Chef Galton Blackiston is in Newlyn making it a very #FishyFriday in the best fish town in the west!

When ling get hauled from the depths they can become goggle-eyed...

plenty of MSC Certified hake on the market this morning from boats like the Charisma...

which also landed some early season turbot - a fish for which there is almost no scientific stock assessment data...

unlike thornback rays...

as ever, there are always those omni-present handful of cod...

yet more 'butt' from the big netter...

along with a handful of Dory and Dovers...

and some mighty meaty looking monk tails...

the unmistakable spots of the plaice...

and, wherever the boats fish now, there are haddock on the grounds...

harbourmaster Rob Parsons gets filmed being quizzed by TV chef Galton Blackiston who will be cooking some of Newlyn's finest fresh fish down the Mary Williams pier later in the day...

both auctioneers in full swing sell the last of the morning's fish...

eagerly snapped up by the buyers...

looking to get more Cornish hake...

and turbot...

from the netters' trips...

someone will get the benefit of these delicious little parcels of monk cheeks...

normally the middle fridge is reserved for landings of handline caught mackerel - not that there any signs of Spring mackerel at the moment!..

luckily, some of the boats can turn to alternative fish like these trap-caught cuttles...

not a breath of wind this morning...

as the resident seal...

demonstrates how he deftly skins each fish before eating it...

seems to be a shift in the message...

work in progress...

a big name in fishing on the quay...

the beamer Algrie takes fuel...

spare combination warps on the Revival FR316...

big sterns on the netters...

fuel-up time...

 for the Karen of Ladram...

sisters...

there's still plenty to do aboard the beam trawler James RH  before she gets her gear put back aboard...

there's a story behind the mis-shaped bow of this one...

it took a day to create and looks like it could be a week before this quay sculpture is completed.

Newlyn Art Gallery - Conversations about time and place.

Just as the bronze memorial statue outside Newlyn Art Gallery makes a connection between the land and those that go down to the sea so Magda Stawarska-Beavan, Rebecca Chesney and Lubaina Himid have created three very different works for their current exhibition titled, Conversations about time and place.

“A rural ecologist, an urban drifter and a diasporic optimist examine the invisible layers underneath, the lost spaces on the edge and the forgotten places in between.” Lubaina Himid.  

The exhibition explores the work of three artists, Magda Stawarska-Beavan, Rebecca Chesney and Lubaina Himid, who consider the poetic investigation of place, space and time, through painting, sound installation and place-based research. 

All three artists use their work to uncover the hidden, understand a place as it is experienced by those who know it well, and remember apparently unknown histories.

Each artist has made new work for the show. See here for details.

Invisible Narratives is curated by Lubaina Himid CBE, winner of the 2017 Turner Prize.

The show runs until May 29th.

Also part of the current show is a piece by Rebecca Cheney that draws inspiration from the historic Tidal Observatory at the end of the South pier in Newlyn.  For nearly 100 years navigational charts cited sea levels as being taken from the tidal observatory in Newlyn.  Newlyn Tidal Observatory was established to determine mean sea level as a starting point for measuring height and levelling throughout the UK, and provides some of the longest sea level records ever kept. The length and consistency of the observatory workings give the data collected huge historical significance - especially so with regard to global warming and climate change.

Yesterday afternoon the gallery was treated to a talk...

from Richard Cockram, the vice-chairman of the Newlyn Archive, on the history and importance of the observatory...

and from artist Rebecca Chesney on how a visit to the observatory inspired new work for her show, Invisible Narratives...

Rebecca's work uses the data from the observatory...

 starting in 1916 up to 2018...

in a longitudinal piece...

on paper strips reminiscent of the paper roll used by the original Munro gauge recorder...

since the recordings taken in the first few years...

moving to the last few, it is easy to see how sea levels are continually moving upwards. It is possible to view see the live data streamed from the observatory's bubbler gauge along with hundreds of other stations that form a global network.

Also included in the exhibition is Rebecca's Forewarning, a three-screen video and sound installation filmed in 2018 on South Walney Island off the coast of Cumbria.

Local photographer Greg Martin produced a series of images on the day of a visit organised by Richard Cockram on behalf of the Newlyn Archive - the visit was also recorded by for Through the Gaps here.

For June, the gallery is planning a walk & talk tour in the harbour - which will necessitate a 6am start and appropriate footwear in order to see and hear the fish auction in full swing!

Another day in Newlyn.

This time of year sees a regular stream of visiting Scottish prawn (langoustine) trawlers using Newlyn as a base for their fishing trips west of the Scillys, Orion BF432...

local crabber Harriet Eve heads in through the gaps

and makes her way to a landing berth alongside the Chris Tacha...

in addition to the prawn trawlers there's always a handful of visiting Scottish scallopers that come and try their luck...

crabbers Chris Tacha and Harriet Eve land their two-day trips of crab...

for the Real Cornish Crab Company...

there's always work to be done on the trawls...

time for the Twilight III to sail...

Uncle Tom on the Harvest Reaper has decided to switch over to a scraper trawl now that megrims have begun to show up - which should see a reduction on the amount of haddock they have been catching - referencing the measure being taken to introduce a series of MPAs around Cornwall in order to protect salmon and sea trout - in 35 years fishing Tom has seen two sea trout - many fishermen in Cornwall have never seen a live sea trout or salmon...

so a different set of bridles and rig are wound back on to the winch...

the Evening Star is one of a handful of shelterdecked scallopers in the UK...

interesting looking steel yacht, Second Chance from Pembroke Dock...

the recently re-fitted James RH makes her way in through the gaps and heads for the quay...

where her ropes are taken...

an old hands' trick, using a heavy mooring rope as a fender to swing the boat on its bow against the quay...

like any other fishing boat, it seems there are always 101 jobs to be completed between trips, here the Brixham scalloper checks over all her running gear.

No risk to status of share fishermen under ILO 188

The legal status of UK share fishermen has been clarified and strengthened after work carried out by Human Rights at Sea (HRAS), along with the NFFO and the Fishermen’s Mission, reports Tim Oliver.

HRAS published a new briefing note covering the topic of UK share fishermen in respect of the International Labour Organisation Work in Fishing Convention 2007 (ILO 188). The briefing note provides clarity, and a new reference publication, in support of new UK legislation reflecting the application of ILO 188 in the UK.

It aims to provide a plain-English explanation of the status of share fishermen. It intends to help those in the UK fisheries supply chain to better understand the basis upon which share fishermen are engaged, their activities, and their rights and responsibilities.

ILO 188 is an international minimum standard regulating living and working conditions onboard fishing vessels that came into force internationally on 16 November, 2017, and in the UK on 31 December, 2018. It gives equality to all fishermen, in respect of minimum welfare standards and human rights, on all UK vessels and vessels operating in UK waters.

It is non-discriminatory, and the default position is that there is no distinction between employed and share fishermen in respect of the rights that ILO 188 confers. But where national legislation provides employed fishermen with rights and protections that go beyond ILO 188 requirements, the position remains unchanged.

ILO 188 requires fishermen to have work agreements, although these are not a contract of service. A work agreement is simply a written document setting out the basic minimum rights and responsibilities of the fisherman – including skippers – and the vessel owner.

The briefing document says that the equality in respect of welfare standards and human rights protections that ILO 188 has brought have been generally been welcomed. But it has caused anxiety among both vessel owners and share fishermen that the moves ‘are a step closer towards eroding the status of share fishermen’. However, the document specifically states: “There is no erosion to the status of share fishermen as a consequence of the work agreement.”

To ‘both allay these fears and to cement the status of share fishermen’ in the future, further work and clarification is needed. The briefing paper sets out three recommendations to try to address the issue:

ILO 188 work agreements should take account of the particulars of share fishing arrangements, while maintaining certain minimum protections
Emphasis should be on the rights of fishermen to choose the basis on which they are engaged. “The right of choice to be self-employed and enjoy the potential benefits of share fishing, while also carrying the attendant risks, is central to the profession of a share fisherman,” the briefing paper says
Some fishermen are paid on a day-rate basis. This falls outside the strict definition of share fishing, as the pay is not relative to the catch value. This raises the question as to the status of such fishermen, and whether their rights under ILO 188 are prejudiced in any way.
Robert Greenwood, NFFO safety and training officer, commented: “The right to be a share fisherman is an important part of the UK fishing industry, and is a historic privilege enjoyed by both fishermen and vessel owners equally.

“The introduction of the ILO 188 Work in Fishing Convention, and its implementation into UK law, includes both employed and share fishermen, and this independent briefing note by Human Rights at Sea clarifies that the rights of a share fisherman should be unaffected by the Work in Fishing Convention changes.”

Commodore David Dickens RN CBE, chief executive of the Fishermen’s Mission, said: “This timely briefing brings much-needed clarity to assessments of the rights of share catch fishermen in light of the Work in Fishing Convention legislation. It also allows individual fishermen and the industry to see clearly the overall welfare balance of choosing to work as a share catch fisherman.”

HRAS founder and trustee David Hammond commented: “We are pleased to deliver this publication, which has been produced with support from the industry, the Fishermen’s Mission and the NFFO, to provide a useful reference tool and explanatory document, in order to assist with understanding UK fisheries working conditions under ILO 188.”

The publication has been co-funded with generous financial support from the Fishmongers’ Company, Seafarers UK and the John Ellerman Foundation.

The full briefing note – ‘UK Share Fishermen: A Practical Guide and Review of Status’ – can be seen at: bit.ly/2XWqcxS

HRAS fights for seafarers’ rights
Human Rights at Sea (HRAS) is an independent maritime charity aiming to challenge and reduce human rights abuses at sea by raising global awareness.

Its mission is to ‘explicitly raise awareness, implementation and accountability of human rights provisions throughout the maritime environment, especially where they are currently absent, ignored or being abused’.

It aims to promote human rights for seafarers, fishermen, and others involved in working at sea, throughout the world in the global maritime supply chain.

David Hammond, a trustee and founder of HRAS, said that the charity had been involved with the UK fishing industry for around three years, to help with clarifying the concept of human rights at sea, as well as the international ILO 188 regulations, and safety and welfare issues involved in implementing them in UK law. This has mostly been done through the NFFO.

“Under our charitable objectives, we use our resources to try to help people to understand the facts and issues about human rights and, through case studies, where and why there are abuses,” he told Fishing News.

“We undertake discreet audits of human rights within the UK fishing industry. We independently highlight where things can be done better, and offer advice – though we are not part of the fishing welfare alliance.”

He said the problem with regard to ILO 188 was one of uncertainty about how it should be applied in the UK, particularly because the great majority of fishermen are share fishermen who are regarded as self-employed.

“It’s always the same when you have international conventions leading to new national legislation,” he said.

“It’s very easy to be critical of legislation when people are not sure of how it will work out in practice.

“We looked at the factual background. What we found was that when we speak to people, often in government departments and other non-fishing organisations, they were not so well-versed in the fishing industry – they didn’t actually understand what the basic issues are.

“We are therefore putting the facts out there, and we hope that the briefing paper helps them to understand the issues raised.”

Pros and cons of share status

Share fishermen are treated as self-employed for tax purposes.

Being a share fisherman has advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages include:

• Payment relative to the value of the catch
• Able to offset certain expenses against earnings
• Choice of when and where they work, and who they work with.

Disadvantages include:

• No guarantee of work
• Pay based only on catch value – risk of no pay from unprofitable trip
• No entitlement to national minimum or living wage
• No sick pay or paid annual leave
• No entitlement to same labour rights as employed fishermen
• Must submit annual tax return, manage own NI contributions, and keep business records
• Must contribute to food costs, unless otherwise agreed
• Require personal insurance against damage from negligence
• Must provide own protective gear and clothing.

Cornwall Good Seafood Guide's sustainability and marketing talk in Newquay.

On the North coast of Cornwall, Newquay is the only harbour between Hayle and Padstow...

and, despite its exposed situation to the prevailing westerly swells it is home to a thriving fleet of commercial fishing...

 angling and pleasure vessels... 

the angling boats easily identified as they lack any designated fishing vessel registration letters and numbers...

most of the commercial fishing fleet fish for shellfish using pots...

though many of these use nets at certain times of the year to take advantage of seasonal fishing patterns with whitefish...

during storms the boats have to contend with 10' or more swells which lift the heavily secured boats and drop them on their keels - hence the many heavily built hulls in evidence...

the harbour is tidal, forcing the boats to sail whenever the tide is high enough - many of the fleet sailed around 2:30am this morning - and the boats are often forced to wait until late evening hours to land their catches ashore...

last night, the harbour-side Newquay Rowing club, home and workshop to the local gig rowing scene...

played host to the second of six workshops being held over the next year around Cornwall.  Matt Skater from the Cornwall Good Seafood Guide is on a mission to further strengthen the increasingly respected and liked Cornish seafood which is fast developing a brand identity all of its own. The talks focus on sustainability and marketing for individuals or small groups of like-minded fishermen who could benefit from self-promotion by making the best use of social media like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to promote awareness and sales of catches.  

At this time of year spider cabs invade the waters off Newquay in huge numbers - once a fish despised because of their perceived lack of financial reward - these days thew spider crab is renowned for its much sought after (by those who know) sweet white flesh. To celebrate this there will be a spider crab feast and picking demonstration in June - follow 'spiderman' Ross King on Twitter for more info!

For more general information visit the brand new Cornwall Good Seafood Guide website or contact Matt Slater or Larry Hartwell direct.

Monday morning market in Newlyn.

Many bream offered in restaurants are farmed - be sure to ask!..

there's no mistaking trap-caught cuttles and their bold stripes...

summer's coming so say the John Dorys of this world...

 dogs of war no more...

looks like someone forgot to pack some fish tallies this morning...

the scallop season is under way...

unlike the North Sea, cod are never caught in huge quantities in the south west but there are always a few boxes landed by the beam trawl and inshore fleet......

the auction is all butt over...

with a few hundred kilos of whole monk fish from the prawn trawlers that put their catches ashore over the weekend...

like the Vision IV...

which sees the crew busy going through the trawls and mending any tears...

one of Rowse's crabber, the Harriet Eve...

rolls her way in through the gaps to land...

and passes the classic sailing ship Irene that spent the weekend sailing in the Bay.