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Thursday 18 October 2012

Don't forget the Under 10s plea from East Anglian Euro Mp

Geoffrey Van Orden recently challenged European fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki when she addressed a meeting of the European Conservative and Reformists Group in the European Parliament. Mr Van Orden, who has been a staunch supporter of the fishing industry, called for particular attention to be given to the needs of fishermen using small under 10m boats.

The amount of fish that vessels are allowed to catch is set out by the EU in the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). It varies according to time of year, type of catch and location but on average under 10m boats have access to just 4% of the overall quota – despite making up 77% of the UK’s fishing fleet. The policy is now being negotiated and fishermen in Suffolk are demanding a fairer deal.

Mr Van Orden said: “I have always taken the view that the EU’s CFP was bad for the fishermen and bad for the fish and the Commissioner recognised that many of us wanted a return of our fishing industry to national control. “She has been a breath of fresh air in her attitude but, as a European commissioner, she still seems to attach more importance to the integrity of the EU treaties than to a sustainable fishing industry. She responded positively to my plea for more attention to the needs of the under 10m vessels. She held out the encouraging prospect of 75% co-financing for under 10m boats; assistance in upgrading vessels; and the advantage to coastal fishermen of a distinction between ‘fresh’ and ‘frozen’ in the labelling of fish.

I take that as encouragement of my view that repatriating CFP is the only long-term answer.” Roger Hipwell, chairman of the Orford and District Inshore Fishermen’s Association, has warned current legislation is forcing the inshore fishing fleet into a terminal decline. “Our members are fishermen who wish to fish, not leave the industry because their sustainable methods have been sacrificed by governments unwilling to stand up to large fishing organisations,” he said.

The Marine Management Organisation, the regulatory body for the UK’s fishing industry, has said it welcomes changes and is working hard to find an alternative to current policy. Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon has said he is committed to reform.

Story courtesy of the East Anglian Daily Times Business section.

Turned on!

The community can be proud of saving the day!

A COMMITTEE has raised the £3,000 it needed to make sure the Newlyn Harbour Lights are switched on this year just two weeks after issuing a plea for assistance.

Businesses and the community rallied round the Newlyn Harbour Lights Committee following its appeal for help raising the four-figure sum in The Cornishman on September 27. Organisers had feared for the future of the decades-old Christmas celebration after the former fundraising committee dwindled in size leading to the cancellation of its figurehead raft race fundraiser.

The night sky will once again be lit up over Newlyn this Christmas.

However, after support from businesses including RC Harding and Sons, the Co-op, W Stevenson and Sons, Newlyn Harbour Commission, local fishermen, pubs, and community members, they reached target before their November cut-off. Nathalie Keogh, said the committee has been staggered by the response: "We have been really, really lucky with support from the community," she said. "We've had a really good response and really good positive feedback."

The committee is holding a further fundraising meeting next Friday.

EXHIBITION - the 75th anniversary of the voyage of the Rosebud to Westminster in 1937.

Tucked away in Morrab Gardens which are themselves tucked away in the heart of Penzance, Morrab Library is at last beginning to fledge its archival wings for the benefit of a wider audience. For all those with an interest in the history of Newlyn make a point fo visting the library over the next few days to enjoy a rare opportunity to peruse a fascinating collection brought together by some of the library staff.

Glyn and Alan have been toiling away to put together a fantastic exhibition to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the voyage of the Rosebud to Westminster in 1937.

The crew of the Rosebud carried a petition from the people of Newlyn Town, in an attempt to save fishermens' cottages from wholesale demolition by the Penzance Council under their interpretation of the Housing Acts 1925 - 1935. You can find out a little more about this history here, but for a more insightful look, come and see the exhibition in the library, featuring photographs, a bit of the keel, and a model of the Rosebud.

The exhibition runs between 17th and 27th October in the Reading Room at the library. We look forward to seeing you here!

Putting lives at risk - as if fishing wasn't dangerous enough

The RNLI is a jewel in the UK crown - a hugely successful and unrivalled rescue service - a model of good practice and the envy of seafaring nations the world over. Despite doing the world's most dangerous job in the first instance, active and retired fishermen often make up the bulk of a lifeboat's crew - they bring unparallelled local knowledge and seafaring skills to the operation. This week, a few yards off shore and in the entrance to Penzance dock both Penlee lifeboats rescued a yacht with three people on board - in a rescue that should never have happened.

Under normal circumstances you would accept that a yacht had found itself in difficulties when on passage and caught out by a rapidly deteriorating forecast which then necessitated a rescue call. However, if the newspaper report is to be beleived, this is a rescue that should not have happened.

The boat left the safety of Penzance Harbour bound for Weston-Super-Mare that morning when, allegedly, the cause of the rescue was down to one of the crew being so seasick that the boat was forced to return to port. Given that the forecast was, and had been giving southerly gales and worse and that all but the biggest fishing boats in Newlyn's fleet were already safely tied up in port you have to question the sanity of a yacht even contemplating sailing in such conditions - they crew were obvioulsy not hardened sailors - hardened sailors don't get seasick - and if they do, their boat isn't going to return to port!

The AIS track of the Ivan Ellen which stood by the Paul Alexander as she rescued the yacht from the entrance to Penzance Harbour.

In the end the Atlantic class inshore lifeboat. Paul Alexander found itself partially disabled owing to the conditions and the crew having to deal with what turned out to be a tricky rescue.

Let's hope the yacht sees fit to make a huge donation to the RNLI by way of apology and some recompence - not that this would have been any consoloation should the rescue turned into a disaster - for either party.

Here's the report from the RNLI with comments from Patch Harvey, cox of the Ivan Ellen who quite rightly pointed out that his boat was safely tied up in the harbour at Newlyn at the time - as should all those boats unable to deal with the very poor conditions!

"The volunteers of the Penlee RNLI inshore lifeboat faced a six metre swell and a southerly gale this morning (Wednesday 17 October) as they attempted to rescue a yacht crew who had gone aground in the entrance to Penzance Harbour.

The three people onboard the 30ft yacht left Penzance this morning, bound for Weston-super-Mare but when one of them because very seasick they headed back towards the port. However, with a huge swell running in to the harbour the yacht went aground as they made their approach and rolled on to her side.

The RNLI volunteers managed to get a rope on to the bow of the yacht despite the lifeboat being swamped by the massive seas several times. At one stage they lost power to one of the outboard engines, but fortunately managed to restart it within 15 minutes.

Patch Harvey, RNLI Coxswain at Penlee, says the crew volunteers did a brilliant job:

‘Despite loosing an engine and getting swamped time and time again the three crew managed to keep hold of the yacht until just after low water when she began to float and they were able to pull her away and tow her out to the all-weather lifeboat (Ivan Ellen). They then took the boat to Newlyn where using both lifeboats, we managed to steer the yacht through the narrow entrance and on to a safe berth.

‘I would remind people to listen carefully to the weather forecast before setting out. Today there are warnings of southerly force eight winds that are likely to increase and there’s already a rough sea in the bay. I’d like to keep the lifeboat safety moored up at times like this and hope other sea goers feel the same way.'"

Nuff said Patch.

Wednesday 17 October 2012

Enabling fish stocks to return to healthy and sustainable levels will result in an increase in landings, profit and income for the fisheries sector and fishermen

Brussels, Belgium - Enabling fish stocks to return to healthy and sustainable levels will result in an increase in landings, profit and income for the fisheries sector and fishermen, according to a new independent study - Socio-Economic Benefits of a Bold EU Fisheries Reform - launched today.

The research carried out by Framian BV and commissioned by WWF, is the first to examine the potential social and economic benefits of the fisheries sector from a purely EU perspective, providing strong arguments for an ambitious reform of Europe’s fisheries, which is presently up for review.

If politicians vote for a strong EU fisheries reform with proper implementation that will allow fish stocks to recover, just 10 years from now in 2022, we could start seeing huge benefits (compared to continuing past trends):

EU fishermen could land an additional 2.8 million tons of sustainably caught fish - an increase of around 80%
The fisheries sector could generate an extra income of €2.1 billion per year - around 80% more
Across the EU, income per fisherman could be up to 50% higheron average than it is today

“EU fisheries have the potential to be highly productive. A long-term stable supply of fish is possible, but only if fish resources are managed sustainably. Now is the time to put the much needed policy and financial structures in place and put a stop to bankrupting our oceans,” says Tony Long, Director at WWF’s European Policy Office.

In 2012 we have seen some positive signs on stocks and even profits, but these reflect substantial efforts in certain fisheries and remain an exception rather than the rule, when looked at across European Waters.

Over the past 15 years, EU fisheries have been in continuous decline. Landings and employment have been falling at a steady rate of 4% per year and fishermen’s incomes have stagnated. The discussion paper draws some stark conclusions for the future if the status quo continues. With no strong fisheries reform, by 2022:

EU fishermen could land 1.4 million tons of fish less compared to 2009 - about 30% less
EU fishing fleets could decrease by as much as 20%
50,000 fishermen will have lost their jobs across the EU – that’s a 30% drop in employment, compared to 2009

“EU fisheries have been close to the edge of bankruptcy. Fisheries Ministers and the European Parliament need to heed the call of thousands of consumers and businesses across Europe who want to see a prosperous future for fish stocks, our fishing industry and our oceans. Our politicians have the opportunity and the power to secure profit for industry and income for fishermen - so they must ensure a progressive reform of the Common Fisheries Policy," concludes Tony Long.

WWF is orchestrating a massive online lobby of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who sit on the Fisheries Committee and play a key role in deciding the future of our fisheries end of November. After decades of poor management by Fisheries Ministers they have a chance, for the first time ever, to ensure progressive reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and secure a prosperous future for fish stocks and in turn the fishing sector.

WWF is calling for a Common Fisheries Policy that:

ensures fish populations are above levels which can support maximum sustainable yield (BMSY) by 2015;
establishes multi-annual plans by 2015 and fishery-based co-management groups involving all stakeholders;
enhances cooperation at regional level on sustainable management of fish stocks;
stops the wasteful practice of discarding unwanted fish while bringing unwanted catches close to zero by 2018 at the latest; and
limits subsidy payments to sustainable fishing practices.

On 28 November the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee will decide and vote on the future of our oceans. Send a message to MEPs and tell them to ‘Stop Bankrupting our Oceans’: www.wwf.eu/stopbankrupting

Story courtesy of WWF web site.

The tide is high but I'm holding on......

Southerly swells swirl past the Mission entrance, by far the biggest tide of the year and just as well for Newlyn that the wind forecast did not arrive - a big sou' easterly blow on top of

a 19 foot 7 inch tide would have been very messy for the town...

as it is the Anthony, now minus her wheelhouse is almost submerged...

harbour master Andrew always happy to see the harbour in the black...

with only the one big boat to land this morning the buyers were fighting over the fish beginning to make good money as the poor weather keeps many boats tied up around the coasts of the UK...