s a movement towards a sustainable future, transforming waste into high-value products and turning an environmental problem into a global opportunity. Join the Crowdcube campaign and be part of this revolutionary journey.

News from Newlyn Harbour

Following the monthly Board Meeting of Newlyn Pier & Harbour Commissioners (NP&HC), here is an update on the latest developments at the Port. The Newlyn Marine Skills & Resource Centre, that is being part-funded by the government’s Town Deal Fund, the aim of which is to deliver long-term economic and productivity growth, has been granted planning permission by Cornwall Council. 

This provides the green light to create a much-needed centre of excellence for learning and developing maritime expertise in Cornwall, at the heart of Newlyn, on The Strand, and NP&HC is now tendering for its lead contractor. This project has received £1.75 million from the government’s Town Deal programme. Penzance Town Deal Board, in partnership with Cornwall Council, successfully bid for a Town Deal worth £21.5 million to support a range of projects that will contribute to the regeneration of Penzance and Newlyn, and boost the local economy. 

As the lead authority for Cornwall Town Deals, Cornwall Council supports the governance role of the Penzance Town Deal Board and administrates the fund. In progressing the Harbour Commissioners’ long-term ambitions to develop NewlynHarbour and Sandy Cove for the benefit of local stakeholders, WSP Limited is currently conducting surveys and compiling technical reports. The results will help to inform the planning of short- to medium-term projects that support the delivery of NP&HC’s broader aim.

This project has received £100,000 from the government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with the aim of enabling people to access opportunity in their communities.

NP&HC is also driving forward a strategy to elevate efficiency and heighten safety in the lorry park area of Newlyn Harbour, in collaboration with its Advisory Board and harbour users, for both the short- and long-term.

As part of scheduled maintenance to continually improve the Newlyn Harbour estate, the fender pilings upgrade has been successfully completed with the previous wooden pilings having now been replaced with steel H sections to support the newer, heavier vessels in the fleet. This project has received £78,375 from the government’s Fisheries and Seafood Scheme, which provides financial assistance for projects that support the development of the catching, processing and aquaculture sectors. Ladders are now being reattached or replaced and further upgrades are planned to take place over the next three to five years. Work continues to improve the drinking water points on Mary Williams Pier. Standard push fittings are being incorporated to create a watertight system for vessels to connect their own hoses to, whilst minimising water waste. The maintenance of the Light House has also been completed and the scaffolding has been removed; new bollards are being installed at the Fish Market and Ice Berth, and pontoon fixings are being repaired on a phased basis.

A bathymetric survey has been undertaken as part of Newlyn Harbour’s Port Marine Safety Code Duty, which shows that there have been no significant changes to the harbour’s depth during the past three years. The next survey will take place in 2027. Newlyn Harbour has also welcomed the arrival of Harland and Wolff’s fast ferry for the Isles of Scilly, the Atlantic Wolff, which will berth overnight on South Pier during the summer season.

For further information about Newlyn Harbour, please visit newlynharbour.com.

About the Penzance Town Fund 

Penzance Town Deal Board, in partnership with Cornwall Council, successfully bid for a Town Deal worth £21.5 million to support a range of projects that will contribute to the regeneration of Penzance and Newlyn, and boost the local economy. Cornwall Council is the lead authority for Cornwall Town Deals and supports the governance role of the Penzance Town Deal Board and administrates the fund. 

For more information about Penzance Town Fund visit www.penzancetownfund.co.uk 

About the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme 

The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS), administered by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), delivers investments to safeguard the long-term sustainability, resilience and prosperity of the seafood sector across England. Since opening in 2021, the scheme has been incredibly successful with £27 million invested in over 1,300 projects supporting England’s catching, aquaculture and processing sectors, as well as projects that are improving the marine environment.  This is the final year of the scheme but further information can be found by visiting www.gov.uk/guidance/fisheries-and-seafood-scheme#about-the-fisheries-and-seafood-scheme

It doesn't get much quieter than this in Newlyn.

A new visitor to the harbour today might wonder how Newlyn is the biggest fishing fleet in England with pretty much the entire fleet at sea...

 

with one or two exceptions of course...

though it is always good to see this man aboard his boat in the harbour as it means his other command is too!..

a flat calm and a myriad of reflections to show off the new pilings..