Shining sardines star at the Annual MSC Awards!

Despite some pretty atrocious weather to travel in, many of the non-fishing folks die to attend the MSC awards later in the day braved the heavy overcast skies and pouring rain over Plymouth's Sutton Harbour...

and assembled on the quay to be welcomed by Intrafish's Adam Pillar...

and Hugh Grant look-alike, Lewis Colam who had arranged for their Parkol built Admiral Gordon...

to be alongside so that the skipper and crew...

could demonstrate net mending...

cod end closing...

fish identification...

safety at sea...

and the fish-finding and naviagation tools available to the skipper in the wheelhouse...

the MMO were welcome on board for a change to talk through the work they do to see that all the regulations...

 are being adhered to at sea with things like mesh sizes...

then the gigantic tinned BBQ was already fired up...

and serving grilled sardines...

despite the fish auction closing the market itself is still in daily use...

sited directly opposite the old fish market on the Barbican...

then it was time to take walk around the corner to watch some of the familiar fish found in the Western Approaches at the National Marine Aquarium...

the MSC awards them sleves were held in The Box museum and gallery with its stunnng collection of restores ships figureheads...

some of which hung over the stage...

hosting the event at The Box was down to Tudor Owen from Plymouth City Council, who are hugely proud and supportive of the industry in Pymouth...

and it wasn't long before the Cornish contingent were celebrating when Gus Caslake was summoned to the stage to collect the award for Ocean Leadership on behalf of the Cornish Sardine Management Association...

then it was the turn of Queterie Ng from Tesco to accept the award MSC Product of the Year none other than, Cornish Sardines...

Tom Pascoe, the youngest skipper in the Newlyn fleet with Interfish's Charlotte Clare, was duly summoned to the stage to talk about the sardine fishery in Cornwall...

the morning after provided a bracing walk to Plymouth Hoe and the recently commissioned statue in honour of merchant seamen and fishermen.

Betting on the dogs

With a 5:30am start, this morning's packed fish market provided a great opportunity for members of the National Federation of Fish Friers to see first hand the journey fish make from the boat...

to the auction...

and see first hand the huge range of fish species up for auction. The main purpose of the visit, organised by the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, is to explore the introduction of spurdog, once hugely popular in London and sold as rock salmon.  Spurdogs were restricted to a zero quota for many etars, despite the boats finding them everywhere and in increasing numbers. 

Last year the ban was finally lifted after several years of a small quota allowance for the gill net fleet, by which time the market for these tasty and easy to prepare fish had all but dried up so much so that the spurdogs on the market yesterday morning made only 20 per kilo. By comparison, big dogs were making 50p a kilo 30 years go when landings made by longliners and netters were at their peak. Later today the friers will get to see first hand how the fish are caught and handled aboard the gillnetter, Silver Dawn which landed to the market earlier. Following the tour of te boat they head off to the processor Falfish and enjoy some of the spurdogs landed on the market this morning in their taste test kitchen. Fish education is one of the CFPO's priorities in supporting the Cornish fishing fleet - in a country where 80% of the population think a hake is a garden tool - as per the Guardian article a few weeks ago!

 

Shags harassed by thieving gulls!

Coming to the end of the neap tide, the overnight rain has stopped and it's hovering around the 14˚ mark this morning...

with fine-ish weather over the weekend the market was end-to-0end with fish from four of the hake netters and just about every inshore boat that was able to put to sea...

the Stelissa...

Silver Dawn...

and the Ygraine filled most of the first bay...

with the addition of inshore fish...

including this huge trip of ray from Tom's Guardian...

the were late season John Dory...

and good mix of quality fish like soles and monk...

there were plenty of spurdogs all looking for a market...

and a smattering of bonito tuna again...

the Ocean Pride filled most of bay 3 with her hake...

along with some cracking inshore red mullet...

in total, three stunning bluefin tuna...

were landed, the boats now eeking out the remainder of their individual 10,000kg quotas

cuckoo wrasse, one of the more colourful fish on the market...

Cod has been at the bass again...

the lumpers have made a start on clearing today's big landings...

as young Jeremy takes on bait to feed his pots...

it's not just people who have to keep their eyes peeled on their pasties when gulls are in the near vicinity, half a dozen shags feeding on small fish are hounded by lazy local gulls in search of an easy breakfast!

 

Consultation on the proposed Channel Skates and Rays Fisheries Management Plan

 

Overview

The purpose of this consultation is to seek your views on the proposed Southern North Sea and Channel skates and rays Fisheries Management Plan (FMP), its policies and proposed actions and measures. We are also seeking your views on the likely environmental effects of the FMP, as set out in the environmental report.

As set out in the JFS, FMPs are to be developed for those stocks that are of social and economic importance, at risk of significant over-exploitation and have an ecosystem significance. Therefore, the Southern North Sea and English Channel skates and rays FMP in its first iteration covers the following seven species (11 stocks) of rays within English waters in International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) divisions 4b and 4c (Southern North Sea) and 7d and 7e (English Channel):

thornback ray (Raja clavata)

blonde ray (Raja brachyura)

undulate ray (Raja undulata)

small-eyed ray (Raja microocellata)

spotted ray (Raja montagui)

cuckoo ray (Leucoraja naevus)

starry ray (Amblyraja radiata).

The southern North Sea and Channel skates and rays FMP sets out a pathway to the long-term sustainable management of the Southern North Sea and Channel skates and rays fisheries in English waters. The FMP sets out goals for the fishery and short and long-term actions to achieve them. 

Why your views matter

This consultation is an opportunity for you to help shape and influence the future of skates and rays management policy in England and builds upon previous engagement with industry.

Responses

This consultation will run for 14 weeks, closing at 23:59 on 19 January 2025. You can find the FMP and associated documents in the ‘related documents’ section at the bottom of this page.

Please read the consultation document before responding to this consultation.

To submit your consultation response please:

Complete the consultation questionnaire through this link.


Please scroll through the consultation doc below before completing the survey:

or send additional information or documents to the Fisheries Management Plans policy team by email to FMPconsultations@defra.gov.uk

respond by post using the address below

Fisheries Management Plans team
Marine & Fisheries Directorate
Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street

SW1P 4DF

Ideas a-plenty from the Concarneau twinning visit to Newlyn.

With the port's largest boat leaving the harbour...

leaving just the netter, Govenek of Ladram alongside the Mary Williams pier...

as Paul Durkin, chair of the harbour commissioners welcomed, in his best French, members of the twinning teams from Concarneau and Penzance...

then it was the turn Concarneau's mayor, Marc Bigot to reciprocate, also in french, but ably translated by Penzance's mayor Stephen Reynolds...

for many years, Marc headed up the Committee de Peche and the Concarneau Maritime Museum so his knowledge and understanding of the fishing industry are second to none - the working lunch held in the harbour boardroom saw a number of fishing and heritage representatives discuss opportunities for the mutual benefit of both - on the fishing side Cornwall Sardine Management Association chair, Gus Caslake was able to explore exchange visits of sardine fishermen and, with Newlyn's FISH Trust planning on developing the old Ice Works as heritage centre, Jeanette Ratcliffe was able to share their ideas and plans to tell the story of the Newlyn's rich maritime history...

there followed a slideshow of photos, in some cases going back over 100 years, with many examples of Concarneau and other Breton boats in Newlyn and a proposition that, with the changes coming for EU vessels in 2026, an opportunity for the online auctions systems used both here and in Brittany to join forces and enable Breton (and other) boats to land in Newlyn...

before leaving, Marc (left) presented Paul Durkin with an original print by Breton artist, Olivier Lapicque depicting a fisherman holding a huge tuna - Concarneau has a fleet of tuna boats that fish around the world...

after lunch, the harbour was left all quiet save the gulls enjoying the view from the comfort of the solar panels atop the market.