This was never going to be an easy decision for the Harbour. The simple fact is the harbour is a working port and, inline with every other industry that relies on vehicles and equipment to move and handle fishing gear, it is no longer a space in which the public should feel they can wander at will just because they always have.
It is not that many years ago when it was just the odd forklift and small lorry that was involved in servicing the needs of the boats. Today, the quay is home to bigger boats working bigger and heavier fosing gear. There are more forklifts, net over-ending machines have replaced crew hand-balling miles of gill nets on and off boats, twin-rig trawls have footropes too heavy lift by hand and the bigger crabbers cycle thousands of pots on and off the quay.
Things aren't what they used to be....
Newlyn Harbourmaster announces Changes to Public Access to Newlyn harbour.
Newlyn Harbour is one of England’s largest and most historic fishing ports — a vibrant centre of our community and a vital part of the Cornish economy.
As the fishing industry continues to modernise, the harbour has become busier, with more vehicles, vessels, and people moving around the site. To protect everyone who works in or visits Newlyn Harbour, we’re introducing new measures to improve safety and manage access more effectively.
What’s Changing
Over the coming weeks, new signage and access controls will be introduced across the harbour. These updates are designed to make it clear which areas are open to the public and which are restricted to those working within the port.
Public Areas (Green)
- Old Quay, public car park, and most of the North Quay remain open to visitors as usual.
- The North Quay may be temporarily closed from time to time while beam trawl vessels load warps for safety reasons.
Restricted Areas — No Public Access (Yellow)
- Net sheds, lorry park, seaward side of the fish market, and the end of the North Quay.
- These areas are reserved for vessel owners, crew, and those directly involved in commercial operations.
Restricted Areas with Controlled Access (Red)
- Mary Williams Pier, pontoons, and slipway are designated as no public access zones.
- The pontoons and slipway already have gates, and similar measures may be added to the Mary Williams Pier in future.
Access Definition
For clarity, the public refers to anyone who is not a vessel owner, crew member, or someone directly involved in servicing a vessel on the quay or pontoon where they are located.
New Access Controls
Vehicle barriers at the entrances to North Quay and Mary Williams Pier will soon operate via Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). Access will be granted automatically — or manually by harbour staff — to authorised users only.
Route Advisory
Please note that access to the public car park currently passes through a restricted zone. Until further changes can be made, visitors are encouraged to take the most direct route to the pavement on the opposite side of the main road.
Working Together for a Safer Harbour
We understand these changes may feel significant for some users, but they are an important step in ensuring the harbour remains a safe and efficient place to work and visit. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we make Newlyn Harbour safer for everyone. For more information, please contact the Harbour Office.
Jonathan Poynter,
Harbour Master
