Radio 4 on the 'Scallop Wars' meeting in London today.

Radio 4's Today coverage early this morning on the so called, 'Scallop Wars' meeting in London today.




Talks will be held in London later in a bid to resolve tensions between French and British scallop fishermen. The British fish producer organisation will meet with their French counterparts and Defra officials to try and find a solution.

Around 40 French boats clashed with five UK craft last week in a row over scallop fishing off northern France. British crews said rocks, smoke bombs and other projectiles were hurled at them during the confrontation.

French agriculture minister Stephane Travert said on Tuesday that France's navy was ready to intervene to prevent further clashes. He told French broadcaster CNews: "We can't keep going on like this. We can't keep having skirmishes like that.

"The French navy is ready to step in if more clashes break out, as well as carrying out checks."

UK boats are entitled to fish in the scallop-rich area of the English channel, 12 nautical miles (22km) off the Normandy coast, in the Bay of Seine. However, their presence has angered the French, who have accused the British of depleting shellfish stocks.

Environment secretary Michael Gove says the UK boats were fishing legally and that it is for the French to take any steps needed to prevent violence in the area.

Mr Gove said last week: "These are French waters, it's the responsibility of the French to ensure that those who have a legal right to fish can continue to fish uninterrupted."  While Defra says there is no ministerial involvement in today's talks, Downing Street has said both sides are hoping for an "amicable" solution from the meeting between officials and industry representatives.

Prime Minister Theresa May's official spokesman said: "The important thing is that there are talks taking place between the two sides. "I think everybody - ourselves and the French government - is hoping that this will reach an amicable outcome."


French fishermen have clashed with their British counterparts off the coast of Normandy in a dispute over scallops. But what are the relevant rules?

Scallops are among the more valuable shellfish, coveted for their delicate taste.

They're causing trouble in the Channel, where French fishermen say UK rivals are "pillaging" stocks off the coast of Normandy. British fishermen say they are operating within the law and that French boats have no right to try to stop them dredging in the Baie de Seine area.

Scallops - the broader picture:

Under the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy registered fleets from any member state have equal access to EU waters. But each country has powers to limit the access that fleets from other EU countries have to waters within 12 nautical miles of its own coastline. This means France can impose restrictions on UK and other non-French EU boats operating within this zone, but not beyond.

But - amid stated concern over the level of scallop stocks - France operates an extra law that applies only to its own fleets. This allows them to dredge the Baie de Seine (some of which is less than 12 nautical miles off the French coast, and some of which isn't) only during a "season" lasting from 1 October to 15 May. So, UK fleets can dredge the area lying more than 12 miles off the coast at this time of year.

French fleets, because of their own country's law, can't do this until the season starts next month. French fishermen say this is unfair, arguing that ships from other EU countries are getting an advantage over them. But the UK's Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs points out that, overall, French fleets make far more money from catches in UK waters than vice versa.

In the past, the UK and France have worked out what the European Commission called "common management measures" for harvesting scallops, but this has not been repeated this year, amid increasing acrimony. The commission said it was "in the interest first and foremost of the fishermen" to come to a new agreement.

France24 reported news of the meeting this way:

British and French fishing groups will hold talks Wednesday to avert new clashes between their vessels, after tensions flared last week in scallop-rich waters near Normandy and as Brexit looms on the horizon.

The meeting in London, facilitated and attended by government officials from both sides, will see scallop industry leaders discuss access to stocks of the pricey delicacy in the Seine Bay.

"We're going to have to work on this, because this situation cannot continue," French Agriculture Minister Stephane Travert told CNews television on Tuesday.

"We can't have clashes like this," he said, calling for the "sustainable and efficient management of scallop stocks".

Tensions boiled over last Tuesday when five British vessels sparred with dozens of French boats in the sensitive area, with video footage showing fishermen from both sides ramming each other.

The latest skirmish in the long-running so-called "Scallops Wars" has led to France placing its navy on standby to deal with any further confrontations.

It comes as Britain prepares to leave the European Union -- and its common fisheries policy which sets catch quotas and other restrictions for member states -- next March.

With British fishermen heavy backers of Brexit, "we must recognise that tensions are reviving," added Travert, who warned the industry should not be used as a bargaining chip between London and Brussels.

"We want a global accord, and do not want to see fishing treated separately, because fishing should not be a variable for adjusting Brexit," he said.

Mid-week market in Newlyn.

Early start for the crew of this German sailing boat...

just the one big trip of hake form the netter Amanda of Ladram this morning...

other inshore boats provided a further mix of fish like these gorgeous whiting...

and monk tails...

outside the market the sun has yet to have much impact with almost 100% cloud cover shrouding the Mounts Bay...

slim pickings for Mousehole Fish this morning...

though there were some cracking big haddocks form the Amanda...

along with a few big John Dory...

it's nose-to-tail ling in one box...

seems there are plenty of blackjacks about...

#fishyfact for the day, sand soles are right-sided flatfish and can live up to ten years...

witches are also right-sided flatfish...

all boats that work nets dread this - when the net gets drawn into the path of the propeller - if it cannot be released at sea then the skipper is faced with being towed to the nearest port...

last of the fish destined for packing and despatch...

heading straight back to a berth - frustrating for all concerned - a fruitless night's work for the Asthore - that's why it's called fishing...

after a net in the prop the beam trawler's next most frustrating problem at sea is losing a beam trawl to some sort of fastner on the sea bed...

still plenty of beam trawlers in port this morning...

another day's work on the trawl ahead...

Vesta, all set for the next sardine hunting trip...

more work for Tom on the Harvest Reaper...

two of the pelagic fleet in Newlyn that chase sardines, in the red, Golden Harvest and in the black,  Pelagic Marksman...

early-doors anglers on the end of the quay as the sun makes a brave attempt to break through the heavy cloud cover...

the Twilight at dawn...

the RNLI have a temporary building as work continues to build a new home for the crew of the Penlee Lifeboat...

coming up for discussion at a couple of public meetings this week - the planned development of this corner of the harbour known as the Canners' Slip - named so because the white building over the road was for many years filled with the sound of dozens of local women involved in packing and canning pilchards for Shipphams...

every year the promenade in Penzance, the only promenade in Cornwall, enjoys a flag display with some sort of theme - this year the flags celebrate the rather curious building in Chapel Street known to one-and-all as the, Egyptian House...

a rather attractive oil painting by Harold HARVEY (British 1874-1941) is up for auction at David Lane's next week, 13th September. The painting is sure to garner some serious local interest especially from the Penlee Gallery and possibly the Stevenson family - the boat, PZ198 We'll Try in the foreground was owned by William Stevenson who was head of the local fishing family firm back in the 1930s when the painting was completed. Harold Harvey was one of the most prominenet members of the Newlyn School in its later years and his work is some of the most well known.


Further details and information on how to join the auction live on the web are available here.

Low Tide with the vessel 'We'll Try' - Newlyn Harbour, Oil on board, Inscribed verso 'Harold Harvey, Given to Mrs Mary Parker of Baycliffe by Oliver Hall of Bardsea 1954', 19" x 23.75" (48cm x 60cm) 

Note: The vessel We'll Try, registered PZ198, was based at Newlyn and in the ownership of Mr W Stevenson until 1945 when it was sold and transferred to Conway, North Wales - Oliver Hall (British 1869-1957) Painter and etcher of landscapes, began exhibiting in the Royal Academy in 1890, elected RA in 1927 and Senior Academician in 1945.

Seafish survey seek fishermen in Cornwall this week.

Fishermen in Newlyn will be visited this week as part of an annual survey of the UK’s fishing fleet.

Researchers from Seafish will be visiting fishing ports between St Ives and Ilfracombe, Porthleven and Looe and Newlyn and Sennen from today through until Sunday.

They want to hear from all vessel owners and skippers in Cornwall and Devon over the state of the fishing industry, for its 13th annual economic survey. They will particularly be looking at the financial and operational performance of the fishing industry.

With the UK preparing to exit the European Union, the organisation says it is “vital” that fishers provide accurate data to paint a clear picture of the performance of the industry for policy makers.

Economics Project Manager at Seafish, Steve Lawrence, said: “We have to find out from those on the front line of the fishing industry how their economic performance has been over the past 12 months.

“This insight means we can keep all those in the sector fully informed on the health of the fleet. For us to be able to keep policy makers informed with our reports we need as many skippers and vessel owners as possible to be involved and have their say.”

Last year proved to be a mixed year for the fishing fleet, with operating profit seeing a four per cent decrease, but total fishing income rising by £38 million to reach £984 million.

In the 2017 survey, many skippers raised the uncertain political and trade landscape, the availability of fish, oil and fuel price and quota as some of their main concerns. The 2018 survey is a chance for the industry to give up to date information on their successes and upcoming challenges, helping their voices be heard.

This year will also include a social demographic section, asking fishers about their age, qualifications and working arrangements, providing more insight in to the individuals in the catching sector.

“Collecting this social data helps us to build up a much more detailed picture of the UK fishing industry. This rich information is vital to ensure decision makers This rich information is vital to ensure decision makers understand how communities and livelihoods are affected by changing management measures, particularly now as we head towards EU exit and a new fisheries policy.

“We appreciate the continued support of the fishing industry in Cornwall and Devon and encourage all skippers and vessel owners in the area to speak to our researchers,” added Mr Lawrence.

The findings from this years’ survey, to be published in 2019, will help uncover the direction the industry is moving in and give an insight on how fishers see the future of their industry.

All vessel owners who take part in the survey can request a free financial performance benchmark report, which allows comparisons with the average performance of similar vessels.

information provided is treated as confidential and no individual vessel figures will be revealed in any report.

Anybody interested in taking part in the survey should contact Steve Lawrence at Seafish on 0131 524 8663 or email steven.lawrence@seafish.co.uk.

The most abhorrent occupation in the world?

Magnus Johnson's words below will no doubt strike a very, very deep chord with every fisherman in the UK and beyond. Despite the endless changes made in the industry for the good the mainstream media, NGOs and others have seen fit to vilify the industry - even today in the MSM there is an example - sinking to the extent of using local tensions to appeal to simplistic nationalist attitudes - see today's headline in the Daily Mail that exploits a loophole in the law which for those involved can do little to change.

It's a non-story taken out of context.

So here goes:

The most abhorrent occupation in the world?

Imagine you have a business.

You’re not breaking any laws and its something your family have been doing for hundreds of years. Your whole community has been doing it and whole cultures, traditions, music, stories and clothes have evolve around it. Industries have thrived on your products. Your product is gluten free, contains no additives, has a low carbon cost, doesn’t involve ploughing and transforming the land and gives us beautiful food that kings and commoners alike adore.

Your industry is one where workers can do well just by dint of tenacity and hard work. The aristrocracy and powerbrokers don’t go near it. Your activity is the source of identity for coastal communities. At work you are free.

Now imagine, having been bombarded with insultingly simplistic hyperbole about the impacts of your industry, that the middle classes decide not to like you. They view your job as one for greedy, good for nothing skivers, folk that take something for nothing. These people are more articulate than you, better off, better connected, more numerous and have no economic link to your business. If you fail it has no impact on them. In fact, they earn more money the more despicable they can make you appear. Casting aspersions on your character and industry is a multi-million pound business. Not only that but their success in vilifying you makes them feel smug. These people make such a good job of making you look bad because that is what they are paid to do, they can afford good lawyers and bad politicians.

You, on the other hand, are paid to work. Not to wear a suit and sit in an office wearing a shirt and tie in meeting after meeting, discussing the nuances of situations over canapes.

You find yourself and your industry being eroded. Not by fact-based evidence but by the wild ramblings of people who are ideologically driven to persecute those that make a living from a common resource.

If this is you my friend, you are a fisherman. Be proud. Be strong. Be safe.

Dr Magnus Johnson is a lecturer in Environmental Marine Science at the Centre for Environmental and Marine Sciences, University of Hull. His views are his own.

Monday morning fish market in Newlyn

There seems to be as many beam trawlers in as out this morning...

as both auctioneers get Monday morning's market started...

and with a mix of day, beam trawl, line caught and netted fish there is Newlyn's massive range of species for the buyers to bid on like these cracking John Dory...

handsome hake from the Karen of Ladram...

the odd blue...

line caught pollack...

get noticed in these superb quality boots from Comfish based in Newquay...

cod from the beam trawler Algrie

lovely lemons...

and plenty of megrim soles...

not to be confused with these witches...

a brace of big monk tails...

and some, 'ansum 'addock as they would say in Poldark...

young Mr Smith had a bumper weekend with the handlines with a big landing of blackjacks...

ling...

and the staple of his fishing diet, pollack...

tip-top monk tail for Trelawney Fish...

while summer has brought on plenty of sightings of blue-fin tuna all round the coast it is the John Dory that some of the inshore fleet look to to boost their summertime fishing...

making a relatively rare appearance on the market - good sized scad - a member of the oily fish family like mackerel and sardines and to try at least once - sprinkled with a little salt beforehand, filleted or split like a kipper - grill or fry with plenty of butter and lemon juice to season...

an immaculate whiting - the perfect fish-supper fish...

ray, bit of a Marmite fish, gorgeous if you like them...

Cap'n Cod spent hours at sea for two boxes of these beauties - he's tag No2 if you ever buy a tagged bass in your local wet fish shop...

good to see this boat looking after his immaculate line caught squid - reflected in the high price paid for them to be in this condition - chefs love to get fresh squid with the brown membrane still intact...

just the one big monk tail in this box...

turbot, top-table fish from the Algrie...

aerial border patrol...

snapped up close after ten years of trying, one of two pairs of ravens that frequent Newlyn harbour from their base in nearby (disused) Penlee Quarry now owned by MDL Marinas who hope to develop the site with a marina and housing... 

he (or she) had been usurped by this young black-backed gull from devouring the contents of a yoghurt pot...

the port's latest crabber, Asteria...

recently began fishing from Newlyn after a huge refit converted her from a previous life as a prawn trawler...

as seen her in Newlyn two years ago...

the hydraulic crane and powerblock were left fitted to make it easy for the crew to load and unload gear from her...

down and out, another lamp post down the quay bites the dust.