Does Urk lose its fish through Brexit?

Brexit - a view from fishermen and fishworkers at Urk, the biggest Dutch fish auction - one of the first in Europe to be computerised to enable remote buying.
This report is from NOS, the largest news organisation in the Nederlands - translation by Google.

On the few places in the Netherlands Brexit-referendum last summer with much interest followed as in Urk. The greatest fear of the people of Urk was true: the British voted for - Urk therefore risks losing its fishing industry.

Of all Dutch fish are very few caught in Dutch waters. The fishing boats from Urk usually sail across the North Sea to British waters. There can be caught more fish thanks to European rules is that legal. The Dutch ships may arrive at about twenty kilometers from the British coast.

That British fishermen an eyesore. They voted en-masse for the Brexit. UKIP and other proponents fishermen promised that they would get back at their seas. They want the zone of 20 kilometers 'own water' is extended to 372 kilometers. There may then no Dutch boats sailing more.

UKIP MEP Ray Finch looks forward to the day when his countrymen regain the exclusive right to fish in British waters. "The seas with most fish in Europe are British If we were to come to the Netherlands and would say. We find you tulips beautiful, we want a part of it, you would not be very happy, we are not happy.. "

The British are so satisfied, but the Urkers fear an economic disaster. Take the director of the auction, Teun Visser. He fears for its survival. "If we lose half of the field where we can fish, then that is a tragedy. The English seem be keen to make it happen. Individual fishermen, own water. So that makes you afraid yes."


"The Brexit is a disaster for Urk '
"It's a tragedy for the Netherlands as the brexit continues as the British than want," says fisherman Andries de Boer. "Because 70 to 80 percent of our revenues come from British waters."

Not that Urkers now are such strong supporters of the EU. In 2005, more than 90 percent of Urk against the European Constitution. In any municipality in the Netherlands did so massively. Fishermen from Urk often have to deal with European rules. Apparently they were not satisfied.

A group of MEPs visited Urk today. Peter van Dalen of the Christian Union hopes to put the fishery on the agenda. "The Dutch government must bet here full on. Fishing should not be low on the negotiating agenda, but at the top. This is a lot of work and it's important to keep that work."

Urk they have little confidence that it succeeds. "We fear the future," says fisherman De Boer.

Not a cloud in the sky for Wednesday's fish auction at Newlyn.

Cloudless skies with a little nip in the air for Wednesday morning's market in Newlyn...

...

enough of a chill on the normally cozy market floor to keep the buyers busy...

bidding on a mix of beam trawl, inshore, line caught and net fish...

spot the deliberate mistake, spots being the key word here...

What Nancy Sinatra said were for walking...

plenty of big white fish with the netters like these coley...

a brace of monk tails form the beamer...

more than 50 shades of grey gurnard, which according to many crab fishermen don't fish half as well as their red cousins...

cuttles are black...

a couple of cracking ray...

and a box of delightful Dory...

these two tub gurnards will no doubt be the centrepiece of some fine dining establishment within the next 24 hours, if you're passing by @RexGoldmsith in his mighty fish emporium,the Chelsea Fishmonger tomorrow you might just spot them amongst the rest of his fine fish display...

and there is more than a good chance that some of the Ajax's MSC Certified hake will be bedded down in some ice nearby...

supercharged, top tail from which fish?...

making a late landing for tomorrow's market...

the Govenek of Ladram...

always good to see the Ivan Ellen tucked up in her berth, long may she stay there...

looks like a spot of concreting for the harbour staff today...

fresh fish to go.

The sustainable fish that’s transforming the British seafood business

The MSC's George Clark follows the trail of Cornish hake from ocean to plate and celebrates some pioneers of the UK seafood business.

Recent years have seen considerable growth in interest for serving MSC certified sustainable seafood in the UK’s restaurants and fish and chip shops. Much of this is driven by the preferences of increasingly aware consumers.

Cornish hake being landed on Ajax PZ36 with Paul Trebilcock, CFPO Chief Executive and Ajax skipper, Alan Dwan with MSC ecolabel

Alongside growing consumer demand there’s been a growth in MSC certifications for UK fisheries. Recent newcomers include Hastings plaice, Scottish mackerel and Cornish hake. I visited England’s South West coast to trace the hake’s journey from ocean to plate and see first-hand how it’s changing the British seafood business.

My first stop was Newlyn Harbour where the hake was landed. I was also here to present our MSC UK Special Achievement Award to Paul Trebilcock, CEO of the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation (CFPO). The award is given to a company or group who open up a route for a new species to enter the MSC certified market.

By incorporating the fish auctions at Newlyn, Brixham and Plymouth markets into their certificate, the CFPO has laid a path for sustainable Cornish hake. Along with its commitment to sustainable fishing it’s helped make British MSC certified fish much easier to source.

“We are proud of how the industry has responded to the challenge of working with scientists to better understand the state of fish stocks…and where action has been needed to improve stocks it has been taken. We’re very proud of our award and hope that there will be further interest in Cornish hake now that it’s available as an MSC certified species.” says Paul.

From ocean to market
From landing at the harbour in Newlyn, the hake is sold at the market auctions to MSC certified suppliers. I visited the Brixham market, where I saw hake bought, filleted and packed by MSC suppliers, Kingfisher Brixham.

Kingfisher Brixham is part of Direct Seafoods, a specialist fish and seafood group that supplies all kinds of businesses, from Michelin starred restaurants to contract caterers for schools. The certification and improved supply of Cornish hake has been a welcome boon for their business:

“It’s a local UK-sourced fish that is available in large volumes and tastes delicious. It highlights a truly local fish that’s readily available and growing in popularity with chefs and businesses across the country” says Laky Zervudachi, Direct Seafoods’ Sustainability Director.

The local specialists
Another supplier I met along the way was Wild Harbour of Hayle, West Cornwall.
Started in 2011 by owners Saul and Abi Astrinsky, the company was recently MSC certified. Saul has 25 years’ experience as a commercial hand line fisherman and now has a group of around 26 fisherman landing fish for the business.

“We have two great fisheries in Cornwall for both hake and sardines, so felt that the MSC certification for both would be an excellent additional selling point as well as supporting their commitment towards a sustainable future for both fisheries.” Abi tells me. “Our customers have been really interested in what we’ve been doing and we’ve had lots of enquiries regarding our certification for both the hake and sardines.”

A very special chippy

Craig Maw, owner of Kingfisher Fish and Chips receiving his delivery of Cornish hake.

Next I made my way to Plympton in Devon and the end of the chain. I was there to visit Kingfisher Fish and Chips and present owner Craig Maw with the MSC award for Best MSC UK Restaurant Menu 2016. Kingfisher isn’t just a local leader, at present it holds the world record for having the largest number of MSC certified sustainable seafood species on its menu with 12.

While I was there, I witnessed the chippy’s very first delivery of MSC Cornish hake, thanks to Kingfisher Brixham, fresh from the CFPO boats I saw just the day before.

Shortly after, Craig tells us the hake is a big hit: “Cornish hake is already the most popular MSC certified species after cod and haddock. I believe its popularity is down to its delicate taste. It’s also very local and is sustainably fished which resonates with our customers.”

Story courtesy of George Clark, MSC Commercial Manager

Monday morning market in Newlyn.

Plenty of fish on Monday morning's Newlyn fish market...

loads of luscious lemons...

a few boxes of megrims from the  inshore trawler Imogen III

and some cracking quality fish from the James RH...

along with  plenty of bass...

big, beautiful bass...

and turbot...

big blondes...

and of course some with the beamers hitting the cuttles...

the market floor is running in gold, well black gold...

more than enough to keep the auction moving at a pace...

with netters like the Karen of Ladram...

putting ashore some of those world-renowned MSC Certified hake...

along with a hundred boxes from the Britannia V...

and a handful of real squid...

alongside the market, the netter, Charisma has just landed...

while the engineers head back to a warm room and a brew...

on a rather chilly November morning...

while the Charisma takes back enough boxes to complete her neap tide at sea...

before letting go the ends and heading back to sea...

all set for the grand opening - Newlyn has a new Greengrocer!

Foreign capital is rooted in the French fishing industry.

Same story - different country:

Foreign capital is increasingly present in the French fishing industry, a phenomenon which allows the arms to continue to operate in a sector where investments are limited but raising concerns socially.

The 14 boats, soon 15, of CFTO, plying the Atlantic and Indian oceans in search of tropical tuna. The company's 285 employees in difficulties, 60% of the French fishing capacity to the fish. With this announcement, "it is the France's family jewels that leave," laments Olivier Le Nézet, chairman of the regional committee of maritime fisheries and mariculture (CRPMEM) of Britain, who hopes that the boats remain registered in Britain, with on board french sailors.

"Unfortunately, we've seen the weapons purchased by such groups, in which over the years it is not much of French sailors," he recalls.

If arming Lorient Jégo-Quéré is remembered: after taking over in 1994, the Spanish Pescanova is was disengaged in 2003, with the key to a social plan for 75 sailors. For CFTO, Dutch P & P promised to maintain the "Breton character of the fleet" and keep "unchanged" staff. But unions are worried "about the possibility of registering these vessels to the French International Register (RIF), which would be serious for the future employment of seafarers but also sedentary," says Yves The Helgoualc'h , CGT of Concarneau. Embedded in this register sailors - of which only 25 to 35% should come from the European Union - are not subject to French social right, unlike those vessels registered in the first register.

French banks not attracted:

The arrival of foreign capital in France is not new: Spanish and Dutch are present in fish from ten to twenty years, but more on small boats. "It took more breadth recently," admits Marc Ghiglia, Director General of the owners of Union fishing France (UAPF). P & P has already bought in 2011 Euronor, strong 7 trawlers and fishing boats freezers in Northern Europe, and indirectly owns 20% stake in the fishery Compagnie de Saint-Malo. Another Dutch group bought two of France Pelagic trawlers, while the four Hot sauce vessels are under Italian control. Among the big arms, only Scapêche (Intermarché) and Sapmer, specializing in tuna, are still exclusively under French capital.

"Unfortunately, there is no business today or investors in France who have the means to buy such weapons" when a transmission is required, says Olivier Le Nézet.

The French fishing companies earn less money than their neighbors, says Marc Ghiglia, stressing the weight of social regulations. And bankers are not very attracted by this sector "where the return is not guaranteed: a natural resource is exploited with uncertainties," analyzes Jérôme Lafon, Managing fisheries sector of the public institution FranceAgriMer. In parallel, the appetite of foreign owners has been sharpened by the severe restrictions imposed by the European Union on the building of new boats. "The only way to grow is to buy competitors or other companies," says Mr. Ghiglia.

However, in a case such as CFTO, "there is no need to cry wolf. They are investors who come to the area, not speculators, they do not come to carve up the company (.. .) they come because they think these companies are profitable, "says Mr. Lafon. In terms of actual fishing, redemptions generally do not change much, says Mr. Ghiglia "boats continue to do exactly the same thing they like fishing and land the same."

Story courtesy of LaVoix du Nord. Translation by Google.

Newlyn Harbour lights on the up!

Putting the word out. Adrian Pascoe's funeral will take place at Trewithian Crematorium at 11am, Thursday the 3rd of December...

meanwhile, there's a new kid on the block, opening on Monday...

harking back to the days when you rode into work on horseback...

the Algrie, up on the slip...

it's that time of year when that dedicated band of lighting engineers get to work to put on that special display...

bow on...

starboard quarter...

well that buff had been around a bit, first the Therese Muriel from Le Conquet, then it was 'borrowed' by the Girl Patricia and now the Algrie

heavy duty welding...

some additional ballast for the roll test.