Monday morning market in Newlyn.

Plenty of fish on Monday morning's Newlyn fish market...

loads of luscious lemons...

a few boxes of megrims from the  inshore trawler Imogen III

and some cracking quality fish from the James RH...

along with  plenty of bass...

big, beautiful bass...

and turbot...

big blondes...

and of course some with the beamers hitting the cuttles...

the market floor is running in gold, well black gold...

more than enough to keep the auction moving at a pace...

with netters like the Karen of Ladram...

putting ashore some of those world-renowned MSC Certified hake...

along with a hundred boxes from the Britannia V...

and a handful of real squid...

alongside the market, the netter, Charisma has just landed...

while the engineers head back to a warm room and a brew...

on a rather chilly November morning...

while the Charisma takes back enough boxes to complete her neap tide at sea...

before letting go the ends and heading back to sea...

all set for the grand opening - Newlyn has a new Greengrocer!

Foreign capital is rooted in the French fishing industry.

Same story - different country:

Foreign capital is increasingly present in the French fishing industry, a phenomenon which allows the arms to continue to operate in a sector where investments are limited but raising concerns socially.

The 14 boats, soon 15, of CFTO, plying the Atlantic and Indian oceans in search of tropical tuna. The company's 285 employees in difficulties, 60% of the French fishing capacity to the fish. With this announcement, "it is the France's family jewels that leave," laments Olivier Le Nézet, chairman of the regional committee of maritime fisheries and mariculture (CRPMEM) of Britain, who hopes that the boats remain registered in Britain, with on board french sailors.

"Unfortunately, we've seen the weapons purchased by such groups, in which over the years it is not much of French sailors," he recalls.

If arming Lorient Jégo-Quéré is remembered: after taking over in 1994, the Spanish Pescanova is was disengaged in 2003, with the key to a social plan for 75 sailors. For CFTO, Dutch P & P promised to maintain the "Breton character of the fleet" and keep "unchanged" staff. But unions are worried "about the possibility of registering these vessels to the French International Register (RIF), which would be serious for the future employment of seafarers but also sedentary," says Yves The Helgoualc'h , CGT of Concarneau. Embedded in this register sailors - of which only 25 to 35% should come from the European Union - are not subject to French social right, unlike those vessels registered in the first register.

French banks not attracted:

The arrival of foreign capital in France is not new: Spanish and Dutch are present in fish from ten to twenty years, but more on small boats. "It took more breadth recently," admits Marc Ghiglia, Director General of the owners of Union fishing France (UAPF). P & P has already bought in 2011 Euronor, strong 7 trawlers and fishing boats freezers in Northern Europe, and indirectly owns 20% stake in the fishery Compagnie de Saint-Malo. Another Dutch group bought two of France Pelagic trawlers, while the four Hot sauce vessels are under Italian control. Among the big arms, only Scapêche (Intermarché) and Sapmer, specializing in tuna, are still exclusively under French capital.

"Unfortunately, there is no business today or investors in France who have the means to buy such weapons" when a transmission is required, says Olivier Le Nézet.

The French fishing companies earn less money than their neighbors, says Marc Ghiglia, stressing the weight of social regulations. And bankers are not very attracted by this sector "where the return is not guaranteed: a natural resource is exploited with uncertainties," analyzes Jérôme Lafon, Managing fisheries sector of the public institution FranceAgriMer. In parallel, the appetite of foreign owners has been sharpened by the severe restrictions imposed by the European Union on the building of new boats. "The only way to grow is to buy competitors or other companies," says Mr. Ghiglia.

However, in a case such as CFTO, "there is no need to cry wolf. They are investors who come to the area, not speculators, they do not come to carve up the company (.. .) they come because they think these companies are profitable, "says Mr. Lafon. In terms of actual fishing, redemptions generally do not change much, says Mr. Ghiglia "boats continue to do exactly the same thing they like fishing and land the same."

Story courtesy of LaVoix du Nord. Translation by Google.

Newlyn Harbour lights on the up!

Putting the word out. Adrian Pascoe's funeral will take place at Trewithian Crematorium at 11am, Thursday the 3rd of December...

meanwhile, there's a new kid on the block, opening on Monday...

harking back to the days when you rode into work on horseback...

the Algrie, up on the slip...

it's that time of year when that dedicated band of lighting engineers get to work to put on that special display...

bow on...

starboard quarter...

well that buff had been around a bit, first the Therese Muriel from Le Conquet, then it was 'borrowed' by the Girl Patricia and now the Algrie

heavy duty welding...

some additional ballast for the roll test.

Brittany’s fishing sector is nervous about the implications for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

According to Telegramme, there is concern over the prospect of UK waters being ‘renationalised’ and reports that at least a third of the value of fish landed in the Breton ports of Le Guilvinec, Loctudy, Roscoff, Erquy, Lorient and Saint-Guénolé is from British waters, with 130 trawlers fishing mainly monkfish, cod, whiting, haddock and langoustine.

70% of the 16,000 tonnes landed annually by Scapêche’s trawlers is from UK waters and to minimise transit costs, the company lands its fish in Lochinver to be trucked to Lorient.

‘The Scots are saying nothing for the moment,’ said Scapêche’s Jean-Pierre le Visage, commenting that no mention has been made of potential access transit tariffs, and that while Scottish MSPs were in favour of remaining Europe, Scottish fishermen are strongly in favour of leaving.

Crabbers in the region around Roscoff are also concerned, as much of their summer fishing grounds lie between the mid line and the UK 12-mile limit, and the implications of the UK withdrawal also threaten future fleet renewal as Scapêche and others have put newbuilding plans on hold.

Telegramme points out that the UK has yet to set out what its plans are, and makes the point that France is the UK fishing industry’s biggest customer, buying 40% of UK fish, which could give France the opportunity to use the threat of import taxes when negotiations finally take place.

The Brittany Regional Fisheries Committee points out that a number of economic sectors, including agriculture, are expected to be affected by the UK withdrawal, while fishermen in the region are making their concerns heard at both regional and national level.

Source: Mer et Marine

Black #FishyFriday

Beam trawl, inshore trawl, handline and net fish were all on the market this morning...

keeping auctioneer Ian very busy fending off competing bids from an enthusiastic set of buyers...

all looking for the best price on fish like these big tub gurnards...

could be a good read...

this time of year you are an unlucky John Dory if you get caught...

top quality collection of prime fish for the Mousehole Fish shop...

at around £150 for a single fish you wouldn't want your trainee chef to be filleting this beauty for the diners in your 2 Michelin Star restaurant...

a favourite recipe for ray wings - ray and black butter...

scallops always make for a great starter - remember to cook them for seconds rather than minutes - they can be eaten raw straight our of the sea...

there are still a few boats managing to pick up good hauls of mackerel with their handlines...

fitting enough for Black Friday, 18 by 400kg of black gold, Brixham squid or cuttlefish - whatever you call them, they are tasty enough - especially if the ink is used to flavour the dish...

from the net boats there have been substantial landings of big whitefish this week...

along with the mainstay of their trips like these hake...

some fish have bigger than average eyes it seems...

maybe one of Santa's helpers in festive gear already...

one of the two new cranes that have just been commissioned - these will be much appreciated by the handliners in particular 

as well as the sardine boats who use the cranes to brail fish ashore...

with tons of cuttlefish being landed even the quayside gets that sepia look...

its fueling up time for the beam trawlers who have just landed...

while the netter, Govenek of Ladram waits to sail again...

the new Rowse crabber wheelhouse will afford the skipper an excellent view of the seas around him...

much reduced oil prices over the last couple of years have meant the beam trawler fleet can operate much more profitably...

two of the ports new builds are both being fitted out in the harbour...

while a third new boat, the Galilee is a major rebuild of an ex-prawn trawler form Scotland...

over in Penzance Harbour the Co-op are putting supplies aboard the Scilly supply boat Gry Maritha...

while her replacement.