Newlyn Old Harbour turns the clock back 100 years!

The scene was all set by Thursday afternoon, when Cornwall Maritime's Trust (CMT)...

Courtesy of Penlee House museum gallery

set about re-creating this regular scene from the 1880s with its Party on the Beach for classic fishing and sailing boats...

with its flagship Barnabas centre stage, filled Newlyn's old harbour with some of the country's oldest fishing boats...

ITV news crew were there to record this historic event...

talking to local plein air artist Vicky Norman, CMT's very own Artist in Residence...

who was not alone, all keen to capture this many sailing boats kedged on the beach for the first time in such numbers since the 1890s!...

and when most of your boat is still afloat there's only one way to get back aboard after a run shore for the shopping...

100 year old fishing sailing boats were not alone, this hardy coupler had seen the event advertised online and decide to sail their 14ft boat - from Aber Wac'h in Briattany!..

wherever you looked, oil paint was being applied to canvas as this unique scene was captured...

from every angle

promptly at 6:30, the Party On the Beach officially began with a giant paella being served...

with all hands and crews suitably fed and watered, it was down to the CMT's Rob McDowell to thank all those concerned for putting on and attending this speciall fundraising event - a speech in which he duly acknowledged the work of Newlyn arbour Commissioner Nick Howell and his hardy team of volunteers who, with the help of financial support from Historic England had made the whole event possible as a direct result of the work to bring back the Old Quay into working order - as can be seen over on the Newlyn Old Harbour website...

some familiar Flats & Sharps faces provided some fine background music...

while fans of classic working and sailing boats basked in the glorious evening sun...

as another old timer sailed in one of the port's sardine boats left on only the second night of this season's sardine fishing which has just got underway...

back in the day the majority of boats seen on the beach like this would have been fishing for the very same fish, thogh back then of course they were better known as sardines!...

wind the clock forward to Friday morning and with high water at 7:31am fast approaching it's all hands on deck to get the boats off the beach and on to Mousehole for this year's Sea, Salts & Sail Festival starting tonight...

with the engineless 1911 lugger Guide Me leading the charge...

but having no alternative but to get the oars out and row all the way there as there was hardly a breath of wind in the Bay this morning...

some managed to catch a tow, Unity obliging...

not so lucky, and despite 20 or more heaving and pushing willing hands, was the Barnabas who found herself beneaped; let's hope there's enough water tonight for her to get off as there is a big area of high pressure keeping the tide lower than predicted...

not that that deterred artist Clare Bowen who was back at the canvas at 6am to capture three more scenes before the sun had barley graced the sky...

on a small boat, sculling is the way to singlehandedly get going...

while others were happy to drift...

leaving the rest of the fleet all set to sail on tonight's tide. 

Fine end to the week in Newlyn on this #FishyFriday

A Serene Dawn it was too at 6am this morning...

with lots of sun-soaked red fish like these tub gurnard...

luscious lemons...

and yet tons more octopus...

while some of the inshore guys enjoyed a smattering of bass...

and red mullet...

and the odd lobster...

it was downto the bigger boats to feed the nation at large with monk tails...

and megrims...

and the first of this season's sardine found their way to the market...

along with this wapping 5.8kg turbot! 

Newlyn fish landings for the week - the eight-leggers have it!

 

Daily Auction Highlights

1st July 2026

• Key Species by Weight: Mediterranean Octopus led the market with 6,907.50 kg landed.

• Other Notable Species: Bass (165.12 kg) and Mackerel (142.30 kg) also contributed to the day's activity.

2nd July 2026

• Key Species by Weight: Mediterranean Octopus continued to dominate with 9,980.87 kg landed.

• Other Notable Species: Monk Or Anglers (1,055.65 kg) and Turbot (361.59 kg) were significant contributors.

29th July 2026

• Key Species by Weight: Mediterranean Octopus remained the top species by volume at 8,888.12 kg.

• Other Notable Species: MSC Hake saw a high volume of 7,027.60 kg, followed by Monk Or Anglers at 3,280.99 kg.

30th July 2026

• Key Species by Weight: Mediterranean Octopus reached its highest point of the reported period with 14,174.80 kg.

• Other Notable Species: Monk Or Anglers (1,063.29 kg) and Turbot (239.52 kg) were also notable.

Weekly Landings Overview

The market over this period was heavily defined by the high volume of Mediterranean Octopus, which accounted for the vast majority of the weight landed.

Species	Total Weight (kg)	Total Value (£)
Mediterranean Octopus	39,951.29	183,198.09
MSC Hake	7,027.60	54,902.94
Monk Or Anglers	5,399.93	59,732.70
Turbot	601.11	13,991.01
Bass	165.12	2,271.14
Mackerel	142.30	1,536.49

The Mediterranean Octopus remains the primary driver of both weight and value across the auction dates analysed, with significant landings consistently reported.

Legendary fisherman's boat for sale.

 

Well-known fisherman Barry Ede, the face of Newlyn's fishing industry portrait book Salt of the Earth, has put his faithful Plymouth Pilot up for sale. 

Basic details:

BOY BRAX WH578

Hull: Plymouth Pilot 18'

Engine: Volvo Penta 27hp

Spencer Carter slave hauler

Usual electrics and fishfinding gear

Fish, shellfish and bass licences

Full MCA

Phone Barry on 07858049527

The Silence at the Edge of the World

The Wychbold Masts can be seen for miles across the Worcestershire countryside

The End of an Era: Why the Shipping Forecast Still Matters (Even Without Long Wave)

The airwaves went silent last weekend, marking the end of a near-century-long chapter in British broadcasting. As of 1:00 AM on Saturday, June 27, 2026, the BBC permanently switched off its Radio 4 Long Wave (LW) transmissions. For many, this isn’t just about the loss of a frequency; it feels like the silencing of a heartbeat.

While the BBC has assured listeners that no programs—from The Archers to Desert Island Discs—will be lost as they move exclusively to FM, DAB, and digital platforms, the closure of Long Wave signals the end of a unique, non-digital lifeline that has served the nation since 1934.

A Ritual of the Sea

At the centre of the debate—and the heartbreak—is the Shipping Forecast. First broadcast by the BBC in 1925, the forecast is an iconic institution. It is a rhythmic, precise recitation of wind, visibility, and weather patterns across 31 sea areas, from "Viking" in the north to "Trafalgar" in the south.

For the fishing industry and mariners, the forecast has been a constant companion. While modern vessels now rely on advanced navigation and satellite weather data, the Shipping Forecast remained an essential, reliable, and accessible verification tool. Its reach was unparalleled: because Long Wave signals travel immense distances and can be received across the British Isles regardless of location or time of day, it acted as a robust, low-tech safety net for those in the most remote waters.

More Than Just Weather

But why such an outpouring of emotion for a weather report?

The Shipping Forecast is deeply woven into the fabric of British life. Its deliberate, measured pace has lulled generations to sleep and provided a sense of stability in an ever-changing world. It has inspired poets like Seamus Heaney and musicians like Radiohead, transcending its utilitarian purpose to become a piece of national performance art.

Beyond its cultural status, there is a legitimate concern regarding "digital exclusion." Advocacy groups like Age UK have highlighted that for older listeners who rely on simple, perfectly functional analogue radios, this transition is a significant barrier. Long Wave was a reliable, non-digital national communication network—something that, in an age of cyber-threats and unstable internet connections, many argue is a vital component of national resilience.

Looking Ahead

The BBC’s decision stems from the practical reality of aging technology. The transmitters were increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain; as one report noted, even the specialized thermionic valves required for the transmitters are no longer manufactured, with only a handful left in existence.

As we move toward a fully digital future, the silence on 198 kHz serves as a poignant reminder of how much we have changed. We are trading the ethereal crackle of analogue for the clarity of digital—a trade-off that promises "resilient coverage" for the future but leaves a quiet, nostalgic hole in our present.

So, as you tune in to your digital devices, take a moment to remember the sound of the Shipping Forecast on Long Wave. It was more than just a list of wind speeds; it was a rhythmic reminder of our connection to the sea, our history, and each other.

Full story courtesy of the BBC

Traditional Vessel Event – Old Quay Beach Area

 

NEWLYN PIER & HARBOUR COMMISIONERS

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS No. 04/2026

Traditional Vessel Event – Old Quay Beach Area

Mariners and all harbour users are hereby advised that a gathering of traditional and heritage vessels is planned to take place on Thursday 2nd July 2026 in the Old Quay area of Newlyn, on the beach to the southwest of the Old Quay, between the Rest and the Slipway.

A number of heritage and traditional vessels are expected to attend, ranging in size and type. Vessels may be beached or kedged within the event area. Mariners are strongly advised that kedge lines and associated ground tackle may extend from the beach area into the surrounding water. The extent of these lines may not be immediately visible.

All mariners, vessel operators, and water users are urged to exercise caution when navigating in the vicinity of the Old Harbour area during this event, and to keep a careful watch and maintain a safe speed and distance. Those attending the event by water should approach with caution, make contact with the Harbour Office in advance, and follow any directions given by Harbour staff.

Temporary anchors and ground tackle will be in place within the event area for the duration of the event and must be retrieved by the organiser upon its conclusion.

Newlyn Pier & Harbour Commission, The Strand, Newlyn, Penzance, TR18 5HW Tel: 01736 362523, Email : info@newlynharbour.com

Debate on government support for the fishing industry

A Westminster Hall debate was scheduled for 4.30pm on 1 July 2026 on government support for the fishing industry. The debate was opened by Seamus Logan MP.

The UK-EU summit that took place on 19 May 2025 aimed at resetting relations between the two parties. As part of the agreement reach, mutual access to each other’s fishing waters was extended beyond 2026, when it was due to end, for a further 12 years.   At the same time the agreement was reached the government announced that it would be creating a £360 million UK wide Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund to fund investment in new technology and equipment, training and skills, and promote seafood exports.

UK-EU mutual access

The 2020 UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) (PDF) extended to fisheries and provided mutual access for UK and EU fishing vessels in each other’s waters until June 2026. The agreement also set out provisions for negotiations on access and share of stocks after that date. These could take the form of annual or multiannual agreements on fishing.

Under the TCA, 25% of the overall pre-Brexit EU fishing quota in UK waters will have been transferred to the UK over a five-and-a-half-year transition period, ending on 30 June 2026. Mutual access for vessels to each other’s waters was also agreed under the TCA and is managed through a licensing system for individual fishing vessels. 

At their joint summit in May 2025, the UK and EU agreed commitments to strengthen cooperation across a range of policy areas.

The UK-EU summit explainer from the government notes that the UK agreed to maintain existing levels of EU access to its waters for a further 12 years until 30 June 2038. The 25%  catch transfer to the UK will remain and is unaffected by the agreement.

Fisheries and coastal growth fund

The government provided further details of the £360 million Fisheries and Coastal Growth Fund in October 2025. The fund will be allocated to the devolved executives would decide how it would be spent, following discussions at the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in June 2025. The press release announcing the allocation said that “the UK government will work in close partnership with the devolved governments to ensure the funding supports both local needs and UK-wide ambitions for a thriving, sustainable fishing industry.” The funding will be allocated on the basis of the Barnett formula. Of the £360 million, £28 million would be allocated to Scotland, £18 million to Wales, and £10 million to Northern Ireland, with the remainder allocated to England.

Following the announcement, the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon, wrote to the UK Government calling the funding allocation for Scotland “wholly unacceptable”. This was because “the Scottish fishing sector accounts for over 60% of the UK’s fishing capacity and over 60% of UK seafood exports”. She also raised concern that as funding would be spread over 12 years, it would equate to only £2.3 million per year for Scotland. Despite continued to be raised into 2026, the position on funding allocation has not been changed by the government.

The November 2025 Budget set out that £165 million would be allocated to the fund between 2026-27 and 2030-31. The response from the NFFO, as reported in Fishing News, was that while the limited frontloading of the spending was welcome it was not enough:

We have been very clear in our discussions with government that the fund will be most impactful if it is front-loaded and allows grants to be spread across multiple years. This will allow a more strategic approach to spending the fund, with projects that will bring lasting benefits, not just immediate but temporary results. An extra 10% over the first five years is hardly what we had in mind, and no one can seriously have thought that it was.

It also raised concerns that the funding could not be guaranteed beyond the end of the current Parliament.

Resetting the relationship with fishing communities

The Environment Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee carried at an inquiry on Resetting the relationship with fishing communities, and published its report on 24 April 2026.

The Committee set out some of its concerns about the challenges facing fishing communities:

Fishing remains central to the identity, economy and social fabric of many coastal towns and villages, yet communities continue to face long-standing challenges including inadequate port infrastructure, fragile skills and training pathways, and limited targeted support for active fishing communities.

The report set out a number of areas that needed to be addressed by the government.  It also welcomed the announcement of the Fish and Coastal Growth Fund but raised concerns about funding allocation through the Barnett formula and the timelines involved:

The allocation of the Fisheries and Coastal Growth Fund through the Barnett formula is inconsistent with model preferred by industry stakeholders in all parts of the United Kingdom. We are concerned that it does not reflect the relative scale, distribution or needs of the fishing industry across the UK. In the absence of any proper explanation by the government of why the total sum that has been allocated to the fund was chosen, or for the duration of the scheme itself, it is impossible for anyone to have confidence that there is political or fiscal integrity in the thinking behind the scheme.

In other areas the Committee expressed concerns about poor communication around regulatory changes for the fishing industry and a lack of transparency in enforcement. It also highlighted what it concluded where mounting competition for marine spaces, calling for a comprehensive UK wide “Sea Use Framework”

Research Briefing

Published Tuesday, 30 June, 2026