Some news just in from across the channel - just as in Cornwall, the tip of Brittany is on red alert for high tides and massive seas (again!).
On 10th December, the European parliament refused to adopt a complete ban on deep water fishing, but recommended new measures be taken to limit this activity, which essentially concerns the waters off Scotland and Ireland. Under pressure from various lobbies and campaign groups, such as Greenpeace and Bloom, several European supermarket chains announced recently that they would no longer stock the species under threat.
Today, a major announcement was made by Scapêche, which is owned by the Intermarché chain and runs France’s biggest commercial fishing fleet. From the start of 2015, they will no longer fish below a depth of 800m. This decision was welcomed by the various NGOs, which continue to campaign against these methods of fishing. The Head of WWF France considers that even 800m is too deep and will lead to certain species disappearing, while Greenpeace greeted it as a step in the right direction, preferring to see a limit of 600m put in place. For Bloom, Scapêche has been forced to listen to what the general public wants following a lot of adverse publicity in the media.
Friday 31 January 2014
#storm Brigid is well on her way
946 is low enough for a #depression crossing the Atlantic - the west coast of Ireland and the South West of England up through the Bristol Channel will feel the full force of the latest storm to hit the UK.
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| The Sapphire II is making her way in from the weather. |
Those few boats still at sea are expected to return to #Newlyn during today.
On the eve of Chinese New Year our #FishyFriday finds Newlyn full of fresh fish for feasting folk
The man at mission control, Lionel keeps the grading machine going full tilt grading fish from the netter Britannia...
while some of the catch gets sorted by hand...
when it comes to mackerel, they don't get much more fresh than this stiff little chap...
late season Cornish Sardines in ice...
there's a rush to buy fish this morning...
especially for these rather rare (this week) bass...
box hooks at the ready, the buyers concentrate hard as the sale get under way...
out in front of the market a stray fisher-merchant enjoys the view...
evidence Cornish Sardines have passes this way during the night...
over the weekend the tide will be one of the biggest for the year - 19 feet 9 inches - which is why all the ports will be on flood alert as winds are expected to hit 70mph plus over Saturday afternoon and evening.
Thursday 30 January 2014
Just to put big waves in perspective.....
The Met Office is giving out a severe weather warning for Saturday with gusts predicted to be over 70mph. Last weekend, storm force winds off the west coast of Ireland set a new record in wave height recordings smashing the previous record by nearly 4 metres.
The lighthouse on the end of the quay in Newlyn (from which all tidal heights around the world were based until a few years a ago) is around 10m from the quay. In this graphic, the photo of the Crystal Sea II entering Newlyn and the lighthouse have been scaled against the left hand axis - the line graph shows the height in metres of the biggest wave recorded by a UK wave buoy since records began - 23.43m last Sunday from the M4 buoy off the coast of Donegal.
As a reminder of what to expect this weekend here is Newlyn being battered by storm force winds in October 2008.
The lighthouse on the end of the quay in Newlyn (from which all tidal heights around the world were based until a few years a ago) is around 10m from the quay. In this graphic, the photo of the Crystal Sea II entering Newlyn and the lighthouse have been scaled against the left hand axis - the line graph shows the height in metres of the biggest wave recorded by a UK wave buoy since records began - 23.43m last Sunday from the M4 buoy off the coast of Donegal.
As a reminder of what to expect this weekend here is Newlyn being battered by storm force winds in October 2008.
SOUTH WEST FISHING FOR LITTER PROJECT LANDS CROWN ESTATE FUNDING
The hugely successful Fishing for Litter South West marine litter project has made its first big catch of the year by landing £45,000 of funding from The Crown Estate. 154 fishing vessels from across the south west are currently participating in the scheme.
Fishing for Litter South West makes a vital contribution to protection of marine mammals by providing vessels with large durable bags to collect marine litter which are then deposited on the quayside for the harbour authorities to secure in dedicated Fishing for Litter skips and bins.
Launched in Newlyn in 2009 the project has gone from strength to strength and now counts Brixham, Plymouth, Newquay, Looe, St Ives, Mevagissey, Hayle and Padstow amongst participating ports. Almost 70 tonnes of marine litter has been collected as part of the project so far with this amount set to rise as funding from The Crown Estate and other organisations helps more ports and vessels join the effort.
The Crown Estate’s, Gary Thompson, said: “It has been really encouraging to watch Fishing for Litter South West grow from its launch in 2009. Although a voluntary project more and more vessels and ports are eager to sign up and contribute to the protection of our marine environment.
“The Crown Estate is committed to supporting projects which help reduce marine litter and we are extremely pleased to announce today that we will be supporting the fishermen of the south west for at least another 3 years”.
Alison Elvey de Rios, South West Fishing for Litter Coordinator, commented: “It’s great news that The Crown Estate has committed to continuing such an important project for the marine environment. The project has grown from strength to strength over the last three years, and the Crown Estate funding will help us build on its success, not only by helping to collect at least another 100 tonnes of litter, but also to increase education activity for children and the general public about the project and the impacts of marine litter.”
Fishing for Litter South West makes a vital contribution to protection of marine mammals by providing vessels with large durable bags to collect marine litter which are then deposited on the quayside for the harbour authorities to secure in dedicated Fishing for Litter skips and bins.
Launched in Newlyn in 2009 the project has gone from strength to strength and now counts Brixham, Plymouth, Newquay, Looe, St Ives, Mevagissey, Hayle and Padstow amongst participating ports. Almost 70 tonnes of marine litter has been collected as part of the project so far with this amount set to rise as funding from The Crown Estate and other organisations helps more ports and vessels join the effort.
The Crown Estate’s, Gary Thompson, said: “It has been really encouraging to watch Fishing for Litter South West grow from its launch in 2009. Although a voluntary project more and more vessels and ports are eager to sign up and contribute to the protection of our marine environment.
“The Crown Estate is committed to supporting projects which help reduce marine litter and we are extremely pleased to announce today that we will be supporting the fishermen of the south west for at least another 3 years”.
Alison Elvey de Rios, South West Fishing for Litter Coordinator, commented: “It’s great news that The Crown Estate has committed to continuing such an important project for the marine environment. The project has grown from strength to strength over the last three years, and the Crown Estate funding will help us build on its success, not only by helping to collect at least another 100 tonnes of litter, but also to increase education activity for children and the general public about the project and the impacts of marine litter.”
Cornwall’s first fishing training hub is in Newlyn
From left to right: Anthony Vage (CDC), Tony Tomlinson, Chair of the FLAG, Alison Elvey (SCT), Paul Trebilcock (CFPO)
The provision of the centre has been made possible through a 75% FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group) grant funded by the European Fisheries Fund and the Marine Management Organisation and the project has also been supported by the landlords, Newlyn Pier and Harbour Commissioners.
Seafood Cornwall Training (SCT), which manages the training hub and match funded the project, provides a variety of courses aimed at improving the skills of fishermen. Current courses on offer include the four basic sea safety refresher courses and under 16.5m skippers tickets which are all free of charge until the end of March.
Seafood Cornwall Training (SCT), which manages the training hub and match funded the project, provides a variety of courses aimed at improving the skills of fishermen. Current courses on offer include the four basic sea safety refresher courses and under 16.5m skippers tickets which are all free of charge until the end of March.
Robert Parsons, Newlyn Harbour Master, said: “This training facility is fantastic for the fishing fleet and Newlyn Harbour. The training offered will allow fisherman the confidence to operate both safely at sea and to understand all legal requirements of our high seas so that skippers can credibly operate now and into the future.”
The training hub can also be hired out for meetings, clubs and events.
Story courtesy of Business Cornwall.
Story courtesy of Business Cornwall.
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