Expanded Seafood Response Fund for the UK’s seafood and aquaculture sectors.

Government has announced enhanced financial support for the seafood industry with cash grants for seafood and aquaculture businesses across the UK.

In January, the Government made available £23 million for seafood exporters that suffered a financial loss because of delays related to the export of fresh or live fish and shellfish to the EU during January 2021.

Having listened to concerns from fishing businesses across the UK, Defra will now be expanding the eligibility criteria to target catching and shellfish aquaculture businesses which have been affected by a reduction in demand from the hospitality sector in the UK and abroad, as well as disruption of exports to the EU. These expanded criteria will mean more businesses can get the support they need.

The scheme, which is similar to last year’s Fisheries Response Fund set up in response to the coronavirus pandemic, will open in early March and provide a grant payment to cover up to three months of average business fixed costs incurred between January and March 2021. It will help catching and shellfish aquaculture businesses with costs such as insurance, equipment hire and port fees.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: 

Our fishermen are at the heart of many of our coastal communities and we recognise the impact of coronavirus and the end of the transition period on them. This expansion of our £23 million support package will ensure many more businesses can benefit from government support.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to the closure of critical markets, and this has been exacerbated by issues faced by exporters at the border. We will continue to ensure we are listening to our fishing and seafood industry as we work to resolve these issues, and work with them to build up the industry in the months and years ahead.

UK Government Minister for Scotland, David Duguid said: 

Over the last few months, we have been listening to the seafood industry and have continued to monitor the impacts that the pandemic and export disruption has played on prices, exports and the market.

I am confident in the quality of Scottish fish and seafood but for many fishing businesses the lack of demand in the hospitality trade in the UK and further afield has had a real impact on market prices.

While we continue to take steps to beat this virus and work with the sector to resolve export issues - this expanded support scheme will help the many small and medium sized fishing businesses that support so many of our coastal communities.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis said: 

The fishing industry plays an important role in Northern Ireland for its people and communities, supporting around 2,000 jobs.

This expansion of the government’s £23 million response fund will ensure that the fisheries and aquaculture industry in Northern Ireland receives the financial and practical support it needs.

Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said: 

The expansion of the Seafood Disruption Support Scheme highlights the UK Government’s commitment to Welsh exporters who are currently facing a uniquely challenging period.

We want to back our fantastic Welsh businesses and I encourage all who are eligible to apply for this support.

The main features of the scheme are:

• For the UK catching sector, the fund will be open to under 40m vessel owners with fishing licences and who have a track record of fishing in the winter months. 

• The scheme will offer support to UK shellfish aquaculture businesses, support will be provided on average ongoing costs based on Full-time equivalent (FTE) employees per business. 

• Businesses who have received a grant under the recent Seafood Producers Resilience Fund in Scotland will not be eligible for the UK scheme. 

• The Marine Management Organisation will administer the fund across the UK on behalf of Defra, contacting eligible registered owners and licence holders directly with details of how to apply, starting in early March.  A single payment will be made to cover a proportion of fixed costs over a three-month period from January to March 2021. 

The funding follows targeted support to help exporters with new processes. This includes the Seafood Exports Working Group, meeting twice a week to troubleshoot issues raised by the industry; and a newly established Scottish Seafood Exports Task Force.

The UK fishing and seafood sector is also set to benefit from significant government investment with a £100 million fund to help modernise fishing fleets, the fish processing industry, and rejuvenate an historic and proud industry in the UK, on top of the £32 million that will replace EU funding this year.

The Government also continues to seek urgent resolution to export issues, including the EU ban on the import of class B live bivalve molluscs and will explore further ways producers can continue to export this valuable seafood. UK mussels and oysters are highly sought after, at home and abroad. The sector has been highly impacted by Covid restrictions, and now barriers to trade imposed by the EU.

There is also wider support from the Government to the sector including the on-going Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the furlough scheme and the recently launched SME Brexit Support Fund to help businesses deal with export requirements.

Published 21 February 2021 From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, David Duguid MP, The Rt Hon George Eustice MP, The Rt Hon Brandon Lewis MP, and The Rt Hon Simon Hart MP Fishing boats in harbour The

Fishing into the Future

 

Some great news for the future of the fishing industry in the UK, read on:

Fishing into the Future (FITF), an independent UK charity led by people working in the fishing industry, has formed a partnership with the Fishmongers’ Company. The partnership includes a substantial grant to implement a three-year work programme that builds on their innovative learning and leadership initiative. This work is being coordinated by Fisheries and Seafood expert, Emma Plotnek, who has been brought on board to take on the role as FITF’s Programme Manager.

Education, education, education.

The major initiatives enabled by this grant will build on the charity’s education and leadership programme as well as strengthen an established peer-learning network. Since its inception, FITF has been instrumental in delivering unique learning opportunities designed to equip fishermen, scientists and fisheries managers with the knowledge, connections, and confidence to work together towards effective fisheries management, for a sustainable and prosperous UK fishing industry. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, FITF is currently focused on building relationships and knowledge remotely through an online network and series of digital interventions and events, aiming to restart face-to-face activities later in 2021.

Crystal Sea SS118  in Newlyn.

Fishing into the Future’s Chairman, Dave Stevens, owner and skipper of the demersal trawler, Crystal Sea SS 118, remarks on the importance of charity’s work and the benefit the support from The Fishmongers’ Company will bring:

“Improving regular communication between stakeholders is fundamental if we are to build trust among industry players, but on top of this we aim to increase the impact of these conversations by improving how we talk and listen to one another. When you compare a fisherman’s background with that of scientists and policy makers, we have a very different formation and experience, which puts us at risk of not making ourselves heard - or lacking the technical language to communicate what we know best through experience. Thanks to the support from the Fishmongers’ Company, we can continue devise and deliver solutions to help communication, build transparency and foster co-management that is nurtured by collaborative data collection and science.”

Fishmongers Hall, from London Bridge.

Support from funders such as the Fishmongers’ Company, and the voluntary input from FITF’s Trustees is vital to prove the concept that viable solutions to complex problems can be achieved through building knowledge and understanding among people working in UK fisheries.

Additional time and expertise is provided by Alison Freeman, Fisheries Programme Manager on the Fisheries Team at Fishmongers’ Company. She added “At Fishmonger’s we support a wide range of projects, grants, and convening to build and safeguard a prosperous and sustainable fishing industry that benefits its users. This collaboration aims to help build a transdisciplinary approach to fisheries management that emphasises the need for collaborative problem‐solving among stakeholders.”

Through additional funding from Seafarers UK, FITF has hired fisheries and seafood lead, Emma Plotnek, to coordinate this new programme of work. Emma is currently focused on strengthening and developing FITF’s network to improve knowledge, cohesion and collaboration within the UK fishing sector. This includes preparing events and tailored workshops, so that a representative pool of people within the catching sector can participate in management, science, and business scenarios. Emma adds: “Once the value of this work is fully appreciated, we hope the work delivered by FIFT will become integrated into the foundations of a prosperous UK fishing sector, based on effective dialogue, collaboration and a mutual understanding. “

The Charity’s work depends on engagement from a fully representative body of supporters and if you would like to find out more about Fishing into the Future they can be contacted on the phone, via email or on social media:

emma@fitf.co.uk

07311812105

Facebook: @FishingintotheFuture

Twitter: @fishing_future

Fishing reports on trawling from Farming Today this week.

 

Radio 4's Farming Today ran a series of reports specifically focussing on various types of trawling in the UK.

Monday: Farming Today starts a week-long look at trawling; how it works, how the industry could be affected by Brexit and what happens now the UK has more control over what happens in its waters. We start the week by speaking to Bryce Stewart, a fisheries biologist and associate professor at the University of York. 

Tuesday: Ahead of his speech at the National Farmers Union Conference - this year hosted virtually - the DEFRA Secretary, George Eustice, answers questions in a wide-ranging interview covering topics from the compensation for seafood businesses effected by export delays to the future of farm payments. And the Marine Management Organisation is consulting on plans to prevent bottom trawling on the Dogger Bank and three other Marine Protected Areas. 

Wednesday: Heather Simons finds out how fish markets have been impacted this year by the COVID pandemic, and by the UK leaving the EU. 

Thursday: A look at how dredging for scallops can be made more sustainable. Plus we discuss what a recent ban on Pulse Trawling might mean for scientific fishing innovation. 

Friday: The owners of a Hull-based trawler, which catches about 1 in 10 of every fish we buy from the chippy, warn they will be forced to stop fishing unless the government sorts out quotas. The Kirkella forms most of the UK’s distant waters fleet - she can take 12 tonnes of fish in one haul and then process and freeze it in an onboard factory. But since Brexit the UK has no fishing deal with Norway, in whose waters The Kirkella fishes. It all used to be negotiated by the EU, now the UK has left, we need our own agreement - which hasn't happened yet. Jane Sandell from UK Fisheries which owns the trawler, says unless that changes, The Kirkella and its 100 crew members are in trouble. She's seeking reassurances from the fisheries minister Victoria Prentis who says there should be a deal in the next couple of weeks.

BBC Farming Today on Sounds.

George Eusrace, less than generous with the truth?

George Eustice was being deceptive on TV. I have read the Fisheries section of the TCA and undepurated shellfish export isn’t mentioned. This omission means the UK would abide by current EU regulations if it isn’t in Exit Legislation.

Eustice claims the EU “said” there wouldn’t be an issue with exports like it was an agreement they had whilst chatting over a pint. And he said they said there are Export Health Certificates which would cover unpurified bivalves. He is either lying or ignorant. The only EHC which covers bivalves specifies they need to be purified or fit for human consumption. There’s no ambiguity on this certificate and no Health Officer would sign an EHC to allow export of my oysters which have not been purified and are therefore not legally safe to eat yet. 

Eustice is being absurd suggesting there was a ‘one size fits all solution’ which Europe ‘said’ was fine This issue is not about public health. It is about industry warning that there would be huge problems if Govt didn’t acknowledge and fix them. Apparent Gentleman’s Agreements isn’t governance. 

There needed to be adequate bio security measures agreed on paper The TCA didn’t cover this issue so quite simply it fell into Third Country rules even though Eustice was warned and now he is blaming others for his apathy and ignorance.

Courtesy of Twitter feed.

Brexit and fishing, seven weeks on.

BBC1's Countryfile ran a short piece by Charlotte Smith who investigated whether Brexit is delivering all it promised for the UK’s fishing industry. 

Julie of Ladram steaming for Newlyn last week.

Among others, she caught up with Sprat aka Mike Smith aboard the Brixham beam trawler Julie of Ladram who featured on Countryfile during the first lockdown. Make up your own mind.

 

Shellfish shambles explained.

Eighth generation oyster fisherman Tom Haward sheds some light on the 'EY shellfish ban' debacle that is affecting producers the length and breadth of the UK, not least for oyster fishing businesses like Fal Oyster and others in the Falmouth and Helford area of Cornwall.

Photo courtesy of Alan Clarke

The phrase, ‘EU shellfish ban,’ keeps being used by news outlets and it’s important to understand how this language is misleading and how Government is deliberately using misinformation to hide from its own failures. As a producer of live animals (oysters) who sells them on for human consumption, there are, quite rightly, rigorous standards we must meet to ensure what we sell is safe for people to eat. One of the most important factors in this process is the issue of water quality. If water quality is really poor (high amounts of sewage or rubbish dumped), animals like oysters will absorb the dangerous bacteria and make them unsafe to harvest.

There are 3 grades of water quality for shellfish production.

Grades, A, B & C. 

These grades were determined through when we were part of the EU. Simply, grade A waters are excellent and you don’t have to purify shellfish from these waters (some of our waters where we grow out oysters are A).

Grade B water means shellfish has to be purified before it can be sold for human consumption; most waters in the UK are B. The purpose of the grades is to ensure we use due diligence in our treatment of shellfish. It’s not a perfect system but it works...

As part of a large multi-country community we were effectively able to sell grade B shellfish unpurified to our neighbours where they would perform the process of purification before selling it on. Ideal if you harvested shellfish but didn’t have a purification centre. At least 2 years ago I noticed (along with others in industry) that if we were no longer part of the EU then as a 3rd country our food standards would no longer align, legally, and we wouldn’t be able to export grade B, unpurified shellfish...

This was raised with government figures as a major concern. It was obviously ignored. We (the UK) helped establish these EU regulations to have a consistent approach for easy, free flowing trade of shellfish. I said a no deal or equivalent would result in this catastrophe if it wasn’t looked at. George Eustace is lying when he says it was a surprise and when it is being peddled as an ‘overnight ban’. When he was fisheries minister he was aware of these worries. If I saw this coming then Johnson, et al should have...

The UK helped write the regulations government are now claiming they have been side swiped by. We are in this mess because those elected to serve us were too lazy and arrogant to read the small print because they wanted adulation without the work.

“YOUR VOICE IN OUR INDUSTRY”

 

Following ever-increasing demand from those in the fishing and seafood coastal communities nationwide a new organisation, the Irish Fishing & Seafood Alliance (I.F.S.A.) has been established.

Already endorsed by some of the country’s largest and most prominent industry groups, IFSA has been formed to, among several other agendas, seek recognition by Government and the Department of Marine that the seafood industry in Ireland requires their urgent intervention to redress the devastating outcome that BREXIT has beset upon the industry.

With the motto of “your voice in our industry”, IFSA is a self-funding, non-profit organisation which is not restrained by any existing regional political divisions, nor is it divided by differing industry sector interests and will be the spokesman for all individuals, vessels, fish companies of all sizes, fish shops, and all ancillary service companies involved in the industry nationwide. This provides a unique platform from which to give ALL interested parties a voice in demanding that our government affords our industry the support we deserve to navigate our way safely through the storm that BREXIT has forced upon our coastal communities. We will provide the opportunity for those who have invested and those who work in this industry to voice their frustration and demand action. Taking the wheel

Those involved in the formation of IFSA unanimously voted for the appointment of well-known industry supporter Cormac Burke to be the Organisation’s Chairman.

An ex-fisherman and later editor of The Irish Skipper, Fishing News, and Fishing News International, Mr Burke is also known as MD of the international fishing industry consultancy and PR firm FishComm Ltd.

In his first public statement as IFSA Chairman, Cormac said that he was honoured to have been chosen for this appointment and is looking forward to the many challenges that lie ahead.

“Coming from a fishing industry background and having spent most of my life involved in the fishing and seafood industry, in one form or another, I’m pleased to now be given this opportunity to serve the industry.

“This sector is made up of decent, hardworking people, many of whom have made heavy private investment in vessels, processing companies and ancillary services. But the biggest majority are simply reliant on this industry for their livelihoods.

“The spiral of decline in our traditional fishing ports will be greatly accelerated if our Government is not prepared to support the decent people that are proud to be part of our industry. The resilience and perseverance of these people has, in the past, helped our country to achieve what it has, against the odds. However, this latest challenge is catastrophic.

. “We cannot and will not accept to be relegated to the ‘poor relation’ of Irish commercial life. We cannot countenance a situation whereby vessels tie up, companies close down and once-thriving coastal towns and villages will face economic collapse.

“Many people in the seafood and fishing sectors believe that the only hope for progress is to unite the industry - a tough task given the challenges of existing regional representation and political restraints on many of the current representative groups - but hopefully IFSA can now be that unrestricted voice that the industry so badly needs,” he said.

Full contact details, website, social media etc will be made available in the coming weeks.

You can help save, 'This Fishing Life' in Cadgwith.

The penultimate episode of BBC2's This Fishing Life episode 5 featured the fishermen and fishing community of Cadgwith, the UK's southernmost fishing village at the foot of the Lizard peninsula facing directly into the heavy Atlantic winter swells. Boats are launched and retrieved up the beach as the cove's fishermen have done, for centuries. 

Pounding seas on the shingle, Cornish gig rowing competitions, singers huddled round huge real fires in the Cadgwith Cove Inn; fishing life and the sea pervade every twist and turn of the cove's well-worn cobbles and is the very essence of what makes it such a unique place to visit. 

Home to innovative fishermen artists like Simon Bradley and Nigel Legge it's a plein air artist's dream location, Likely Lads star, Rodney Bewes made it his home for years and local characters like fisherman Martin Ellis who featured in Mark Jenkin's award winning film Bait (which the Guardian described as a, 'defining film of the decade') on the very subject of second home developmen all make this fishing community the genuine article in an age of faux aged-paint finishes and fabricated history. 

It would be no exaggeration to say that if the fishing community of Cadgwith lost all three buildings to second home developers then the very lifeblood of the village would rapidly ebb away on the next tide.

And then, there's actual fish! In 2012, Cadgwith was the subject of Monty Don's 'Fishermen's Apprentice' when the presenter made an admiral attempt to make a living as a share fisherman - this clip exemplifies the incredibly important role these small fishing communities and fishermen like Danny Phillips provide - it is simple enough, they land the very highest quality fish- much of which you can buy in the cove!

What's the big issue? There are three old buildings in Cadgwith Cove that are used by the fishermen to store their gear and process their catch. They also house a very popular art gallery and two shops selling fresh fish.

Cadgwith Cove Fishing Trust Crowdfunder

"We are the Cadgwith Cove Fishing Trust, and we are a charitable trust whose objects are the improvement maintenance and protection of the historic communal fishing facilities in Cadgwith Cove in the parish of Grade Ruan.

We aim to purchase the historic fishing buildings to protect them from development and maintain for the local fishermen in perpetuity. Once we have raised the £300,000 required to purchase the historic fishing buildings, any excess will be used to renovate and repair the buildings, provide an even better environment for the local fishermen to work in.

We would also like to provide some public access with exhibits showing the history of the buildings and the trial and tribulations of the fishermen who have worked there over many centuries, and made it the vibrant community we enjoy today.

We are trying to put together the funding to buy all three buildings to keep them safe from the ever-present threat of development, which here would mean conversion into yet more second homes and holiday lets.

Cadgwith is visited each year by thousands of holidaymakers. If our fishing activity ever came to an end, the tourism industry would shrink and many local residents would lose their main source of income. The fishermen are at the heart of our strong sense of community and we are doing whatever we can to support them.

Our master plan is for the local parish council to take the freeholds of the buildings in order that they may be held in perpetuity for the fishermen and then for our not-for-profit charitable trust to look after the day-to-day management of them. There will be covenants requiring the buildings to be used by fishermen as long as they are so needed and preventing them from being sold for anyone's private gain. The parish council will still exist in fifty or one hundred years time and will use the buildings for other community purposes if there was no more fishing out of the cove. There can be no element of subsidising the fishermen. They will pay an economic rent, enough to cover all expenses of maintenance and repairs.

We are already well into realising the plan. The council is raising a loan to buy one of the buildings and there is widespread support from parishioners even though the loan repayments may cause a small increase in their local council tax.

For the other two buildings, we have had professional surveys and valuations that tell us we need to find £300,000 to buy and repair them.

This crowdfunding project will hopefully be large enough to form an essential component of that funding.

If you are able to help us, we and the fishermen of Cadgwith will be very grateful for your assistance."

Cadgwith Cove Fishing Trust 

The object of our trust is protection improvement and maintenance of the historic fishing community buildings in Cadgwith Cove in Cornwall.

A hard-won trip for skipper and crew of the god ship Enterprise.

Looks like the Unity won't be gong anywhere for a day or two...

first time visit for the visiting Brixham based Joy of Ladram skippered by local skipper Nathan Marshall...

she is an older version of the lates beam trawler to join the Newlyn fleet, Enterprise...

there's only a handful of netters and crabbers left in the port after the last eight days of appalling weather...

which skipper Billy Worth described as some of the worst prolonged poor weather he has fished through...

so the boys are doubly happy to set up the landing ear...

don the remote gilson controller which involves some light footwork from the skipper...

watched over by Nathan aboard the Joy of Ladram...

landing eight boxes at a time...

it doesn't take long...

for brothers Ian and 'Little' Graham...

to bring 280 boxes ashore ready for tomorrow's auction.

 

And you think we have problems with a handful of EU fishing vessels off our coast?

When you have a population of over 1,398,000,000 who need feeding and they love seafood, especially squid, along with a few neighbours with a similar appetite for such fish - just how do you satisfy demand?

Well, one way is to sail your fleet of squid catchers...

to the east coast of Argentina and the rich squid grounds north of the Falklands

 from all corners of the globe, across the Indian and Atlantic oceans...

or the Pacific, where, as of this morning, there are currently over 300 squid fishing vessels, mostly Chinese along with a handful of Korean and Japanese vessels working the Patagonian Shelf - many appear to be unregistered as fishing vessels - as can be seen from the spreadsheet below provided courtesy of VesselTracker AIS.

After crossing the Pacific, China’s fishing armada is now off the Argentine coast. The Argentinian government is playing down the issue, saying that it is negotiating with China, while refusing US help. Environmental groups call for international regulation.

Buenos Aires (AsiaNews) - A “floating city” of hundreds of mostly Chinese-flagged vessels, looking for squid and other species off the coasts of the Caribbean and South America, is now approaching Argentina’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Such a presence and the imminent start of its activity, a plain and outright plunder of natural resources, is possible only because of the lack of regulation of fishing in international waters and the lack of real controls by coastal states, like Argentina.

This is taking place amid alleged negotiations between China and Argentina over a fishing agreement; meanwhile, the Kirchnerist government of President Alberto Fernández rejected US help to discourage illegal fishing.

The United States offered the services of the most modern vessel in its Coast Guard, US Coast Guard Cutter (USGC) Stone, which is currently on patrol in the South Atlantic. The Argentine Foreign Ministry turned down the offer of collaboration, noting that such a ship will be received in the next few weeks in the port of Mar del Plata only on a courtesy visit.

Argentinian authorities said that the surveillance and control of the country’s fishing and maritime areas are carried out “exclusively with the means and personnel of the Argentine State”, whose function is to protect national sovereignty and the country’s resources. In addition, they proudly note that in 2020 they captured three illegal foreign fishing vessels, “a number not reached since 2005”.

The temporary suspension of the activities of just three of the more than five hundred boats as well as the fines for fishing in the EEZ, which were increased at the end of last year to about US$ 150,000, will not affect a business worth millions.

China’s fishing armada is the same that pushed the Ecuadorian government last July to call for monitoring China and sped up a few months later an agreement between Ecuador, Chile, Peru and Colombia to adopt steps to prevent, discourage and fight illegal fishing off the Pacific shores of South America.

A number of environmental organisations are now calling on the Argentinian government to exert greater control over the country’s coast to prevent fishing in Argentina’s EEZ.

For Argentinian environmentalist Diego Moreno, an independent consultant and a former environmental policy secretary, the underlying issue is not the arrival of some boats engaging in illegal practices since the squid stock, or that of any other species, is the same whether it is 199th or the 201st mile.

Feasible options exist for what seems like a dead end, however complex they may be. They include, according to Moreno, regional fishing agreements within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Sea (UNCLOS), joint initiatives in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity for fishing in areas outside national jurisdictions, and bilateral agreements between countries.

The expert notes that the negotiations to manage shared resources in the South Atlantic have so far been held back by the dispute with the United Kingdom over the territorial rights of the Falkland Islands. So he is betting on international regulatory standards, “an issue that will undoubtedly be central to the environmental agenda of the coming decade.”

Full story courtesy of AsiaNews.IT   

Huge plans to redevelop historic Newlyn fishing port

Plans for a breakwater, marina, watersports facilities, maritime industrial estate and housing.

How Sandy Cove could look with the new breakwater and deeper port for larger fishing vessels.

Newlyn Harbour Commissioners and its advisory board have shared an initial outline of plans for the improvement and update of the historic fishing port’s infrastructure at a time when Brexit has put added pressure on the Cornish fishing industry.

The plans would see the creation of deeper drafts to cater for bigger fishing vessels, a breakwater to protect the town from stormy seas, a maritime industrial estate, marina, watersports facilities and housing.

A spokesperson for the project said: “Parts of Newlyn and the fishing industry locally are in desperate need of more support.

“By offering improved facilities, a better working environment and providing a base for marine skills, we can ensure that the way of life in Newlyn cannot just continue but flourish in a way we have not seen in decades.”

Newlyn’s harbourmaster Rob Parsons added: “We want to bring Newlyn to the wider community, supporting our local small businesses and artisans, creating a destination that embodies all the skills, trades and traditions that the town has in abundance. 

“We are seeing an increase in larger fishing vessels in Newlyn, with local companies investing in the future of fishing, which gives us great confidence, and as a port we need to do everything we can to facilitate them.”

He said: “Newlyn lands in the region of 14,000 tonnes of fish annually with a value of £30 million and we are in a great position now to build on that and for local fishermen and fish producers to capitalise where they can, using Newlyn’s location to the prime fishing grounds to our advantage, ensuring the fish caught in our waters comes through our harbour entrance and into our auction.”

The plans initially focus on developing Sandy Cove to enable Newlyn to welcome boats with deeper drafts and offer a safe haven in all weathers.

A proposed breakwater will act as protection from the storms to the town’s existing piers, which have seen storm-driven seas sweeping over the harbour walls in recent weeks.

How Newlyn could look from above if the breakwater is built (Image: Newlyn Harbour Commissioners) The long-term plans include a maritime industrial estate, marine skills centre, marina, leisure, watersports facilities, transport links and housing.

Mr Parsons added: “We aim to bring people together, in such a way that allows the industry to work, whilst tourists and locals alike can enjoy the benefits of fresh fish, incredible vistas and the unique connections with the rich heritage of Cornwall and artisans that are in abundance in Newlyn.”

The plans are in the initial stages and with “positive comments already coming from Cornwall Council” the advisory board is now inviting stakeholders and members of the public to bring ideas and concepts as well as suggestions that can benefit the overall goal.

The project’s spokesperson added: “The Harbour Commissioners and Advisory Board are hoping the planning and discussion stages will help bring the plans to the hearts of the people, and it will in turn feel like a local community project, where everyone involved will feel proud of what has been achieved.

“Plans of this scale can only be achieved when everyone works together and from the initial reaction from the advisory board’s research, it really feels like what is needed can be delivered under the leadership of Cornwall Council, and the guidance and investment from Newlyn Harbour, Marine Developments Limited and the private business sector.

“This is the opportunity to grab the bright future that Newlyn deserves, that will benefit Newlyn, Penzance and the whole neighbouring area for many years to come.”

Cornwall councillors will receive a presentation of the plans by the Newlyn advisory board this Thursday.

Concept plans can now be viewed online on the advisory board section of the harbour website.

Full story courtesy of Cornwall Live 

By chief repoprter Lee Trewhela.

Jersey: French fishermen caught up in post-Brexit bureaucratic storm

 

Many people breathed a sigh of relief after the UK and EU reached a last-minute post-Brexit trade deal last year. But for French fishermen in Normandy and Brittany opposite the Channel Islands, Brexit spells disaster. The accord nullified their access to fish in Jersey's territorial waters. After pressure from Brussels and France, the island issued temporary licences to French boats – but these are due to expire at the end of April. 

Full story courtesy of FRANCE 24's David Gilberg and Julia Kim who went to meet fishermen caught up in the post-Brexit bureaucratic storm.

It's not only the UK that has issues with giant Dutch company Cornelius Vrolijk.

We regularly talk about "giant trawlers" ... But why is this fishing model called into question by artisanal fishermen and environmental associations? 

The Scombrus is a giant 80-meter trawler, launched on September 25, 2020 in Concarneau, by the company France Pélagique, a subsidiary of the Dutch group Cornelis Vrolijk. Fishermen and civil society then mobilised, making it possible to shed light on this vessel. 

Indeed, France Pélagique has only French in name. It is a subsidiary of a Dutch industrial fishing empire: Cornelis Vrolijk. This arrangement allows Dutch boats to be registered in France, and therefore to fish on French quotas. At 52m However, the fishing capacities of giant trawlers are disproportionate: up to 200 tonnes of fish per day. This is as much as what the auction of Lorient, the largest French auction, deals with. The fish is directly frozen and packaged on board. 46m So, to be profitable, the owners of these boats must have a lot of quota. 

Hence the takeover of foreign companies by Dutch companies. But in the countries in question like France, it is the resource of artisanal fishermen that is monopolised Water wave Charles Braine and 9 others recently bought the LABBEL NORMANDY, a trawler very well endowed with quota. The boat's quotas were then moved onto the company's giant trawlers, before the boat's crew were fired and disposed of. A social scandal. Charles Braine and 9 others 37m Other groups like Parleviet Van Der Plaas also own certain French armaments. In France, shipping lines such as Euronor, the Saint Malo Fisheries Company, the French Oceanic Tuna Company and France Pélagique belong to Dutch firms Charles Braine and 9 others

Cornelis Vrolijk, Parlevliet & van der Plas (P&P) and Willem van der Zwan own, through their subsidiaries, 17 giant trawlers over 80 meters in length which operate in European waters. These three companies, which were initially family businesses, have now absorbed many European companies. Their empire is accumulating more and more quota, whether through the ITQ systems in Holland and the UK, or through the purchase of boats in France.

We are therefore witnessing a generalised grabbing of quotas and therefore of marine resources, by the shareholders of these Dutch groups. However, the efficiency of these boats is strongly criticised by artisanal fishermen.

In fact, in addition to the fishing capacity of 200 tonnes per day, we can also ask the question of by-catches. These boats work in French waters before disembarking in the Netherlands, and the fish are already conditioned: what about the controls?

In addition, the fish caught (mackerel, horse mackerel, anchovies, herring) are species which are also exploited by artisanal fishermen. The latter therefore have less quota, and see the stocks of the species they target strongly impacted.

In addition, these fishing methods are financed with public money. Since the early 1980s, the European Union has put several billion euros in public subsidies on the table to develop its fishing capacity. The majority of aid concerns manufacturers.

The domination of this model is called into question by associations such as @PleineMerAsso and @Bloom_FR.  Unfortunately, the shipowners in question are extremely well represented in the fisheries bodies: this will be the subject of a future THREAD.

Further information from Josse Tibault at the Pleine Mer organisation. (Deep Sea)

The whole fish and nothing but the fish - Kokotxas comes to Newlyn!

Forgotten Fish is an exciting and innovative fishmongering venture set to bring a whole new world of fish preparation and cookery to Cornwall with a strong Celtic cousin's link. Son of the fish merchant dynasty, Trelawney Fish and a self-taught chef, Richard Adams is looking to provide the county's outstanding fish chefs and more adventurous fish loving home cooks with an entirely new range of cuts based on the concept of using 'the whole fish'!

Through the Gaps recently discovered the concept in the form of a new cook book from that exciting Aussie chef, Josh Niland - The Whole Fish - especially as many of the recipes can make use of the huge variety of fish regularly available on Newlyn fish market...

just one example being a recipe for sardines and anchovies - fish often caught together by the Cornish sardine fleet from July through to January and beyond.

 

Up first for dissection are what is known as, 'Kokotaxas'.

These compact triangles of flesh show the hidden potential in forgotten cuts. Found on the underside of a hake, the throat essentially, in the Basque region of Spain they are revered for their uniquely gelatinous texture and delicate flavour. 

I’ve searched for figures on the value of this tiny bite to the Spanish fishing fleet, who cut them at sea, but come up blank. What I do know is that a selling price of €60/k is standard, and based on an annual catch three times the UK, they probably represent not insubstantial worth to Spanish fishermen. Spain’s premiere supplier of kokotxas, Paco Ferreres - ‘El Rey de Kokotxas’, sells over 200k of them every week! This remains an untapped resource in Cornwall however, where kokotxas are unknown to fishermen, fishmongers, and processors.

It takes around 100k of whole fish to produce 1k of kokotxas, which gives some idea of how labour intensive the process is. But there is value in that time. Over 12 000 tonnes of MSC certified hake was landed into Newlyn in 2019, around half of which were prime size fish for extracting kokotxas, this could represent around 60 tonnes of high value fish going to waste annually - which seems environmentally, economically, and gastronomically illogical. 

Here in the UK it takes someone like @tomos_pp @bratrestaurant to give them a deserved place on the menu. Richard first sent a box from Cornwall to London to feature on the menu of a collaboration between Brat and @elkano_jatetxea , the Basque temple of seafood where he first tried kokotxas. For him it still feels unreal to be supplying Brat and he is proud to see these Cornish delicacies as a constant fixture at one of the best restaurants in the country. Tomos’ approach of serving unrivalled produce in a way that genuinely puts the ingredient first, the perfect celebration of the kokotxa! His support for Forgotten Fish has been instrumental in enabling Richard to pursue other goals for the business.

Richard goes on to explain the thinking behind this exciting new venture for Newlyn; Forgotten Fish aims to reduce waste within the fishing industry by reconsidering the value of lesser used species and cuts, and connecting chefs and restaurateurs in support of creating more sustainable practices within the sector directly to the supply chain at ports and processors. An estimated 57% of the UK’s fish and shellfish resource - that is the total of what we catch or farm - is classed as waste and does not reach our tables. Of this, 17% is constituted by discards, 5% by processing at sea, and a huge 35% by onshore processing. If we were to reclaim just 1% of the 35% of waste created at the point of onshore processing across the country, it would equate to nearly 3000 tonnes of edible fish per year. 

Instead of just coveting the fillet, Forgotten Fish promotes more specialist cuts like cheeks, collars, throats and bellies to the food community, finding markets with chefs who are keen not just to support sustainable projects in their restaurants, but also to experiment with underused parts of the fish - often delicacies in other countries - giving their menus an edge over others just serving conventional cuts. In addition to this there are many species traditionally considered to be of little value, usually destined for the crab pot as bait, that chefs are willing now more than ever to put on their menus, celebrating the diversity of our waters and reducing strain on more popular and overfished stocks. 

By promoting these species directly to the new wave of young and experimental chefs who want to cook with them, we can find markets for fish that were otherwise considered bycatch, reducing waste and increasing revenue to fishermen. This is a gift of food from an existing resource, increasing productivity and profitability in the supply chain without putting any additional strain on fisheries. Put simply, making the most of what we already have. In the context of today’s environmental situation, not just with regards to fish stocks and sea health, but more broadly concerns over food deficits and shortages, we are simply not in a position to be wasting food like we do. 

An increasing concern across all sectors, it will not be long before the focus is turned to the fishing industry to question what is being done to protect our natural resources for the future. The concept has already proved hugely popular in the food community, attracting attention from some of London’s most celebrated chefs such as Tomos Parry of Brat, Isaac McHale of Clove Club, and Santiago Lasta and Douglas McMaster of soon to be opened Kol and Silo respectively. In addition to the more high profile names, and without active promotion, word has spread and requests poured in from many other chefs keen to support Forgotten Fish. The only thing restricting sales and growth until now has been the availability of ‘waste’, and resources and time to upscale the project. 

The opportunity here lies in the fact that there is no shortage of waste, just a lack of systems in place to capitalise on it. By working closely with wholesalers, processors, fishermen and chefs, and reconsidering the conventions of processing and selling fish, the project could save a large amount of our catch from becoming waste, creating revenue and jobs in the process. 

The statistics show what could be done on a wider scale if success was proven at a local level, and the opportunity for Newlyn to be a leader in implementing such change could be a huge boon to the status of the port. Forgotten Fish so far has reclaimed and sold around 700k of fish, all of which would have been waste, in just 7 months of operation, with very little resources, one employee working part time, and the ‘waste’ from just one medium sized processor. With the aim of raising this figure to one tonne within the first year, a powerful statement could be made regarding the possibility further research and resources could offer, offering real hope for change and setting an example for the industry to follow.

This is blue sky thinking, and there would no doubt be barriers to making it reality, but given the potential here for flavour, and revenue, perhaps kokotxas should become a staple of the Cornish hake fishery?

EU rules of origin in seafood.

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) came in to force at 11pm on 31 December 2020. The TCA offers zero tariffs for seafood traded between the EU and the UK provided they meet specific rules of origin.

 

 

This webinar recorded on Thursday 4 February explores the ‘rules of origin’ in the TCA and how they apply to seafood. The session considers the rules throughout the seafood product journey, from first sale, through processing to export.

It will be particularly relevant for seafood traders (importers, exporters and buyers) and seafood processors who process imported fish for export or who produce seafood for export to the EU.

The session will cover:

• Rules of origin in the TCA

• Why they matter at each stage in your supply chain

• How they apply to unprocessed and processed seafood intended for re-export

For further information visit www.seafish.org and explore our TCA web pages.

Optimizing the Norway lobster catch

 

Notus has developed a sensor to respond to the detection need of the Norway lobster fishing fleet and to know, in real time, if there is a sufficiently profitable amount of the target species in the area where it is trawling or if, On the contrary, the presence of this is so scarce that it is not worthwhile to continue working in that area, which significantly reduces fuel consumption in relation to the result obtained in the set. The entry into force of the landing obligation and the evolution of stocks in light of climate change has led the company to develop this sensor. 

"One of the measures proposed to reduce the capture of small fish, species with depleted quota and the capture of unwanted species in the trawl fishery is the use of the Crayfish Catch Sensor (Notus Echo) in the Swedish Grid" , informs the company.

"The preliminary results have been highly satisfactory both in the red prawn and Norway lobster fisheries," explains the company.

The use of Swedish Grid or Selector Grid, with vertical bars 35 mm apart and a 15 cm high opening at the bottom with a 70 mm cod-end, has been tested with very satisfactory results when combined with panels. square mesh (SMP) or SENTRA flakes.

Initially developed for the shrimp trawl fishery off the US west coast, it has been introduced with increasing success to the Norway lobster fishery in Ireland or Denmark or to the boreal shrimp fishery in Greenland .

In recent weeks, tests of the Echo de Notus Sensor have been carried out on board the M / P trawler “La Geltrú”, based in Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona). For the operation of the Echo sensor, a selector grid adapted to the shape and dimensions of the net was required to be placed at the end of the rig sleeve. This grid shows large windows to allow the passage of companion species, both demersal and benthic, present in the fishing area and that are of high added value, in addition to having a part in the form of a grid necessary for the detection of the Red Shrimp in real time. Said grid is made of aluminium with a 50 mm spacing between the bars, avoiding at all times that the entire grid structure causes the cod-end meshes to close below the legal measure of 40 mm. The sensor was placed in different positions on the grid to determine the optimal sensitivity.

High performances have been achieved when the mark of the Echo sensor has been followed by turning around when it has stopped marking in a certain cast.

Cameras using wide-angle fields were placed in front of the grid to help define the results of the sensors in use . All video recordings were evaluated at sea to confirm if the prawns were hitting the grate. The camera and grid angles were readjusted as required throughout the tests.

The grid was initially placed in the lower part of the sleeve of the net. With the observations of the camera and the marks registered by the Echo sensor, it was determined that the best position of the grid is at the top since in this way the detection of crabs or other species that are captured as companion fauna is avoided. The sensitivity to noise of the Echo sensor is set to the maximum "since the shrimp produces a very slight noise as it passes through the grate", highlights the company.

Preliminary results have been highly satisfactory for both red prawn and Norway lobster fisheries," explains the company. Operational efficiency is substantially improved in real time by confirming the presence or absence of shrimp or Norway lobster during trawling. High performances have been achieved when the mark of the Echo sensor has been followed by turning around when it has stopped marking in a certain cast. "The calibration of the sensitivity of the system is adequate and the only problem that can be represented for a generalized use in the fleet is the use of the grid, essential for the operation and placement of the Echo sensor," adds the company. The design of the grid, with large windows in the lower part, allows companion species to pass through, so the capture of these species is not reduced, which helps to increase the value of the total catch.

This information was originally published in the Electronic Equipment special of the February issue of IP magazine . Access the full number 2166 here .

LANDING OBLIGATION

Demersal fish, Norway lobster (Nephrops Norvegicus) and red prawn (Aristeous Antennatus) are the most valuable species caught by the Spanish fleet, both in the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean. Optimising rig setup can be of great help.

In its 2018 report "Impacts of climate change on fisheries and aquaculture", FAO highlights how changing the type of fishing gear from single to multiple gear with two or four nets in the crustacean fishery results in significant fuel savings . Multiple nets are the types of nets most commonly used in the fishery for crustaceans such as Norway lobster, prawn or shrimp in most of the world except for Spain, as twin-nets are prohibited. The FAO report also describes how fisheries instrumentation development can improve energy efficiency in well-managed fisheries. Detection equipment and catch sensors also reduce fishing time and fuel consumption. "Even so, their use has traditionally been restricted to catching fish rather than catching crustacean species since they are more difficult to detect and discern," the company indicates.

In February 2020 the Irish Fishery Product Development Agency (BIM) published the “ Guide on Technical Solutions to Reduce Unwanted catches”. The landing obligation is initially implemented through discard plans that have very detailed requirements for demersal fisheries in North Western waters. These include survival and minimum exemptions that allow continued discards and gear measures aimed at avoiding unwanted catches during fishing. The new measures on gear are also implemented through other legislation, such as corrective measures under the EU Annual Regulations on Fishing Possibilities.

Many of the solutions developed in Ireland are included in this EU legislation which greatly helps with industry adoption and implementation.

Hake netter Ajax steams from Brest to Newlyn in south easterly gale.

 

After fishing south of Mounts Bay for hake the netter Ajax decided to land her trip straight to the French market at Brest which involved a 100 mile steam back in an easterly then south easterly gale making for 12 hours of non-stop rock ' roll for Chunky and the boys...

and things weren't any better by the time they reached Newlyn - after a three hours dodging in the bay to wait for the tide to flood enough before they sped in through the gaps...

to find a berth, preferably one with fenders.