First #FishyFriday in September!

Not a bad start to the day, an almost clear blue sky...

with a market stacked with fish like these scallops...

a few mackerel...

plenty of John Dory...

some cracking big turbot...

super tasty monk liver - which, btw, makes a great paté...

every anglers dream, bass and the top challenge to catch inside many a harbour, grey mullet...

beamer doing what it does best...

keep those BBQ sardines coming...

that most elegant of fish, gilt-head bream...

all the fish species that have to be hand graded from the Enterprise...

young Mr Pascoe about to set of on another bluefin expedition - this year, bluefin can be found anywhere around the Lands End peninsula...

the bosy on the seiner Acionna have their work laid out for the day...

as do the engineers working on the Monty of Ladram now based in Newlyn...

both big and small visiting yachts in Newlyn...

though it is left up to the fishing fleet to provide a splash of colour in the port...

dawn breaks over the iceworks and just some of the transport waiting to pick up the mornings purchases on behalf of their respective buyers.

Vacancy: Fishing Port Safety Manager News

 

Vacancy: Fishing Port Safety Manager

Port Skills and Safety Ltd is a membership organisation promoting safety and skills in ports. We have a one-year project funded by The Seafarers’ Charity to improve safety in UK fishing ports. We are now seeking someone with a passion for improving safety in the fishing sector to combine their knowledge of fishing with our knowledge of safety in ports. This is a part-time remote role three days per week for an initial one year period. Closing date Friday 27 September.

Key responsibilities:

Review and develop SiP guidance for the fishing sector.

Work with PSS members and non-members to develop and share safety best practice.

Create materials to promote safety.


Qualifications and experience:


Class 2 or Class 1 Fishing Certificate of Competency.

Strong understanding of the fishing sector and safety practices.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

NEBOSH or relevant safety qualification an advantage.

Full job description in the link below. To apply send a CV and covering letter to info@portskillsandsafety.co.uk

Fish Port Safety Manager job description

Last cance to save the classic Cornsih lugger, White Heather

 

Sadly, following several months of trying, the Canal & River Trust has received NO expressions of interest in the 1926 Looe Lugger White Heather. The Trust now has no other option but to now seek the destruction of the historic vessel as they cannot continue to store it at its current location on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.

As a matter of last resort, the Trust is willing to pay for transportation costs of the vessel to a prospective new owner’s yard, provided that you have a reasonable plan for the vessel’s future. If no expressions of interest are received, sadly White Heather will be transported for destruction at the end of September.

HISTORY:

Built in 1926 by Richard Pearce at East Looe, a 40ft wooden top and hull sailing fishing vessel. First owned by the Thomas brothers at Mevagissey, but later fished out of Falmouth for various owners before being laid up in the Fal. Converted back to sail in the 1980s and used to operate sailing trips from Fowey.

In 1992, she was bought and underwent an extensive restoration by the late Mike Mackay-Lewis, with the help of Paul Greenwood, current chairman of the Cornish Lugger Association. She was stripped down to her bare hull, many planks and the transom was renewed, using over 1,200 galvanised fastenings.

As recently as 2003 she sailed from Cornwall to Morocco and Brazil, returning to the UK via Caribbean but sadly in recent years has been left in a sorry state of repair. As a vessel of considerable heritage value, the Trust are very interested to hear from anybody who may have an interest and capacity to give White Heather a new home and to restore her. White Heather was inspected in July and is able to be transported by road if required. For further history, more images, full spec, link to sale advert and contact details:

https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk

Fishy start to the week in Newlyn.

For the last few days Newlyn has seen tripods appearing all around the harbour...

as a team of surveyors from WSP get to work on their site survey...

in the meantime, lead has been found in the water supply and a central source of fresh wayer has been brought in for all boats who have been instructed not to use the harbour's water supply for drinking until the issue is resolved...

that's another quay fender built and ready for action...

guard ship Karima on standby...

more pots to add to the thousands already deployed...

the Pelagic Marksman has taken on a portable fish pump system to offload their catch...

with a serious pumping capacity...

keen interest from an Italian news outlet filming the Inter-Nos as she moves to the ice berth...

as they cover tyhe story of modern-day sardine fishing - almost 100% of pilchards caught in the 18th and 20th centuries were cured in salt and exported to Italy...

the harbour is busy most evenings from 6:30pm as the sardines boats prepare to take ice and sail...

landing at well before midnight...

another 7 tons of fish going ashore from the Mayflower...

which was full of fish from the inshore fleet...

as well as a cracking trip of hake...

 from the Britannia V...

Tom had a few JDs...

and there was the inevitable splattering of dogs...

as well as some line caught bluefin tuna...

what's the betting some of these beautiful gilt-head bream will show up in London tomorrow?..

mackerel landings were strong too...

plus a handful of bonny bonitos...

time for the fleet to sleep.

 

Scottish Fisherman Survey - Your Opinion Matters!

I can see this survey being undertaken in England, Northern Ireland and Wales as well.

The Scottish Government wants to hear from fishermen like you! They've hired a research group called The Lines Between to understand what fishermen think about the Marine Directorate's rules and how they're enforced.

This survey is completely anonymous and takes about 20 minutes. There are no right or wrong answers, they just want your honest experiences.

What's the survey about?

• They want to know what fishermen think about the current enforcement practices.
• Does enforcement help fishermen follow the rules?
• Are there any rules that are particularly difficult to follow?

Why are you invited?

As a fisherman, your experience is valuable! Your answers will help improve the fishing industry's regulations and enforcement practices.

How to participate:

• Click "Next" below to take the online survey. You'll need to agree to participate first.
• Prefer to do it over the phone? Call Derek Ewens at The Lines Between (07947 550 927) or email [email address removed] to schedule a time.

Things to know:

• This is voluntary. You can change your mind at any time.
• Your answers are confidential. They won't ask for your name or contact information.
• The information will be used in a report for the government, but it won't be linked back to you.
• Even if you mention not following a rule, they won't get you in trouble.
• You can skip any questions you don't feel comfortable answering.

Benefits of participating:

• You get to share your experiences and help shape the future of the fishing industry!

We hope you'll join us!

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE

Contact

If you have any questions, or if you would like to complete the survey over the telephone, please contact Derek Ewens (The Lines Between) on 07947 550 927 or derek@thelinesbetween.co.uk(opens in new window).

Action from Newlyn Raft Race raising money for the harbour lights.

"Newlyn Raft Race this afternoon, organised by Newlyn Harbour Lights, was won by HMS Conor from the Sportsmans Arms PZ, with the Penzance Community Fire Station coming a close second. 

What a fantastic afternoon of fun, laughter and huge amounts of community spirit at our 2024 Raft Race!. Wonderful support from Coxswain Patch Harvey and the team at Penlee Lifeboat Station. What would we do without them!"

The Harbour Lights Team

 

What a full-on community event it was too!

Plenty of raft race fans headed along the prom for the...

start of the 2024 Newlyn Raft Race...

all the money raised goes towards the upkeep of the harbour Christmas lights...

the first casualty to seconds to sink...

with the inshore lifeboat in close attendance...

local artist Jeremy Saunders had a fun afternoon and captured the scene in oils as a fundraiser for @newlynharbourlights...

turning at the marker the leading rafts head for the beach and the winning line...

while the boys on the Penlee lifeboat do what they are there fore, giving the rafts a good soaking as they pass...

there was massive competition between HMS Conor, the winners of last years raft race, crewed by six very fit Fireman Sam’s from Heamoor Community Interest Organisation, and the Cowboys & Indians from Penzance Community Fire Station…it was a close run thing with HMS Conor taking the honours again...

for the women's teams, the Meadery Maids led the way - again!..

here's one that didn't sink...

the Sparkellez Dance Company making slow progress...

Trewidden Tea Room with their prehistoric power up front made good progress...

good to see the Mousehole harbourmaster keeping an eye on things from the Cormorant...

the Mackerel Sky dinosaurs desperately trying to catch

just one thing for it, jump in and get to the finish line any way you can...

riding on the crest of a wave...

it's all over bar the shouting  so it's time for the lifeboats to head back to port.

Newlyn Raft Race is today!

 

Ever got that sinking feeling?

Today is the the annual Newlyn Raft Race on Newlyn Green. A fun day out for all the family! Dog Show, Live Music, BBQ and lots of lovely stalls. Raising money to fund the amazing Newlyn Harbour Lights. Raft Race starts at 2.30pm - both RNLI Penlee Lifeboats will be in attendance.

It will be the first one without its biggest supporter in every way, Debbie from the Star Inn.