Saturday night, Sunday afternoon.

Saturday sunset over Sennen...

and the northbound traffic separation scheme is on full view...

Juicy on the winch landing fish from the St Georges...

to a safe pair of hands...

brotherly love watched over by young Dennis...

lone sailor arrives in Newlyn...

as Ian and Little Graham get to grips...

with all 160 boxes of prime fish...

for Stevenson's of Newlyn...

there's even a few boxes of discards to go ashore...

the boys seem to be attracting a fair bit of attention as they land the catch...

before the ends are let go and a springer used to move the boat away from the quay...

skipper Bill Worth keeping am ever-watchful eye on Baden and the springer...

Waterdance's big crabber landing to a vivier lorry...

looks like there's anew arrangement for parking up the fleet of artics that use the harbour...

young cap'n Cod lending a hand...

to Shane landing his trip of line caught bass...

as they leave Shane's safe hands...

and swing ashore...

she's not the only boat to land as the Girl Pamela makes for the fishmarket quay...

latest port visitors include the Danish built Northern Irish boat, Unity

and the scalloper King Challenger.

 

'Travel' to Norway for free and visit Nor-Fishing 2020 Digital 18 – 20 August!

 

This year the traditional Nor-Fishing exhibition will go digital for the first time in its long history. The event is fast approaching, and exhibition manager Kari Steinsbø reports several hundred pre-registered visitors.

‘To follow the event live, you must pre-register to receive login details. Attending the exhibition is completely free of charge for visitors, and now that the event is approaching, more and more visitors are signing up,’ she said. 

The event is broadcasted live over three days, from 18-20th August, and each day’s broadcast will last for about five hours. To those who are excited about how the digital event will be, Kari Steinsbø explained that following the event will be like watching a live TV programme that you can participate in yourself – by asking questions to debaters or talking to exhibitors in digital meeting rooms.

‘Each day of the event includes a good mix of features with lectures from leading researchers, debates and of course some highlights such as student features and celebration of the exhibition’s 60th anniversary,’ she said.

The full programme is now updated on the Nor-Fishing web site, and will be updated continuously until the event opens.

‘We think it’s great that the year Nor-Fishing celebrates 60 years will be the year when the first digital fishing event kicks off. We have worked hard for our viewers to experience an exciting event – and we are really looking forward to going live on Tuesday,’ she added, commenting that all you need is internet access.

‘Although it is strange and a little sad that the industry will not meet in Trondheim this year, the digital platform has several benefits. Visitors avoid all expenses and logistics in connection with travelling to the event and can participate from anywhere in the world – as long as they have internet access. If you are at sea during the event, you can participate as long as you have internet access on your mobile phone,’ Kari Steinsbø said.

Register here as a visitor to Nor-Fishing 2020 Digital

Return of the Penlee Lifeboat, The Brothers.

Writes Jonathon Banks: 

"When I heard that The Brothers (a near 100 year old historic ex lifeboat, with so many local connections and stories) was potentially going to be scrapped for parts, in my mind we had no option but to get involved in trying to save her. Sat in a marina 300 miles away, holes in her hull and with little time before her imminent demise, I realised the best way to save her was to take her on myself, buy her and bring her home."

It's an honour to be heading this project to save such an important boat and a huge thank you to everyone who's offered their help and support so far. But we need more help. If she is truly to come home we need to find somewhere close to Newlyn/Penzance where we can keep her and work on her while she is restored. If you know a farmer, estate owner, someone with a large garden, a spot on an industrial estate or perhaps someone at the council can help. 

If you think you can help in anyway please email me on jonathan@thebrothers.uk or call 01736 887301.  

THE BROTHERS Lifeboat (ON 671) was the first motor lifeboat to arrive at Penlee and was based there from 1922 until 1930. A Watson Class, she was the first to be fitted with the new 90 B.H.P. 6-cylinder engine. Her donors were the Misses Eddy of Torquay, who also provided the money for alterations to the boathouse and slipway made necessary by the larger lifeboat. 

This plaque at the head of the Penlee Boathouse records the extraordinary generosity of these three spinster ladies. 

A ‘Save the Brothers’ website will soon be available- Facebook page here - https://m.facebook.com/SaveTheBrothers/

Thank you once again for all your support.

Misty start to the day in Newlyn.

The Belgian beam trawler Vaya Con Dios landed her fish to a lorry to be overlanded back to the fish auction at Ostend...

aye!, tall stories down the quay...

as the Vaya Con Dios heads out through the gaps...

and back to sea...

she has been working in the Irish Sea for the last month from Milford Haven before heading to fish south of Scilly...

plenty of new steel going aboard the beam trawler...

'twas a misty morn in Nelwyn...

for Stevenson's Aaltje Adriante landing at the fish market...

 

along with Ocean Fish's scalloper, Le Men Du , Cornish for Black Hill .

How fish stocks will change in warming seas

 

New research out today highlights the future effects of climate change on important fish stocks for south-west UK fisheries. 

 

The study, which generated future projections of climate impacts on fish in a rapidly warming sea region, suggests changes in the availability and catchability of commercially important Atlantic fish species including Atlantic cod, Dover sole, monkfish and lemon sole. This could have implications for fisheries management, and future fish diets of the British public.

The Celtic Sea, English Channel and southern North Sea have experienced significant warming over the past 40 years and further increases in sea temperatures are expected over the coming decades. Projecting future changes can help prepare the fishing industry and management systems for resulting ecological, social and economic effects.

The study involved researchers from the University of Exeter, the University of Bristol, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the Met Office Hadley Centre. They used computer models to look at how fish abundances may alter by 2090 under a range of future climates. This provided opportunities to not only understand future trends, but how these trends might differ depending on the amount of warming in these seas.



Main findings from the study include:

Projections suggest increases in abundance of warm-adapted species red mullet, Dover sole, John dory and lemon sole, and decreases in abundance of cold-adapted species Atlantic cod, monkfish and megrim. These changes will challenge current fisheries management systems, with implications for decisions on future fishing mortality rates, fishing effort and allowable catches. For example, declining species may need further measures to reduce their vulnerability to further warming temperatures.

Increasingly flexible and adaptive management approaches are required that reduce climate impacts on fish species while also facilitating industry adaptation. Importantly, the results indicate implications not only for the wider ecosystem (e.g. predator prey dynamics or community composition) but that the fishing industry and management systems will likely have to adjust their operations to address these changes. British consumers may need to also adapt their diets into the future to eat species that could benefit under future warming, such as the warm-water species red mullet, Dover sole, john dory and squid.

Lead author Dr Katherine Maltby, who undertook the research while at Cefas, said: “Our results show that climate change will continue to affect fish stocks within this sea region into the future, presenting both potential risks but some opportunities that fishers will likely have to adapt to. Consumers can help fishers take advantage of these fishing opportunities by seeking out other fish species to eat and enjoy.”

Co-author Louise Rutterford, from University of Exeter, said: “We know from working with fishers that warmer water species are appearing in catches more. Bringing together their ‘on-the-ground’ experiences with studies like ours will help inform future management decisions that enable sustainable exploitation while supporting fishers’ adaptation.”

The paper, entitled ‘Projected impacts of warming seas on commercially fished species at a biogeographic boundary of the European continental shelf’ was published in the Journal of Applied Ecology.

Date: 10 August 2020

Trailblazing a pathway for young careers at sea.

In light of International Youth Day, Episode 22 of the Fathom Podcast revisits the CFPO’s development of the first ever Commercial Fishing Apprenticeship Standard together with members of its Youth Board, and explores how young people can be encouraged to start a career in fishing.

The world can be a daunting and uncertain place for young people leaving school. For those with hands-on skills, the education system in the UK often feels geared toward academia and university, offering little vocational support for those seeking practical careers such as fishing.

Meanwhile, the fishing industry is experiencing a dearth of young entrants: the average age of a fisherman is 57. A multitude of barriers, practical, financial, and cultural, limit young people’s opportunities at sea. However, as podcast host Paul Trebilcock says, ‘the future of fishing is dependent on young people coming through and taking over. Without that next generation of skippers the future won’t be great. But hearing the enthusiasm from the work we’re doing on this apprenticeship scheme, the future looks bright.’

In September of 2019 the CFPO, with help from its Youth Board and with funding support from The Fishmongers’ Company, began working alongside the Institute for Apprenticeships to develop the first ever Commercial Fishing Apprenticeship Standard. 

Fishing careers have traditionally been handed down through generations, but as the world moves away from professions rooted in family and birthplace, and leaving school at 16 is no longer an option, more structured, formalised career pathways become necessary. The 18-month apprenticeship represents a step-change for the industry by carving out a clear entry point for young people to begin a fishing career. 

 

The latest episode of Fathom podcast revisits the apprenticeship to explore the latest updates as they unfold. The apprenticeship standard is being designed by young and prospective fishermen, with the guidance and expertise of experienced skippers and vessel owners. Regular workshops provided a platform in which the forward-looking Youth Board could share their concerns and aspirations, whilst older skippers could share knowledge born from years at sea.

This organic, collaborative, and on-the-ground process, ensures the standard is rooted in the needs of fishermen, rather than handed to the industry top-down. ‘It’s really coming from the industry. It’s exactly what the skippers want, what the vessel owners want. We’re building people here who are going to take the industry forward,’ says podcast host Chris Ranford. 

Now well beyond the halfway mark, the Youth Board are currently developing an end point assessment. The episode also features an interview with two young successful fishermen, Brax and Joel, who share their stories and thoughts on fishing as a young person. Brax has worked his way up to be a vessel owner. When asked about the apprenticeship and whether it will help young people enter the fishing industry, Brax said, ‘without a doubt. It’s going to be structured properly, seen as a proper career. That will attract more young people.’ 

One particular challenge lies in young peoples’ perception of fishing. As the podcast hosts discuss, despite the immense value of fishing to Newlyn, few surrounding schools include fishing in their career advice. The hope is that the apprenticeship will engender a sense of pride in fishing, encouraging a new generation of skilled, professional, homegrown fishermen.

In a sea drowning in ignorance and thoughtlessness a Fisherman's speaks of reason and humanity.

 

This fisherman opened up about helping migrants stuck in the Channel, telling LBC that sending them back to France isn't the answer.

As the number of migrants crossing the English Channel makes it to the headlines once again, Kent fisherman David phoned Matt Stadlen to set the record straight on the motivations of these people.

He reminded Matt that the UK is "a melting pot of different people," which he values immensely, as he excitedly began the conversation by stating that he was on his way to Spitalfields Market to buy fruit.

David's first experience with migrants in the Channel was last May, when he "picked up a 10 foot rubber dinghy," carrying what he assumed to be three different families.

"It was one of the most moving things that's ever happened to me in my life, seeing the fear in these kids' eyes," he stated. He went on to tell Matt that the mothers told him that they came from Iraq and chose the UK because they could speak English.

The mothers told David "there was no future for their kids," in Iraq, and because life is cheap in the country they willingly took the risk of sailing one of the busiest shipping routes in the world in a rubber dinghy.

This wasn't an isolated case for David. "We picked up four or five cases," in the past year he noted.

He admitted that he didn't take the migrants on board his ship. "If the boat went down we'd have saved them so we stayed alongside until the lifeboat came," which was nearly 90 minutes that he spent in conversation with these people.

The fisherman argued that "if you sort the reason out why these people are coming, then they won't come," making the case for the UK to try stabilise these war-torn countries, which will end the need for migration.

"They're coming to better the lives of their children."

"We've got to stop the reason they're coming," David concluded, "then we've got half a chance of controlling it."

Full story courtesy of LBC Radio.