South west fisheries statistics 2014-2016

Comparing the total landings by value figures including the percentage increase form 2014 for Brixham, Newlyn and Plymouth.

Bluefin tuna off Devon and Cornwall

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Reports have again been received of bluefin tuna appearing in UK waters. 

Atlantic bluefin tuna is recognised as an endangered species by the WWF and the IUCN Red List.

The UK has no specific quota to catch bluefin tuna.

Countries which are able to fish for bluefin tuna commercially are listed on the EC website. In normal circumstances bluefin tuna is a prohibited species for UK fishing vessels.

Commercial

Vessels must not target bluefin tuna and if caught accidentally they must be returned to the sea, alive and unharmed to the greatest extent possible.

Recreational

Sea anglers must not target bluefin tuna, any caught as a by-catch when targeting other species must be released immediately and not landed or brought onto the boat. This applies unless recreational catches are part of an ICCAT tagging project. If you find a bluefin tuna you should report this to the nearest MMO office. Sightings of shoals of the species at sea can also be reported to the ICCAT.

Further guidance on bluefin tuna regulations applicable to UK vessels can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Amy Wardlaw, MMO, Posted on:4 September 2017 - Categories:marine conservation

Fine start to #FishyFriday in Newlyn

More evidence that work has commenced on the £1.7 million fish market refurbishment...

as four beam trawlers, a few inshore and one invisible netter provide the fish for Friday's market...

though this is the last time the grading machine will be seen here as it is due to be dismantled and moved to the other end of the market today...

when the current crop of big landings will see much more crowded floor in future as the market will be effectively half its present size...

so big trips of plaice...

turbot...

brill...

pouting...

and John Dory...

will take some fitting in to the space left...

a hazard of the cuttlefish season is the staining of the skin of some fish - the belly of flat fish are not affected as the top side which has a scaley finish...

that allows the ink to seep under the scales...

the ink gets everywhere including the market floor...

with chief auctioneer Ian prising every penny he can out of the assembled buyers with the price of cuttles going up in pence this morning he's looking for the next bid...

which goes down in the market book...

and wins a wry smile...

as the bidding starts all over again with only a handful of buyers bidding on the cuttles every penny counts...

so it looks like young Edwin is keeping his price close to his chest as the bidding starts again...

there's plenty of hake from the Govenek of Ladram...

along with a good shot of shiny haddock...

and even more pristine red gurnard...

on a flat calm morning...

the big scalloper Isla T...

so big she needs a set of steps to get up to the dredge table...

the Sapphire II has managed to get her broken derrick ashore for repair - a hazard of the job for any of the big beam trawlers if the happen to hitch fast with a following sea and tide.

The crown is won back almost! - Newlyn is England's top port by total landings!

The MMO has just published its 2016 UK Sea Fishing Statistics - with some great news for the fishermen who find themselves landing to the port at the top of the league but one with total landings worth £27 million pounds for the year!  With an ever-increasing number of English, Scottish and even Spanish vessels choosing to land to the port the future is looking bright - roll on the new fish market and fish auction which should help bring the port into the 21st century. Brixham, with nearly £16 million pounds worth of cuttlefish, topped the table with £31 million!

Mid-week market in Newlyn.

Most of the inshore trawler fleet landed this morning along with the big beam trawler, Sapphire II and a couple of invisible netters landing hake...

which meant there were plenty of boxes throughout the market...

with John Dory a feature of all the trips...

though it was down to Plugger on the Shiralee to top the quantity scales...

along with the Imogen III...

and the Millennia...

and the Harvest Reaper to bring home the money...

the Sapphire  managed a few lemons from her broken trip...

and plaice...

while Mark touched on a brace of bass...

more JDs...

and plenty of ray wings...

while the squid count was higher for some than others...

Tom hit on a few cuttles...

and Mr Pascoe came home with a bag of crawfish...

the Ajax and the Joy of Ladram piled into the hake from way west of the Scillys...

young Mr Trebilcock provides an overview of the fish trade to Exiting the EU Dept & MP for Wycombe, Steve Baker and FalFish staff wearing their fetching 'teabag' garb provided gratis by the harbour for such fishmarket visits...

food for thought...

taking a break from chasing John Dory, young Roger Nowell hit on a few cuttles...

and the odd bream...

as did one or two others...

predatory hake, the last thing to be seen its prey...

the benign smile of the blue shark...

in a few weeks time this end of the market will be closed until the refurbishment is completed...

standing around in the rain that just started to fall...

devoid of her derricks and beam trawls, the William Stevenson or 'little tiger' as the star of the BBC TV serie, The Skippers and book of the same name affectionately referred to her...

the temporary offices are in place for the fish market refurb...

there's another cat in the harbour...

there's something amiss with the beam trawler, Sapphire II who was not due to return to port until Sunday night...

looks like she snapped her portside derrick almost clean in half - beam trawlers can do that if they catch the trawl on a wreck or bad 'hitch' on the sea bed...

time for tea and fuel...

although bigger than your average visiting yacht these guys, at the tail end of the sailing season, will be looking to make a break from Newlyn before seem very fresh winds hit the Western Approaches late on Sunday night as hurricanes Irma and Jose join forces over the weekend and head for the UK...

when they will undoubtedly dump plenty more rain water over the harbour.