Weekly Market Summary: April 20th – April 23rd, 2026

It’s been a busy few days at the market, with shifting volumes and some standout prices across prime species like turbot, bass, and bulk landings of whiting. Here is the daily breakdown of the landings and a look at how the week shaped up.

Daily Landings

Monday, April 20th: A solid start to the week characterised by high-quality bass (EL grade reaching over £22/kg) and consistent numbers for cuttlefish, with over 238kg landed. Turbot remained a premium item, though volumes were lower compared to later in the week.

Tuesday, April 21st: Whiting dominated the volume today, with a massive haul of over 1,100kg across various sizes. We also saw a significant spike in bass prices for larger sizes (3-4kg+), hitting a peak average of £23.96/kg.

Wednesday, April 22nd: A high-volume day for whiting once again (over 900kg), while Turbot saw a healthy supply across six different size grades. Prime turbot (6kg+) fetched a top price of £31.86/kg, marking the high point for flatfish this week.

Thursday, April 23rd: The market tightened up slightly toward the end of the week. Bass remained the headline act, showing steady demand even as volumes dipped, while Dover sole made a more prominent appearance in the mid-size categories.

Weekly Overview & Key Features

The "Whiting Wave": Tuesday and Wednesday saw the largest bulk landings, with Whiting accounting for the highest total weight. This kept the average price for the species stable but competitive at around £2.30–£2.40/kg.

Premium Pricing: Large turbot and bass continue to be the value drivers. Any bass over 2kg consistently commanded prices between £15 and £24/kg, depending on the "Extra" (EL) quality grading.

Grade Consistency: Quality remained exceptionally high throughout the week, with the majority of landings hitting "A+" or "EL" standards, ensuring buyers were getting top-tier freshness.

So, you want to be a fisherman? Commercial Fishing Taster Events in Newlyn!

 

Next month, we have 2 Commercial Fishing Taster Events at our training hub in Newlyn! 

 This is a great chance to learn more about the industry, meet skippers and our tutors. 

 Contact Seafood Cornwall Training to book: 

 📞01736 364324 

✉️info@seafoodcornwalltraining.co.uk

Cornish hake fishery celebrated for leading the way on sustainable fishing

The Ajax was one of 15 Cornish boats to be certified be certified by the MSC back in 2015

The Cornish hake fishery is celebrating after once again being certified to the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) sustainability standards, the third time across more than 10 years of being recognised for its leading efforts in fishing sustainably.

The fleet, that fishes out of Newlyn and is managed by the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation (CFPO), has experienced larger catches, higher prices, improved market access and a boost to its reputation since its first MSC certification back in 2015, according to detailed research by the New Economics Foundation.

Antony Hosking, who operates two vessels in the Cornish hake fishery fleet, said the crew are looking forward to enjoying the benefits that MSC certification brings for a further five years. “The MSC certification means a whole lot to the South West industry and our company,” Antony said. “It's a very important fishery providing a fantastic product and employing lots of people here in the South West. Make no mistake, there are financial benefits to the MSC accreditation and it gives us better marketing opportunities for our catch."

Not only does this represent a success story for the fishermen and all those in jobs related to the fishery, but for hake stocks too, which suffered significant declines as recently as the late 1990s. The work the CFPO has done to reduce its environmental impact has also been noted in its MSC assessments.

Lewis Tattersall, MSC UK & Ireland Fisheries Senior Outreach Manager, said: “The transformation of the Cornish Hake Fishery is one of the very best examples in UK waters of the difference a forward-thinking organisation can make. “By fully embracing the necessity and ethos of MSC certification, the CFPO has overseen a remarkable change in the fortunes of this increasingly popular fish while enjoying the financial rewards too.”

Since recertification in 2020, work to reduce bycatch is continuing to show positive results. The use of acoustic deterrent devices, or “pingers”, remains effective in minimising harbour porpoise interactions, and the fleet is also leading trials of new technologies to further reduce its bycatch. These include the use of passive acoustic deterrents to limit noise in shallow and coastal waters, as well as modified “pearl nets” which are designed to make nets easier for marine mammals to detect and avoid.

CFPO CEO Chris Ranford, said: “Cornwall’s fishing industry is committed to leading on sustainability, and this MSC recertification proves it. It reflects years of hard work and innovation from our fishermen to fish responsibly and protect the long-term health of our seas. The Cornish hake fishery shows clearly that sustainable fishing and strong, successful businesses go hand in hand, and we are proud to see that recognised once again.” The news comes after Newlyn was one of four coastal towns across the country to be selected for a major Spring advertising campaign by the MSC, encouraging consumers to enjoy and protect their favourite seafood dishes by looking for its blue ecolabel when shopping or dining out – during the Easter holidays and beyond.

The MSC’s ‘Buy Blue Protect Dinner’ adverts in Newlyn championed two classic dishes that can be enjoyed with sustainably-caught Cornish hake – Fish Pie and Fish and Chips – while highlighting how the blue MSC ecolabel helps protect our favourite seafood for many generations and dinners to come.

MSC’s campaign promoting sustainable UK fisheries ended on Sunday 19 April, but with MSC certified hake available year-round the fishery provides consumers with a delicious, local and sustainable any day of the year.

Shifting sands and pebbles.

This winter has seen the beach change along Newlyn Green from week-to-week as Mount's Bay was subjected to successive weeks of huge ground seas sweeping in from the west, at the moment, much of the old stone causeway has been covered by pebbles......

whereas closer to Newlyn the large granite quoins, each weighing around 1.5 tons, are currently highly visible...

Newlyn Green has seen many things over the years but Saturday saw, but didn't hear, its first Silent Disco...

Vision V landing her trip of frozen langoustine...

it's a fine start to the week on Monday morning...

with largely blue skies and almost no wind...

one hungry black-back gull off in search of breakfast...

head-on monk, a sure sign there's a Scotsman landing a trip of fish...

which in this instance included a big shot of congers...

meanwhile, the local inshore boats took advantage of relataively fine weather over the weekend to land quality inshore fish like these John Dory...

bass...

more Dory...

and even more octopi...

some 88kg from just one St Ives boat, a good day's work for young Mr McClary and the Dignity...

the fridge was end-to-end eight-leggers to, out of 20 tons of fish on the market, 18 of them were octopus...

and this is how most are bring caught.

 

Documentary Shows Shared Safety Risks and Pressures of Inshore Fishing Across the Globe - from Cornwall to Indonesia

From Cornwall to Ghana and Indonesia, small-scale fishers face the same risks and realities at sea, as highlighted in a new Lloyd’s Register Foundation documentary.

The universal pressures of safety and economics faced by inshore fishers are the focus of a new documentary released by Lloyd’s Register Foundation. Titled All That Separates Us Is Distance, the film follows three small-scale skippers and their families in Newlyn in Cornwall, Dixcove in Ghana and Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia. The foundation said the project aims to shift the conversation “from data to people”, highlighting the human stories behind global fishing risks. An estimated 32,000 fishers lose their lives at sea each year, underlining the scale of the safety challenge. 

The International Fund for Fishing Safety, founded in 2023, is working to reduce that toll through international cooperation. The initiative is coordinated by Alan McCulla, former chief executive of the Anglo-North Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation. He said the distance between fishing communities in Cornwall and south-east Asia is “purely geographic”, pointing to a shared bond among those who go to sea. 

Though there is some irony in the fact that many Newlyn boats rely on crews from far away such as Ghana of the Philippines.

The documentary was produced by Friday’s Child and is available to view below.

£132 million UK Government investment open to the fishing and seafood industries and coastal communities across England

The UK Government has announced a £132 million investment available over the next five years for the fishing and seafood industries, as well as coastal communities across England.

This funding is being delivered through the relaunched Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) and is designed to boost long-term resilience, sustainability, and economic growth in the sector.

Key Highlights of the Investment:

• Total Funding: Part of a broader £304 million commitment over 12 years (the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund).

• Small-Scale Support: £6 million has been specifically ring-fenced for small-scale coastal fishers.

• Wider Scope: Funding is now open to a broader range of applicants, including businesses, charities, community groups, educational institutions, and port authorities.

• Project Focus: The scheme supports improvements in:

  • Health and safety on vessels.

  • Seafood processing and supply chain efficiency.

  • Port and harbor infrastructure.

  • Trade, market access, and local regeneration.

• Multi-Year Projects: For the first time, applicants can apply for projects delivered over several years, allowing for better long-term planning.

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Application Details & Deadlines:

The MMO has confirmed that the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) is continuing to provide vital financial assistance to the English seafood sector. With over £300m being invested via the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, now is the time to look at those projects that might otherwise be out of reach.

What can you use it for?

The scheme isn’t just for big infrastructure; it’s designed to safeguard the long-term prosperity of our industry. Key areas include:

✅ Health & Safety: Essential gear and equipment to keep you safe at sea.

✅ Sustainability: Projects that reduce emissions or help nature recovery.

✅ Adding Value: Improving the quality of your catch or finding new ways to process and market your products.

✅ Innovation: New technologies that help us fish smarter, not just harder.

Key Info:

• Who can apply? Commercial fishers (sea and inland), aquaculture producers, and processors.

• How much? Up to £250,000 per applicant, per year.

• Competitive Rounds: Keep an eye out for specific windows focusing on Labour & Workforce, Community Partnerships, and Infrastructure

We’re always looking at how our industry can adapt and grow. Whether it’s a new pump system for landing fish or better safety gear for the crew, these grants are there to help bridge the funding gap.

🔗 Read the full guidance and start your application here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fisheries-and-seafood-scheme

The scheme is administered by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). Applications for larger projects (over £250,000) will be reviewed by a panel, with the following deadlines for 2026:

• Panel 1: 1 May 2026

• Panel 2: 12 June 2026

• Panel 3: 4 September 2026

Important Links:

• Full News Release: £132 million investment for fishing and seafood

• How to Apply: Check eligibility and start your application

• Fund Overview: Information on the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund