Unseasonal end to summer in Newlyn.

 

For a few days storm Ella and big tides kept most of the fleet tied up in the harbour.

Brexit discussion: Fresh mackerel, a fish that needs to move quickly.

Interesting thread on Twitter today:

Today in pictures/graphics which "speak a thousand words" about Brexit. 

First up is Fisheries Minister (and MP for the coastal constituency of Banbury) "catching mackerel". If, as many have suggested, her fishing rod has no line, there's your first metaphor. First up is Fisheries Minister (and MP for the coastal constituency of Banbury) "catching mackerel". 

 If you want to know about the forthcoming Fish Bill (ostensibly intended to repatriate matters formerly covered by the CFP), how it might be open to challenge, and why UNCLOS and the UN Fish Stocks Agreement matter, then you'd best ask a lawyer. 

I'm interested in mackerel. Mackerel is an interesting choice of fish. It's plentiful in UK waters, which is why it's a popular choice for sea fishing competitions (if you find a shoal you can pick them out of the sea as fast as you can reel them in — assuming your rod has a line). But...the UK is a net exporter of mackerel (just as we are a net importer of cod, haddock, etc) 67,000 tonnes in 2019. Its value depends upon demand beyond our shores, and the largest markets currently are The Netherlands, France and Romania. ]

https://seafish.org/media/Publications/Factsheet_-_Mackerel_2018.pdf 

Mackerel is known for spoiling quickly (there are more references to stinking mackerel in English literature than to any other fish) and ≈21,000 tonnes of ours are exported fresh. Without a trade deal, it's not only tariffs but non-tariff barriers that will become an issue. Because it spoils so easily, a lot of mackerel is processed before export (smoking, freezing, etc.). Currently, around half of those employed in the UK fish processing sector are EU nationals. It's hard to see how ending free movement of labour will not have an impact here.

Scroll past it quickly and it seems reasonable enough: the UK is getting ready to keep goods moving after the transition period ends on 31 December! But let's think about the language. 

The "customs sector" could refer to the inspection and approval of imports, but here it mainly means preparing declarations for export. It's what Brexit campaigners in 2016 probably called "red tape". Today, then, HM Govt committed to "growing red tape" for trade with the EU. NB. If you're looking for people to blame for this added cost to businesses, you could just blame everyone who voted Leave...but they were assured that the UK would continue to be part of a European "free trade zone". 

It was Theresa May who decreed that the UK had to leave the European Economic Area. It was Boris Johnson who is determined, further, to reject the shared regulation and conformity assessment regime that could make trade freer and easier. It was people who believe that we have no trade deals with the US, or China, who pushed the "WTO Terms"/"No Deal" chimera. 

Four years of Brexit critics obsessing about "the Customs Union" — rather than what really matters when it comes to delivering frictionless trade with our closest market, viz. the Single Market — didn't help much either. My last graphic is from some time ago, but it is within the same genre — the Home Secretary's triumphant announcement that HM Govt is ending free movement. 

Ms Patel's Twitter feed is full of mentions of "freedom", but here is one freedom she's not keen on. only 45,000 EU nationals (net) came to the UK. Net migration from NON-EU countries was 282,000 - 6 times as many. Ending 'free movement' will not end inward migration, but what it will certainly do is curtail the freedom of UK citizens to move as freely as before. On 18 April 1988, Margaret Thatcher called for "Action to let people practice (sic) their trades and professions freely throughout the [EU]". 

I am not suggesting that this will be impossible in the future, but it will be far more difficult. Barriers have been erected. In the same speech, Mrs Thatcher called for "Action to remove the customs barriers and formalities so that goods can circulate freely and without time-consuming delays. Action to make sure that any company could sell its goods and services without let or hindrance." (Notice, btw, her call to 'remove customs barriers' – yet the Customs Union was already 20 years old in 1988.) In the name of some nebulous notion of 'sovereignty' and 'taking back control' (of what?), HM Govt has reversed the vision of their most freedom-loving leader. 

Ending free movement will have a negative impact upon services exports, and the determination to leave the EEA (without the bilateral deals upon which, say, Switzerland relies) erects barriers, impedes the circulation of goods, and multiplies 'time-consuming delays'. What a failure.

Twitter thread courtesy of https://twitter.com/baghwallah/status/1299806020374585345

Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition 2020

 

Newlyn based marine and portrait artist Tim Hall's Rose of Argyll award winning image in the 2019 exhibition.

This year's annual exhibition by the Royal Society of Marine Artists features pieces by elected members and non-members, celebrating all aspects of the sea with themed works in a broad range of styles and media.

The common theme is the sea and tidal waters although, within that remit, work is wide and varied. Subjects range from deep water shipping to coastal scenes, competitive sailing to quiet harbours, marine wildlife to still-life.

Some specialise in carefully researched historical paintings; others paint en plein air, thereby embracing the significant challenge and thrill of capturing the visceral essence of the scene at a given moment in time; yet others work in their studio from copious notes and sketches made on location.

The Royal Society of Marine Artists (RSMA) is widely recognised as the focal point for much of Britain's finest contemporary marine art and many of the country's leading marine artists are elected members of the Society.

The exhibition will be available to view online from 1 September.

Prizewinners will be announced online on Wednesday 30 September, 5pm.

Want to receive free entry to the exhibition for you and a guest, plus more?

Keep up to date with what's going on at Mall Galleries by signing up to receive our e-newsletter.

Exhibition details:

Open 11am to 5pm

Open until 7pm on Thursdays - 1 & 8 October

30 September 2020 to 10 October 2020

In all three gallery spaces Booking will be required - watch this space for updates.

Admission £5, Free to Friends of Mall Galleries and those under 25 years of age

If you could consider making a donation to help us through this period of closure, any amount would be greatly appreciated.

Discarded fishing gear a growing problem

Fishermen report they haul up rubbish wherever gill netters have been working 

A discarded gill net hauled up by a local trawler and taken ashore for disposal. LOCAL fishermen have again raised concerns about the amount of rubbish such as discarded gear they come across when fishing the waters around Shetland.

They say they constantly haul up stripped back gill nets and large quantities of long lines, bundled up and thrown over board allegedly by European fishing vessels.

A Scottish vessel finding a gill net in their catch a few days ago. The issue is not new but appears to have become worse over recent months around Shetland.

Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SFA) said discarded nets not only pose a navigational hazard, but they also pollute the seas with plastic, damage marine life and undermine the reputation of the local industry when pictures of beaches littered with rubbish making the rounds.

One local fisherman who preferred not to be named told Shetland News: “It is well known fact that when these [EU] vessels land their catches, they never take ashore any rubbish.”

A number of photos taken by crew on various vessels illustrate the extent of the problem.

The fisherman added: “The lorries which come from Spain to fetch their catch always load large bails of new gill netting, but none is ever taken ashore for discard.

“No authority seem to check whether or not these vessels have any rubbish to land ashore when they come to port. A vessel with 15-20 men at sea for two to three weeks will be generating a lot of rubbish. We constantly find Spanish food wrappers on the seabed. 

A longline bundled up and thrown over board. 

“This type of incident is not isolated to our vessel, all trawlers operating up and down in the areas where these longliners/gill netters have operated find large amounts of discarded rubbish.”

All fishing ports in Scotland provide skips for fishermen to get rid of their domestic waste, and most ports are also participating in the Fishing for Litter initiative which encourages fishing crew to take ashore any rubbish they haul up in their nets.

The number of Spanish and French owned gill netters operating mainly to the west of Scotland as far north as Shetland is a constant source of dispute, and occasional confrontation, as large areas of sea are covered by gill nets.

They usually land at Scrabster, Kinlochbervie or Lochinver from where their catch is taken by truck to southern Europe.

SFA executive officer Simon Collins said they have been discussing their concern with government agencies such as Marine Scotland and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

He said one part of the solution will be to limit the amount of gill netters allowed to fish in UK waters, and that is something Marine Scotland is in the process of working out proposals for when the Brexit transition period has come to an end next year.

Collins added: “It is a growing problem around Shetland simply because of the increased presence of these vessels.

“One particular thing that might help is the idea of marking nets so that you know where is comes from when found discarded. The issue is to find a technical way of doing that.

“There is also a reputational issue for us. The whole fishing industry gets contaminated with this, because fishing gear look like fishing gear to a passer-by or a casual tourist, whereas local fishermen are proud of doing their bit in tidying up the mess others leave behind.”

By Hans J Marter 28 August 2020 

Full story courtesy of Shetland News

  

Sardine man Dan braves out storm Francis for a three ton shot of the finest Cornish sardines.

It's all smiles as young Mr Hicks begins the task of brailing the Golden Harvest's catch ashore...

into the 400kg tubs...

dripping with slush-ice seawater...

a sure sign of the fine quality fish...

as skipper Dan checks to see if the size run of fish meets his high standards......

another brail...

and another...

more ice is added...

to keep these stunning fish in the best condition before the next part of their journey from net to BBQ and plate...

then it is time to wash down the deck...

before heading back to a berth for the night...

with Dan at the helm.

 

You can help the Home and Dry campaign!

 

Safety at Sea The Fishing Industry Safety Group are carrying out research about safety on commercial fishing vessels. We have been running a publicity campaign Home and Dry and it's important we understand how effective it has been. 

Even if you haven't seen the campaign please take 5 minutes to complete this questionnaire. Everyone who completes a questionnaire will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Amazon voucher.

Help us help you by completing the survey here;

Abandon ship! Follow the procedures you have practised.

This video shows the key steps when abandoning your vessel.

One of the monthly drills you should practice. When did you last do yours?

Plenty of fish for Newlyn this #FishyFriday.

 

Storm Ellen sees the local fleet and a couple of visiting boats like the Our Pamela Jill...

and the Unity tied up for the second day running...

this mornings market supplied with good trips from the St Georges...

the Cornishman...

which went up on the slip last night...

for essential maintenance...

and the Twilight III...

two of the Nowell fleet stayed clear of Penzance wet dock, their normal base...

while the early morning sun picked out the fresh paint job on the Harriet Eve...

along with the rest of the fleet...

many of which will be hoping to get away when the weather moderates as per the Shipping Forecast - though the netters will be a day or two yet until the big spring tide is has passed.

Fishing vessel owners asked to share impacts of Covid-19 in annual fleet survey

Vessel owners across UK are being asked to take part in a major survey of fishing fleet. 

Seafish, the public body that supports the £10bn UK seafood industry, will contact all owners of UK registered vessels to invite them to complete the annual socio-economic survey. The UK fleet survey asks questions about the financial and operational performance of fishing businesses. Questions on the impact of Covid-19 are a major part of the survey this year. There will also be an opportunity for vessel owners to say how effective government support measures have been for their businesses.

The fleet survey is usually undertaken by a team of researchers visiting hundreds of ports and harbours across the UK. Due to Covid-19 and challenges with travel and physical distancing, a different approach is being taken this year. Vessel owners will be posted a pack containing the survey form and guidance on how to complete it. Survey forms can be completed and returned freepost to Seafish or alternatively they can be done online or over the phone. The fleet survey research team can be contacted for queries or support with completing the survey. All responses are treated as confidential, with no figures from any individual vessel revealed in any outputs.

The results are shared with the industry and with government. They help policy makers better understand the challenges and opportunities facing the UK fishing fleet and the impact of fisheries management measures. In recent months, data from last year’s survey was used by the UK Government and the devolved administrations when designing targeted Covid-19 support packages for the fishing industry. While governments decided on what support should be offered, it was survey data from vessel owners which helped ensure that the most up to date costs of operating a fishing business could be taken into account.

Kirsten Milliken, Economics Project Manager at Seafish said:

“About 70% of the fishermen we meet in ports take part in our survey. Unfortunately this year our researchers aren’t able to meet vessel owners in person so we’re inviting them to complete the survey another way. It should only take 15 minutes to complete and our researchers will be available by phone or video chat to help if requested. Vessel owners can also arrange an in-depth discussion with our researchers if they want to tell us more about how their business is being affected by current challenges and their expectations for the future.

“The fleet survey is our opportunity to take the pulse of the UK’s fishing fleet and hear directly from vessel owners about how their businesses are faring. All owners know the challenges that they have faced in the last few volatile months and are currently wrestling with, but it’s only by collecting this vital information from all types of fishing businesses that we can provide comprehensive analysis to inform both government and the industry.”

Dale Rodmell, Assistant Chief Executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO), has called on vessel owners to complete the survey saying:

“The way Seafish will be conducting the fleet survey this year has had to change, but the need for us all to have the most up-to-date and accurate picture of the UK fishing fleet has not. I encourage all vessel owners to engage with Seafish to complete the survey in whatever way suits them best to ensure that we all have access to this vital data on how fishing businesses across the country are faring through Covid-19 and other challenges.”

Owners who take part in the fleet survey can also request a free benchmark report. This compares their vessel’s performance to other similar vessels and can help identify areas where improvements can be made. They can also be used as evidence in grant or loan applications. Vessel owners who requested a benchmark report after taking part in last year’s survey should receive it very soon. Survey packs will be making their way to all UK vessel owners from 21 August. Completed survey forms should be returned to Seafish by 30 September.

The survey results allow Seafish to put together a picture of the economic performance of the UK’s fishing fleet and the social impacts on the coastal communities it supports. Every individual response adds extra insight and accuracy to the picture of the industry as it navigates the current pandemic and prepares for the UK leaving the Common Fisheries Policy.

The Economics of the UK Fishing Fleet report for 2019 – which is based on last year’s survey results as well as landings data - will be published soon. A provisional dataset has already been released. It showed that fishing revenues for the UK fleet totalled £980 million in 2019, a decrease from £1,025 million in 2018. The total weight of landings fell by 12%, with the average price per tonne landed increasing by 8%. While the cost of fuel throughout 2019 was lower than the peak prices seen in October 2018, it remained relatively stable as a proportion of total income (14% in 2018 and 13% in 2019).

For further information or support with completing the survey form contact fleet.survey@seafish.co.uk or 07876 035 759.

Fishing lives, women and art.

Léon Spilliaert, 'Fishermans Wife', 1910. Indian ink wash, brush, wax crayon, pastel and coloured pencil on paper, 64.3 x 48.9 cm.

The fisherman's wife stands, waiting, back turned to the world. Léon Spilliaert was fascinated by the image of the lonely woman, returning to it again and again in his work.⠀ ⠀

The same tragic, ‘waiting woman’ is also a recurring image in Verhaeren’s poems. He wrote passionately of the doomed fishing communities who had once eked out a living among the dunes of the unforgiving Belgian coast. Here, in an extract from the poem ‘Le Péril’ (1907), the women wait anxiously for the return of the fishing boat after a storm:⠀ ⠀⠀

"… Yet nevertheless the tiny lights⠀still keep watch from the cottages;⠀ scattered amongst the dark enclosures like breadcrumbs of hope.⠀ ⠀⠀

 And the women, beneath their mourning capes⠀ fists at their mouths,⠀ are still there, silent and iron-willed,⠀gazing into the darkness."⠀ 

Many Newlyn School Artists also featured women waiting for the return of loved ones as subjects...

Sometimes, as in Walter Langley's epic 'Waiting for the boats' there were many expectant faces...

or his 'Reverie' featuring just one young face looking out of the window over the Mounts Bay...

or Langley's "Never morning wore to evening"

or when the news is the worst, 'Never morning wore to evening but some heart did break'"...

not forgetting, "The Breadwinners". Penlee Gallery has a permanent collection of Langley's and other Newlyn School artists and is well worth a visit as there are also several always changing curations on display throughout they year.

Langouste Rose landed only for the second time in Newlyn..

Not where you want your yacht to end up in a strong sou'westerly blow - the one person aboard was helped ashore by coastguard volunteers during the night...

visiting stern trawler KCJ Rose from Brixham...

local inshore trawlers take on fuel and wait for the weather to moderate...

visiting Brixham scalloper Our Pamela Jill...

it's a pretty grey day in Newlyn this morning...

though that won't stop the boys on the Govenek of Ladram from mending a tier or two of nets...

charismatic traditional art of the signwriter...

between showers...

luckily the weather has been fine up to now and allowed the St Ives lugger Barnabas to have her hull painted above and below the waterline...

for the first time in Newlyn a three day trip of Langouste Rose or Palinurus Mauritanicus was landed by the Joy of Ladram...

with only the very biggest of the hauls being retained on board for Karl...

and the South West Shellfish company...

each box carefully weighed...

and covered with a damp sack for transport, these differ significantly in colour compared to the native crawfish or Langouste Rouge

they were once fished in huge quantities by French boats mainly from the ports of Douarnenez and Camaret off the coast of Mauritania - if you get the chance, a visit to the Musée de Peche at Douarnenez is well worth the visit...

this is the first time a UK boat has targeted them...

as they are caught in deep water on the edge of the Continental Shelf well over 200 miles south west of Newlyn...

with these quota-free fish are expected to make approaching £30 per kilo and giving the skipper an alternative fishery from hake and pollack which have seen prices stay low during the Covid-19 pandemic.