Gotham fish market.

 

It gets darker, earlier, every day...

all the buyers are masked up...

including Batman and Godfrey, which doesn't have the same kind of ring to it as it would if Mr Turner had still been buying on the market...

the smart money is on mackerel...

or these cracking red mullet which will no doubt be served in one of Mr Outlaw's fine piscatorial eating establishments this evening...

young Mr Nowell hit on the squid this trip...

along with a handful of bass...

while Richard on the Still Waters picked up this beauty...

just the one queenie on the market today...

monk tails, standard fayre for a beam trawl trip

along with these superb turbot...

and a mixture of spotted...

cuckoo...

blonde...

and undulate ray...

a few specimen gurnard...

netted pollack...

and the finest MSc Certified hake from the gill-netter, Ygraine.

New report shines a light on financial struggles of coastal fishers; offers roadmap to resilience

 

"Fishing Without a Safety Net"

New research conducted by the charity Seafarers UK, in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, explores the real financial difficulties inherent for many in earning a living from small-scale fishing. “Fishing Without a Safety Net: The Financial Resilience of Small-Scale Coastal Fishers, their Families and Communities” puts forward a bold set of recommendations for Government, charity and industry to improve the financial resilience of fishing families around the UK. Key proposed actions include boosting financial literacy in fishing communities to improve financial planning; improved Government welfare support, plugging crucial gaps in the current system that disadvantages fishers; access to savings and affordable credit from a credit union, support to budget for tax and plan for insurances and a retirement pension. 

Uncovering an array of different stressors on coastal fishers, the report notes that financial troubles were often the root cause of mental health problems and relationship difficulties for fishers living without a financial ‘safety net’. This challenging reality has been thrown into stark relief by the events of 2020, a year in which the usual uncertainty of earning a living from inshore fishing was struck by the economically devastating COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of hospitality and export markets to sell fresh fish. 

In the report's foreword, Fisheries Minister, Victoria Prentis MP commented: “Inshore fishermen can, and do, make reasonable profits, but as we have seen from COVID-19, they are amongst the most vulnerable in the sector as they do not have the reserves or flexibilities that are available to others.” 

The report’s findings are based on the real financial problems experienced by 431 fishers and their families who reached out for help from maritime welfare charities, such as SAIL (Seafarers’ Advice & Information Line), the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, and Seafarers’ Hospital Society, and was augmented by interviews with fishers from around the UK. The data revealed that amongst 140 working fishers contributing to the study, 63% sought help about debt problems. 

A boat owner interviewed for the report explained one of the issues with some fishers’ financial capability and money management: “The problem is not always low wages; fishermen can earn quite good wages. It is the way people manage their money that is the problem. They don’t seem to be able to plan or save or look after their money. Then they have nothing to fall back on.” 

So, where do the key vulnerabilities lie that lead to these problems with indebtedness? One central aspect of financial vulnerability explored by the report is the share fishing model. A part of fishing life since medieval times, with fishers receiving a share of the value of the total catch, rather than a predictable and stable income. This system is highly prized by many fishers and rewards skill and effort with well-earned pay-outs when the fishing is good. Yet, as crucial factors such as the weather, ability to go to sea, and actual catch can’t be predicted, share fishing leaves fishers with little regularity in what they will earn from one week to the next. This presents challenges to pension planning, affording time away from work when ill, and accessing welfare benefits when needed. 

As a result of this newly granular analysis of the impacts of the share fishing model favoured by many small-scale fishers, Seafarers UK are now proposing a new ‘share fisher plus’ co-operative approach which could support fishers to access to a range of suitable and competitively priced, financial products - Seafarers UK CEO, Catherine Spencer, remarks: “Seafarers UK is now actively exploring how to take forward the development of a co-operative owned by fishers which can facilitate group-purchasing of financial products, as well as potentially providing access to accountancy, taxation and HR support.” 

Such innovations to support financial planning are proposed within the report to help provide a buffer against examples of serious financial strife that fishing families often face. Examples of these include problems with debt and bailiffs, homelessness, an inability to retire as lacking a pension and more. All of which are highlighted in the report’s case studies. 

With examples like these common amongst those contacting maritime welfare charities, Seafarers UK challenges Government with six specific recommendations to render making a living as an inshore fisher more stable and better protected against financial insecurity. This includes a recommendation for HMRC to support fishers in making Income Tax and National Insurance payments, aiming to ensure that fishers aren’t caught out by the financial shock of a large, one-off bill – but instead are supported to budget, in a similar way to PAYE employees. 

“At Seafarers UK we are committed to funding interventions that will strengthen the financial resilience of fishing families and help to ensure that there is a safety net to protect them from their current volatile existence” explains Catherine Spencer. 

Other recommendations to Government include a national action plan to specifically support the small-scale fleet, dedicated support for new entrants, and support for direct to consumer marketing initiatives to ensure a fair price for fish. 

Seafarers UK will launch this report at a free, open-to-all digital event on the 8th October 2020 from 10 am – 12 pm. In addition to an address from Fisheries Minister, Victoria Prentis MP, Seafarers UK will outline how they will be taking forward the report's recommendations and participants will have the opportunity to ask questions to an experienced panel of guests. 

Register for the event here.

Further event details 

Agenda

Speaker bios

Reserve your place on the webinar 

How to refer to the report 

Fishing without a Safety Net: The Financial Resilience of Small-Scale Coastal Fishers, their Families and Communities - ISBN 978-1-5272-7333-7

Sardines galore in Newlyn.

It's all smiles from the crew as they land 150 boxes of hard won hake from the Govenek of Ladram after they endured 24 hours of up to storm Force 10 wind and heavy seas at the start of their five day trip...

astern of them sardines galore...

are brailed ashore from the Asthore...

plenty of slush ice to keep the fish in tip-top condition...

and it's all smiles from the latest crew member still high on the excitement of only his second trip with another big haul of 19 tons under his belt...

those smiles can be seen down on the deck as the last of the fish come ashore...

swung over the tubs...

before being released...

and the brail sent back for another lift...

this short video shows the whole process in action...

another landing of brown crab in progress...

before the Asthore prepares to leave her berth ready for tonight's foray into the bay in the hunt for more sardines.

 

New Deep-Sea Marine Protected Area to be established off Scotland

Europe’s largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) has been announced by Natural Environment Minister Mairi Gougeon. The new MPA, off the West of Scotland, will give additional protections to some of the deepest parts of Scotland’s seas, protecting Scotland’s unique deep sea marine ecosystems.

The addition of the site will mean more than 30% of Scotland’s seas are now covered by MPAs, taking Scotland past the proposed new global target for 2030 currently being negotiated by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. The designation of this site is part of a final package of MPAs that aim to reach the international target of 10% global MPA coverage by the end of 2020. 

The West of Scotland MPA covers an area of over 100,000 square kilometres, making it the largest MPA located in national waters in the entire North-East Atlantic. Featuring the deepest parts of Scotland’s seas at over 2,500 metres, the site will safeguard some of the most vulnerable habitats and species on the planet, including deep sea sharks, coral gardens and a diversity of other fauna.

Ms Gougeon said: “Scotland’s deep sea waters are home to a number of threatened species and habitats including coral gardens and deep sea sharks."  

“The designation of this site will address one of the last gaps in our MPA network and will be key in achieving the international target of 10% of the world’s oceans covered by an MPA by the end of 2020." 

“It also clear evidence of Scotland’s commitment to lead by example internationally on environmental protection. “Protecting Scotland’s marine environment is crucial for supporting the sustainable recovery of our marine industries. This designation will also form a key element of our Blue Economy Action Plan, which we committed to developing in our Programme for Government.”

Local Decision-Making for UK Fishing

As the Fisheries Bill progresses through Parliament on the way to becoming law, the way that UK fisheries are managed is likely to change in the future. One area of interest is the potential role of regional decision-making and governance, such as through local councils, enterprise partnerships and community-led initiatives.

The balance between national and regional decision-making is often debated. Whilst national policy and regulations can help standardise practices, implementation can be ill-fitting at the local level due to regional variations in fishing fleet composition, target species and interactions with other marine activities. Regional decision-making can ensure regulations are better suited to the local context, but it must consider national efforts and work effectively with other sectors.

Fisheries management decisions rarely fall under the remit of local councils, but this is changing in some parts of the UK, as increased connectivity between fisheries and other sectors is sought. Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are also becoming more involved in fisheries in certain areas, such as through supporting seafood businesses. Additionally, regional initiatives such as Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) are experiencing changes, as the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) comes to an end for the UK and is replaced by a national funding programme.

In light of this pivotal period for the UK fishing industry, this online event seeks to shed light on how regional governance and decision-making for fisheries management can intersect with national decisions. The event will explore successful case studies in regional decision-making for UK fisheries and fishing communities.

If you wish to attend, or for further information, contact us at secretariat@fisheriesappg.org.

Final September #FishyFriday from Newlyn.

Just a few days ago there were no yachts on passage berthed...

the current wintry weather saw several take cover including the classic Banff registered Hekla...

as concerns rise over a second wave of Covid-19 buyers like Godfrey from Trelawney Fish take the appropriate measures...

as young Mr Cleave and Craig Tonkin discuss the latest developments...

back to a less than busy #FishyFriday market with just a quick shot of quality hake...

from the Ygriane...

together with a splattering of big white fish like this cod...

while beam tralwer St Georges put ashore a full trip fish including a good run of monk...

at this time of year and quality mackerel this big make excellent money...

Stevenson's chief auctioneer Ian Oliver in full Covid-19 mode records the winning bid - in the not too distant future this sight will be a thing of the past when the fish market is graced with a computer run clock auction......

Smart's grabbed the one big turbot landed...

along with a sole selection...

which just left the megrim soles with homes to go to...

via forklift back to the processing shed...

the back end of a very fresh night with winds hitting nearly 50mph...

saw the fleet safely back in port...

 save for the netting fleet all of whom must have had en extremely uncomfortable night dodging in the weather

the sardine boats won't be going out this evening for sure...

there's been plenty of sardines caught between these two vessels...

just a small sample of the seabed litter picked up by the Crystal Sea...

passing storm clouds head east...

they were prepared before and showed their support...

looks like there's a boat on the move this morning

and a new home working from Beer in Devon...

yet more pots...

is indeed a sign of the times...

Newlyn Art Gallery has several exhibitions running at the moment reflecting the pandemic's affect on the community in Newlyn...

all hands hoping this is sooner rather than later!