FMP Implementation in the Channel and south west.

On the 16th of October, new legislation was introduced into Parliament which implements a range of the short-term management measures proposed through several of the first FMPs including: the crab and lobster FMP, Channel demersal non quota species (NQS) FMP, seabass FMP, and the Eastern Channel mixed flatfish FMP.

The legislation will help manage a number of fish species and will come into force on the 16th of December 2024.

These measures have been identified within the FMPs as priority management that needs to be introduced in the short term to provide additional protection to vulnerable stocks.

The measures being introduced include:

• The introduction of minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS) for lemon sole (250mm), turbot (300mm), and brill (300mm) in the English waters of ICES designated areas 7d and 7e (the Channel Sea). 

• An increase to the existing MCRS for crawfish in all English waters to 110mm to protect the juveniles of these stocks from being landed before they have matured and had chance to reproduce. 

• A requirement that all fly seining vessels use a 100mm mesh as standard in the English waters of ICES divisions 7d and 7e so that smaller, juvenile fish can escape from the nets and have chance to reproduce. 

• A restriction of the engine power of vessels using fly seining gear in the English territorial waters of these areas 7d and 7e to help manage fishing pressures on demersal NQS in inshore fishing grounds (the more powerful an engine, the bigger the boat and ability to fish in adverse weather).  

• Remove the UK-EU annually negotiated catch limits for commercially caught bass from secondary legislation so that they can be updated through fishing license conditions. License conditions are generally quick to introduce and would allow the commercial bass catch limits to be updated promptly following international negotiations, so they are in line with evolving evidence.

Any changes to fishing gear and/or fishing practices to comply with these new measures will need to be made by the 16th of December 2024.

Man overboard - it happens, don't let it happen to you!

The new FISH SAFE film is out! 

Focused on preventing man overboard accidents - the leading cause of fatalities in the #FishingIndustry - this short film features @NFFO_UK 's Charles Blyth sharing vital tips to keep fishers safe.

Advanced stability awareness course in Newly

Click to book a course

Following on from our "Stability awareness course" we have the "Advanced stability awareness course" which will take your knowledge even further.

On completion of this course, you will understand:

• How poor vessel stability links to deaths in the fishing industry

• Risk, the ALARP principal, ‘Event and Consequence’ and the Risk Spectrum

• The responsibilities of the Skipper in respect to managing stability risks

• Event chains using event and consequence diagrams

• How weight and the shape of a vessel contributes to vessel stability

• The stability of both ballast stable and form stable boats

• Initial (GM) and static stability (GZ)

• The methods used to monitor risks to stability

The risks posed by external forces, the transverse movement of weight, the FSE and the up-ward movement of weights and the condition of a vessel are managed

• How vessel watertight and weathertight integrity is managed to minimise risk

• How vessel condition and modifications are managed to maintain stability

• How to monitor and maintain the stability of a vessel during fishing operations

• How fishing vessel stability books manage the stability risk on fishing vessels

BOOK YOUR COURSE ONLINE

This course also makes up part of the under 16.5m skipper's ticket.

To book your place, contact us on: ☎️ 01736 364 324

info@seafoodcornwalltraining.co.uk

An all-electric fishing boat? They said he couldn't do it!

Hans Unkles, a fisherman from Tayvallich in the Mull of Kintyre, shares his journey from boat builder to fisherman, and the challenges he faced in creating the world's first electric-powered commercial fishing boat, which he continues to operate today.

Listen to the podcast here:

Seafood Matters Podcast is available on all podcast networks and on Youtube. Alternatively, you can also listen on the dedicated website

To follow Hans Unkles Http://www.itllneverwork.boats

Final #FishyFriday auction for October.

Heavy skies pour over the harbour this morning...

for the final Fishy Friday auction in October...

with top quality hake from the netter, Ygraine...

with a few bonus fish thrown in...

a good hake landing from the Annie May should keep the nation's fishmonger's marble slabs covered tomorrow...

inshore boats from afar supplied plenty of shells...

while the Crystal Sea got lucky with bass...

and John Dory...

both her and the big beamers keep the big stuff coming...

there were some cracking gilt head bream in the landings...

and big monk tails...

wrapped and ready to go up the line...

yet more monk tails...

and big beam trawl brill...

the odd squid...

and a few tons of cuttles...

undulate ray must look stunning underwater...

a few hardy punt men found some good mackerel in St Ives Bay...

they don't skimp on the wrapping at Celtic Fish & Game!, one lucky charity auction winner's prize...

there's more fish to go yet...

as the boats take fule for the next trip...

there are a surprising number of yachts still on passage via Newlyn...

young Mr Carroll contemplating the weather from the comfort of the Winter's wheelhouse...

the sardine fleet were kept in port by the weather last night...

while out in the bay two ships are at anchor...

 

the Cable Vigilance has carried out survey work west of Scilly...

and is now at anchor in Mounts Bay along with the general cargo ship, Arklow Vale.

French resistance.

There's resistance from the French industry to any form of video surveillance - only part of the story in the maritime journal, Le Marin as the paper is behind a firewall.

The State wants to impose cameras on board fishing vessels "at risk" for cetaceans The Minister of the Sea and Fisheries Fabrice Loher plans to impose the boarding of cameras on "a sample of ships" carrying devices that pose a risk to cetaceans. 

Letters are currently being sent to the shipowners concerned. Professionals consider this decision to be a red line. In a message published on Tuesday, October 22 on the social network Whatsapp, Sébastien Le Prince, vice-president of the Finistère departmental fisheries committee, protests against the decision of the new Minister Delegate for the Sea and Fisheries, Fabrice Loher, to impose the installation of cameras on fishing vessels. This measure will not prevent the accidental capture of small cetaceans, but on the contrary goes against the ethical principles of work at sea.

Your thoughts?

UK sea anglers survey 2024 - what they want to know.

 

UK sea anglers survey 2024

This survey is designed to increase understanding of the profile of sea anglers in the UK, and the social and economic benefits of recreational sea angling. It will take about 10-15 minutes to complete. Before taking part you will be asked to review the Terms and Conditions, and you will not be able to proceed to the survey questions before consenting to take part.

You will also have the opportunity to be added to Substance's angling research database at the end of the survey, which will give you access to future surveys and other research, only related to angling. You do not have to join this database to participate in this survey.

If you have any questions about the purposes of this research, please contact Substance directly at research@substance.net.