This is the PFA's response to the action taken by Greenpeace to highlight EU subsidised fishing effort by some of the world's largest trawlers working off the west coast of Africa - mainly Mauritanian and Senegalese waters.
The Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association (PFA) condemns the dangerous actions of Greenpeace in the waters off Mauritania targeted against member vessels of the PFA. The use of small inflatable boats in the Atlantic Ocean far from shore to harass our vessels puts Greenpeace staff at great risk and is reckless. As a matter of fact, the PFA embraces the importance of sustainable fishing and has been committed to effective fishery management in this region for years. In addition, PFA fishers have only a limited presence in this fishing area.
On an annual basis, an average of 50 international freezer-trawlers are active in Mauritanian waters, focusing on small pelagic fish stocks. 30 to 35 of these trawlers originate from countries such as Russia, China, Korea, and Belize. Of the 17 to 20 EU licences available, the PFA uses 6 to 7 annually. The PFA fleet fishes exclusively for human consumption. The fish caught is intended for the people with limited purchasing power in West-Central African countries, and the PFA has the required logistic and distribution infrastructure at its disposal to achieve this. Recently and to a rapidly increasing degree, ships operating under the Mauritanian flag are also catching pelagic fish for the production of fish meal. However, this fish meal is sold outside Africa and goes to countries with a large fish farming sector such as China.
In view of the size of the total fleet, it is imperative that the Mauritanian government manages the pelagic fisheries more effectively. The EU can fulfil a decisive role here, under the terms of the bilateral agreement.
The current EU agreement with Mauritania comes to an end in mid-2012. The PFA strongly presses the European Commission to include the implementation of an effective fishery management system as a core element of negotiations with the Mauritanian government. Furthermore, the PFA expects the European Commission to make an active commitment to improve pelagic fishery management at regional level for the whole of North-West Africa (CECAF area). A clear role is also reserved for the European Union to develop the infrastructure that will make it possible for a pelagic logistic hub to be established in Mauritania. The primary focus here is on harbour facilities - and everything else involved - with the aim of using Mauritania as a base to provide the African hinterland with healthy cheap protein originating from pelagic fish.
The PFA aims to fish in a responsible manner in the waters in which it is active. Accordingly, members of the PFA choose to fish sustainably and to make an active contribution to research into fish stocks and innovative, selective methods of fishing. In addition, the PFA is emphatically committed to international and European agreements for good fishery management. So much so that the members of the PFA that have been active for more than a century, will be able to continue for at least the next 100 years.
The PFA is striving to achieve an active dialogue with the scientific community, national and international governments and NGOs seeking partnership. Only this dialogue between the fishery sector, scientists, managers and NGOs has been globally proven to achieve effective fishery management.
See the Greenpeace video and Guardian article that prompted this response from the PFA. See the PFA web site here:
Monday 30 April 2012
Domestic Fisheries Management Reform
As of today from defra:
Domestic Fisheries Management Reform
Fisheries play an important role in providing food, jobs, wealth and social/cultural benefits, particularly in some coastal communities. The small scale (under 10m) fleet has failed to thrive under successive management regimes, and it faces major challenges. Specifically, the current regime has encouraged an imbalance between capacity and fishing opportunities, putting pressure on smaller businesses and contributing to overcapacity, overcapitalisation and low profitability across the fleet.
Latest news on pilot community quota groups
As part of the Government’s plans for domestic fisheries reform, three voluntary pilot quota management groups are to go ahead to test the impact of a more local approach to quota management. These will be based in the ports of Lowestoft, West Mersea and Ramsgate.
These groups are currently working closely with the Marine Management Organisation to meet certain recognition criteria with the aim of taking on full quota management responsibilities from 1 May 2012, supported by three Coastal Liaison Officers (CLOs).
Three additional groups that have chosen not to take on local quota management responsibilities hope to continue to work together for marketing and development purposes and achieve many of the secondary objectives set for the quota management pilot groups.
The three pilots will generate invaluable information on whether or not the local collective management of annual quota allocations by groups of fishermen can be effective and generate added benefits for the members of those groups. Information from these pilots could play a critical role in our journey towards fundamental reform in placing English inshore fisheries on a sustainable footing, along with the rest of the fleet. The attached information note contains more details about the pilots groups, including how quota has been allocated to them, and the realignment of consistently unused quota to increase the under-10m pool.
Full defra page here:
Information note on pilot community quota groups and realignment of unused quota (PDF)
Domestic Fisheries Management Reform
Fisheries play an important role in providing food, jobs, wealth and social/cultural benefits, particularly in some coastal communities. The small scale (under 10m) fleet has failed to thrive under successive management regimes, and it faces major challenges. Specifically, the current regime has encouraged an imbalance between capacity and fishing opportunities, putting pressure on smaller businesses and contributing to overcapacity, overcapitalisation and low profitability across the fleet.
Latest news on pilot community quota groups
As part of the Government’s plans for domestic fisheries reform, three voluntary pilot quota management groups are to go ahead to test the impact of a more local approach to quota management. These will be based in the ports of Lowestoft, West Mersea and Ramsgate.
These groups are currently working closely with the Marine Management Organisation to meet certain recognition criteria with the aim of taking on full quota management responsibilities from 1 May 2012, supported by three Coastal Liaison Officers (CLOs).
Three additional groups that have chosen not to take on local quota management responsibilities hope to continue to work together for marketing and development purposes and achieve many of the secondary objectives set for the quota management pilot groups.
The three pilots will generate invaluable information on whether or not the local collective management of annual quota allocations by groups of fishermen can be effective and generate added benefits for the members of those groups. Information from these pilots could play a critical role in our journey towards fundamental reform in placing English inshore fisheries on a sustainable footing, along with the rest of the fleet. The attached information note contains more details about the pilots groups, including how quota has been allocated to them, and the realignment of consistently unused quota to increase the under-10m pool.
Full defra page here:
Information note on pilot community quota groups and realignment of unused quota (PDF)
Sunday 29 April 2012
NNE 8-9 gusting 10
Lift-off for a pair of blackbacks as they head off to greet an inbound boat.......
From Crystal Sea III viia Twitter,
"NNE 8-9 gusting 10 a bit of a punch back to Newlyn to say the least, speed down to half due to the sea state. landing later on"
head-to-wind, the Crystal Sea III makes her way in past three ships at anchor, driven in to take shelter rather than punch their way round Land's End.......
that NE bereeze is forcing its way through the fish market.
French Fish prices for March - market information.
Would it be useful to see a similar document published for the major ports in the UK?
Saturday 28 April 2012
Council cutbacks leave Penzance promenade plastered with pebbles
Friday 27 April 2012
Newlyn fish market filmed in 1987
Filmed in 1987 not long after the completion of the new quay - or Mary Williams Pier to give its correct name. The harbour had been dredged out to accommodate boats against the new quay almost as far as the fish market. At that time the only source of ice in any quantity for the boats in the port was from W Stevenson - so moves were afoot to create an independent ice works (at 18s you can see the space where the Cornish Ice Company now stands) as the number of boats began to increase due to success of gill net fishing.
The space immediately in front of the fish market has not been dredged - nor had the 'new' fish market been built - and when it was a new roof was fitted and the market extended into the harbour by a few metres. The blue tarpaulins were put in place in an attempt to protect the protracted auction process which on a 'good' day would go on past lunch time - but then the auction did not start untill 8am!
At 2m 2s you can see the end of the market where the 'gut bins' were kept - during the summer months visitors' nostrils were often attracted by several tons of fermenting offal maturing in the sun - despite being well known for the huge quantities of prime fish being landed, Newlyn was a little slow in appreciating the need for fresh food handling practices in keeping with the 20th rather than 19 century - how things have changed!
In the lorry park, vehicles from Jack Reynolds (who transported away the gut bins), Stevensons and Suttons (the yellow Fodens). At 2m 44s shows the huge empty shed which was built as a temporary measure to house the fish auction while the old market was given a facelift - it is still in use today as a workshop.
At 4m 14s an internal of the fish market reveals stacks of 10 stone kits - even some of the old aluminium variety. Big ground fish like dogs, ling, ray, pollock and coley were weighed in kits.
At the time there were no cold storage facilities built into the fish market so boats were forced to keep their fish on board if they returned earlier than planned. At the end of their trips, boats would start landing their fish alongside the market from midnight or later - if bad weather forced the fleet in there would be dozens of boats all trying to get their fish ashore and the boats would lay three or four deep against the market. To this day it is illegal for a boat to be left against the fish market unless it is landing - and once landed the boat should be moved away immdeiately to allow others access. With the advent of the market fridges the boats can now land at any time and keep their catch in chilled storage.
Jason Arandhara-Blackwell - Food Photographer
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| Spot the hake! |
Aquarius - tug sinking update
The Aquarius, a British tug of 20m, sank on Monday, shortly before 8 am, 75 km north of Aber Wrac'h. Two of the three English sailors on board were rescued. The third is still missing. Research, especially with a Falcon 50 of the Navy, continued until late afternoon. And they stopped with nightfall.
At )7:20, on Monday, a tug of 20 m, the Aquarius , which was on a Corunna-Plymouth, requested assistance while he was in the northern tip of Britain . "Le Cross Corsen immediately relayed his request to ships present in the area," reported the maritime prefecture of the Atlantic. dark Tug Shortly after, the Aquarius , which was three crewmen, announced he was sinking as a result, it seems, of a leak. At 07:40, she finally sank while two sailors managed to reach the life raft. A third crew member himself is missing. An extensive research was undertaken by the Le Cross Corsen then brought the helicopter to the Cayman-based naval aviation Lanvéoc-Poulmic. The latter took off at 08:05, with a medical team of the Army Medical Service and immediately visited the area. Cayman Helicopter fleet arrived at 33F area at 08:28 and was hoisted both survivors , which were supported by the physician and the nurse of the Army Medical Service. He then began a search at sea to try to locate the last survivor.
One of three crew members missing A 10:55, the two survivors have been filed by the Cayman to the DZ of the naval base of Brest and were supported by naval firemen to be transferred to the Hospital armies in Brest. After going to refuel at NAS Landivisiau to 16:00, the Falcon 50 is returned on the search area until late afternoon. With nightfall, the maritime prefect of the Atlantic has decided to suspend the search.
Weather: Wed 5, 240 Wind (SW) to 70 km / h (35-40 knots), visibility 5 km.
Info courtesy of Le Télégramme / translation via Google.
At )7:20, on Monday, a tug of 20 m, the Aquarius , which was on a Corunna-Plymouth, requested assistance while he was in the northern tip of Britain . "Le Cross Corsen immediately relayed his request to ships present in the area," reported the maritime prefecture of the Atlantic. dark Tug Shortly after, the Aquarius , which was three crewmen, announced he was sinking as a result, it seems, of a leak. At 07:40, she finally sank while two sailors managed to reach the life raft. A third crew member himself is missing. An extensive research was undertaken by the Le Cross Corsen then brought the helicopter to the Cayman-based naval aviation Lanvéoc-Poulmic. The latter took off at 08:05, with a medical team of the Army Medical Service and immediately visited the area. Cayman Helicopter fleet arrived at 33F area at 08:28 and was hoisted both survivors , which were supported by the physician and the nurse of the Army Medical Service. He then began a search at sea to try to locate the last survivor.
One of three crew members missing A 10:55, the two survivors have been filed by the Cayman to the DZ of the naval base of Brest and were supported by naval firemen to be transferred to the Hospital armies in Brest. After going to refuel at NAS Landivisiau to 16:00, the Falcon 50 is returned on the search area until late afternoon. With nightfall, the maritime prefect of the Atlantic has decided to suspend the search.
Weather: Wed 5, 240 Wind (SW) to 70 km / h (35-40 knots), visibility 5 km.
Info courtesy of Le Télégramme / translation via Google.
Thursday 26 April 2012
Wednesday 25 April 2012
Newlyn job vacancy: Fisheries Community Animateur
There's an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate from the local community to work in helping to develop a better future for the fishing industry.
Recruitment: Fisheries Community Animateur
35 hours per week Salary £23,000 per annum Based in Newlyn with extensive travel around Cornwall.
We are seeking a Fisheries Community Animateur to work with the Cornwall Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG), a working group that strategically supports the sustainable development of the fisheries community.
The post holder will be required to work within the community to bring about, develop and secure funding that will meet the aims of FLAG strategy, and to project a positive image to the local and identified FLAG community. Fisheries knowledge not necessarily required but the ability to work on own initiative and see tasks through to completion is essential. Excellent communication skills required, both written and oral, together with sound IT knowledge. The successful applicant will need the ability to write clear reports and business plans and interpret complex funding rules and strategies. Would suit a friendly, outgoing graduate (or level 6 qualified) with the above skills. The ability to travel independently throughout Cornwall is a requirement of this post.
Application forms should be emailed to crcc.jobs@cornwallrcc.org.uk.
Unfortunately CVs cannot be accepted.
Closing date: 8 May 2012 Interview date: 15 May 2012
Job Description
Person Specification
Application form
The way ahead
is this what is needed to bring about proseprity to the area - OAP flats on a waterfront overlooking the amazing Mounts Bay?
Wet Wednesday
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