"Through the Gaps!" blog functions much like a digital lighthouse for the fishing community; it does not just signal the arrival of the fleet, but illuminates the complex layers of technology, policy, and environment that the industry must navigate to stay afloat.
The blog provided a granular, day-by-day account of harbour life in Newlyn, in 2025 it published close to 300 distinct entries over the course of the year. This archive acts as a critical dataset for understanding the modern intersection of traditional maritime labour and the digital economy.
Here are some examples of the year's posts.
Market Diversification and Rebranding
A major theme in early 2025 was the strategic campaign to promote Cornish spurdog as a sustainable food source. By rebranding the species as "Cornish Rock Salmon," the blog documented a collaborative effort between fishermen, processors, and fish friers to reduce market reliance on pressured stocks like cod and haddock.
Documentation of Technological Innovation
The blog highlighted the fleet's rapid adoption of new technologies, such as the innovative fish pumps on the vessel Inter-Nos. These pumps represent a shift toward automation by allowing for gentler catch handling and reducing the heavy physical labour previously required to move fish from boat to quay.
Digital Mapping and Spatial Defense
Research into Automatic Identification System (AIS) data mapping was a recurring technical focus. The blog explored using this high-resolution data to define and defend high-value fishing grounds against the "spatial squeeze" caused by offshore renewable energy projects and new marine regulations.
Transition to Online Auctions
The blog recorded the ongoing evolution of the Newlyn Fish Market as it shifted from traditional "shout auctions" to online bidding platforms. This makes the blog’s photography and daily reports an even more vital visual record, as the physical spectacle of the auction has largely moved to digital screens.
Environmental Determinism and Weather Impact
The 2025 narrative was heavily shaped by meteorological volatility, frequently documenting periods where "the weather wins". Notable entries recorded the impact of extreme conditions, such as Storm Eowyn and waves exceeding 40 feet off Land’s End, which dictated fleet movements and market prices.
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Ecological Shifts and Biological Cycles
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The blog tracked significant changes in marine biology, such as the normalization of bluefin tuna as a regular feature of the morning market. It also detailed the seasonal biological cycles of species like sardines, noting how shifts in fat content after spawning fundamentally alter their market value.
Regulatory Advocacy and Policy Analysis
Many posts were used to disseminate critical information regarding post-Brexit legislation and the Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (TECA). The blog provided a space for industry leaders to address the "poison" of divisive external campaigns and the challenges of managing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Bridging the Producer-Consumer Disconnect
A central mission of the blog is to "break the disconnect" between the work performed at sea and the food on a consumer's plate. This was achieved through documenting culinary collaborations, such as the Cornish Sardine Festival, and featuring the work of sustainable seafood advocates like local chefs Bruce Rennie at The Shore, Ben Tunnicliffe at The Tolcarne Inn and Angus Powell at Argoe.
Cultural and Artistic Preservation
The blog frames modern fishing as a continuation of Newlyn’s historical and artistic heritage. By blending reports on industrial realities with photography and art reviews—referencing the Newlyn School of painters—it preserved the social history and "four-dimensional" nature of the community. Heritage England funded work to bring the Old Quay back into use also neared completion by the end of the year.