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Tuesday 20 December 2011

Triple-riggers maiden voyage.

With the weather keeping them fishing 'inside' (not out beyond Mount's Bay in more exposed conditions) the Elisabeth Veronique draws against the fish market to make her last landing of 2011........
down in the fishroom, Phil pulls out the boxed catch......
under the glare of Newlyn's Christmas lights,the triple rig proved itself a worthy fishing tool successfully targeting brill and monk on its shakedown trip.......
every boat has its own way of checking the minimum landing size (MLS) allowed for pressure stock (quoted) fish species...... 
Curtiss Jnr jnr, skipper in the making Adam checks home while Dad is landing.......
then its time for Curtiss Jnr to take the ship back into her berth........
photos of the Elisabeth Veronique, bought from Guilvinec in 1972 back to Fowey and renamed the Elisabeth (which Grandfather Curtis did to save having to carve a new name with all that careful signwriting painting every year - which even included him re-registering her FY83 for the same reason - 83 being the first to letters of her 7 digit GV registration).........
leased crabber under skipper Mario lands to Seafood and Eat It crabmongers.......
Newlyn invaded by charity runners in Xmas fancy dress........
supper waiting for the pot.......
steaming just out of the pot.......
all set for Tom Bawcock's eve on the 23rd.

Monday 19 December 2011

Penlee lifeboat tragedy - thirty years ago today.


Searching off Tater Dhu in 1981.

Tater Dhu taken during Sunday's memorial trip aboard today's Penlee Lifeboat, Ivan Ellen courtesy of Emily Smith.



This was how the story broke on BBC news at the time



Tribute to the Solomon Browne and crew from Russel Holland.


A few days before the Union Star ran aground, another ship the Bonita began to list in hurricane force winds 30 mles south east of Brixham. This video, just released from the RNLI tells the story of that little known rescue in which 29 crew, including the skipper's wife and two year old child, were taken off a ship in extreme conditions by the Gurnsey lifeboat, Sir William Arnold.

Today, more than ever, the RNLI needs the support of those who value their work in preserving the lives of those who go down to the sea.

Sunday 18 December 2011

Cefas Endeavour blog.



The guys and girls aboard the Cefas Endeavour are getting in to the swing on blogging. The most recent posts give more information on the technology and techniques employed in the research work - like this explanation of the 3D topography sonar kit - something every trawler owner would love to have aboard there boats but hugely expensive.

On the fish.

Someone must be getting dizzy on watch aboard the Lisa Jacqueline! - must be good fishing.

Sailing day for the last trip of 2011.

 One small step.......
 big boats need big wire......
 pulled on the quay.......
 the quickness of the hand deceives the eye.......
 and back through the block.......
 before the next shower arrives......
 we was wanting words with you!.........
 off comes the trawl in preparation for triple rigging targeting monk and brill.......
 under the watchful eye of skipper Curtis junior........ 
 before a team talk on the quay......
 until Royden arrives with the forklift.......
 to help pack away the trawl on a pallet........
 all set to sail........
 all hands interested in the future of independent ice in Newlyn need to attend this special general meeting fo Cornish Ice Company shareholders on the 21st of December in the Mission at Newlyn.......
 there's an excellent exhibition of art work by Nick Praed who lives and has his studio aboard the ex-Newlyn netter Ar Bagergan.........
 a quick look down the quay.......
 as the 'little ol' tiger heads for the ice works.........
before heading off to sea for the last trip of 2011.

Saturday 17 December 2011

Christmas cheer from the Fisheries Council in Brussels

Ending in the early hours of this morning, these were the tweets from MP Richard Benyon as the Fisheries Council meeting took place:

"Richard Benyon Off to Brussels to negotiate for fishing opportunities for our fleet next year......
MP Richard Benyon Absurdity of CFP made clear as I discuss net sizes in Irish Sea with Commissioner. We need reform that let's UK deal with such matters! 22 hours ago........
MP Richard Benyon Just had good meeting with French Minister. Good agreement with Germans too. Can argue sustainability through every proposal we make 20 hours ago........ 
MP Richard Benyon Still in Brussels negotiating fishing quotas. UK delegation have sweepstake of time agreement will be reached. My money on 3.45am 9 hours ago .........
Richard Benyon @ @seafishinfuture Do support CRP! It just the days @ sea part that is lunacy and doesn't work in mixed fishery like ours. RB 9 hours ago..........
Richard Benyon @ @StuartHousden getting there. Result soon 7 hours ago.......
Got a good deal for UK Fisheries @ 3.45am (as predicted here!). UK's position backed by science throughout. 1 hour sleep. Now going home 14 minutes ago RichardBenyonMP".........



Some good cheer emanating from this year's Fisheries Council meting for the UK fishing fleet. news coming out of the council meeting indicate that for Scottish fishermen the 4 day at sea a fortnight ruling may have been overturned in favour of a 4 day week. Quotas for North Sea haddock and herring appear to have been doubled. News of quota targets that apply to the waters off the south west has yet to reach the shore of Cornwall.


Mme Damanki speaking after the fisheries council meeting.



See the full story from the BBC here.
UK FISHING INDUSTRY 


Newlyn in Cornwall has the largest number of fishing vessels in the UK (619), followed by Milford Haven (483) and Poole (476). But Fraserburgh in Scotland has the largest capacity by gross tonnage (36,264), followed by Shetland (23,632). 63% of UK fishing boats were built prior to 1991. While the number of boats being built has fallen, their average capacity and power have increased


Source: UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 2010