Just a reminder the the Fishermen's Mission will be holding services the length and breadth of the UK this Sunday on National Fishermen's Remembrance Day, there will be a service at 11am by the memorial statue in Newlyn, or the Centre if wet!
Barely a ripple in the harbour this morning...
chasing eight-leggers with any pot will do it seems...
hopefully squid will be too quick for them...
that's a cracking brace of bream...
there's two sides to every megrim...
the bay used to be full of urchins
and mackerel...
plenty of bassd for those prepared to. ake the long steam...
lobsters this black are the finest money can buy, if you're very lucky, coming to a fish counter near you courtesy of the Wiffer...
JDs don't come much bigger than this beauty...
or redder then these red mullet...
a ton and a half of the finest octopi, it was not so long ago that there were no coctopus being caught on the north coast of Cornwall - as this huge haul from the St Ives based Keriolet shows, this is not the case any more...
pristine pollack...
these claws have probably been crushing fish for twenty years longer than the hands holding them have been on the planet...
busy end to the week, yet another auction stacked out with fish...
The Cornish Fish Producers Organisation (CFPO) has appointed Emily Theobald as its new Science and Policy Lead, marking a significant milestone in placing science and sustainability at the heart of Cornwall’s fishing future. Combining strong scientific expertise with a real-world understanding of fisheries management, Theobald will work closely with the newly launched Cornwall Fisheries Science Board (CFSB) to translate evidence into practical, day-to-day action for the fishing fleet.
A Collaborative Board Built on Expertise
The CFSB formalises a long history of collaboration between the CFPO and scientists, bringing together fishermen, technical scientific experts, and policymakers. Chaired by Barrie Deas, the board’s members include representatives from government and scientific bodies such as Cefas, the MMO, Defra, ICES, Cornwall IFCA, and The Fishmongers’ Company, alongside active fishermen and CFPO leadership. This diverse membership harnesses both the technical capabilities of scientists and the generational, on-the-water knowledge of Cornish fishermen.
Core Objectives: What the Board Hopes to Achieve
Closing the Gap Between Science and Practice: The CFSB aims to ensure that scientific data collected at sea is quickly translated into real-world management decisions.
Driving Industry-Led Science: The board operates on the principle that data must be timely, relevant, and practical, with the fishing industry playing a central role in both research design and data collection.
Balancing Ecology and Economics: A primary focus is ensuring that all management decisions protect the health of the ocean while respecting the economic reality of the fleet, ultimately delivering clear benefits to coastal communities.
Direct Help for Fishermen: Key Initial Projects
The board is already launching targeted projects designed to support fishermen navigating modern operational challenges:
Crawfish: Recognising this as a valuable but data-poor fishery, the CFSB is launching a data collection programme in the 2026 season involving 10 vessels across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to track bio-metric data, discards, and Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE).
Pollack and Dover Sole: The board is evaluating whether current commercial and recreational datasets are adequately informing Pollack stock assessments. For Dover sole, they are seeking guidance on genetic sampling to better inform the 2029 benchmark assessments and address complex quota allocations that cause "choke" risks (where a lack of quota for one species restricts a vessel's overall fishing activity).
Mixed Fisheries & Innovation: The board is exploring the use of emerging technologies, such as onboard camera systems, to improve gear selectivity, understand catch composition, and reduce unwanted catches in complex mixed fisheries.
Octopus: With increasing octopus populations creating both new income opportunities and challenges for existing shellfish fisheries, Emily Theobald is actively designing a coordinated data collection methodology to inform future management without duplicating existing regulatory efforts.
Local and National Impact
Locally, the CFSB will provide a robust evidence base to support long-term coastal resilience and sustainable growth for Cornwall's diverse and innovative fleet**. Nationally, this science-first approach will elevate Cornwall's role in evidence-based decision-making, ensuring the local fleet is highly influential in shaping future domestic and international fisheries policies.
To fund this critical work, the CFPO plans to leverage opportunities like the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, aiming to deliver collaborative projects that align with government fisheries management plans. Through transparent communication across podcasts, social media, and a proposed Cornwall Fisheries Science Board Conference, **the board will ensure that the voices and needs of local fishermen remain central to the national scientific conversation.
Join services around Cornwall and the UK to honour fishermen lost at sea
The second Sunday of May is National Fishing Remembrance Day, and this year’s event will be marked by services around Cornwall and the UK on Sunday, May 10.
The national focal service for England will take place in Newlyn from 11am on the green beside the Newlyn Fisherman Statue (TR18 5PP), or at St Peter’s Church in case of wet weather. All are welcome to join in this act of remembrance, with refreshments after the service.
Kate MacArthur, Fishermen’s Mission’s area manager for Cornwall, said: “The Fishermen’s Mission has proudly served active and former fishermen and their families for over 145 years, and it is our privilege to lead this service.
“National Fishing Remembrance Day is an opportunity for the community in Cornwall to honour and remember fishermen lost at sea off the Cornish coast - those who paid the ultimate price in bringing home the catch.”
The BBC recently published a story revealing the concerns some fishermen have over the plans for developing huge offshore wind farms - but is this something that Cod (who fishes from the boat pictured above which leads their story) needs to concern himself with, given that he never loses sight of the shore!
As much of the story is devoted to David Stevens, skipper of the 23m offshore trawler Crystal Sea maybe a photo of her might have been more appropriate?
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has launched a new consultation to decide on the next seasonal closure for the crawfish fishery. This affects a specific part of the sea known as ICES Area 7, which covers English waters in the South West.
The goal of this move is to protect the crawfish population so that fishing can remain sustainable in the long term.
The government and the fishing industry have grown concerned about the health of the crawfish stock. By closing the fishery during certain months, the MMO aims to:
Protect Breeding: Give crawfish a chance to spawn and moult without being disturbed.
Reduce Waste: Prevent the catching of fish when they are in poor condition or "soft," which often leads to higher mortality rates.
Safety and Environment: Reduce the risk of fishing gear being lost or left in the water for too long during rough winter weather.
What are the options?
The current seasonal closure is already in place and is set to end on May 31, 2026. The new consultation asks for views on the 2026/2027 season. The MMO has put forward several options for the next start and end dates:
Option 1: Closure from November 22, 2026, to May 31, 2027.
Option 2: Closure from November 22, 2026, to June 10, 2027.
Option 3: Closure from November 22, 2026, to June 24, 2027.
There is also an option for people to suggest their own dates if they believe a different timeframe would work better for the environment or their business.
Looking Ahead
While these annual consultations have been helpful, the MMO noted that some in the industry are experiencing "consultation fatigue." Because of this, the government is looking into longer-term management plans. This would provide more certainty for fishing businesses and mean they wouldn't have to vote on new dates every year.
The consultation is currently open for responses. The MMO will review all feedback from fishers, scientists, and the public before making a final decision on the dates for next year.
