Razor wire not razor clams - horrific hauls off the Cornish coast.

 

In recent weeks a few local netters have picked up so horrific jetsam while fishing over 50 miles sou'west of Newlyn...

coils and coils of razor wire...

Photos & video courtesy of skipper Ryan Davey aboard the Newlyn gillnetter, Stelissa

the sort used by vessels transiting the notorious pirate-ridden waters off the east coast of the African continent, though it is unclear why the wire was dumped or by whom...

imagine having tis in your gear and having to cut it free without endangering your crew.

Scottish Fishermen's Federation trends and attitudes report

Drawing on a public survey exploring attitudes to the #fishing industry, @sff_uk recently published their first Industry Trends and Attitudes Report.

Plymouth Fish auction closes today!

A sad ay indeed for Plymouth and local fishermen who have grown to depend on a live fish auction and market at Plymouth. It's closure today also affects over 50 inshore vessels from nearby ports like, Fowey, Looe and Mevagissey - not to mention the boats that fish from smaller ports and coves .

The closure of the port is not without further problems - namely its status as a designated landing port for all those regular customers. To that end, the regional MMO have organised a meeting for this afternoon. Contact the SW RFG if this affects you

The MMO have organised an online SW RFG meeting this coming Friday (3-4:30pm, 17th) to help the inshore industry remain compliant with the coming closure of Plymouth Trawler Agents. They understand the unusual situation Plymouth and some of the surrounding ports have been put in and so they hope it will be helpful to address the potential changes and how industry can remain compliant with regulations. This is a very specific RFG meeting focusing solely on the PTA closure and therefore will not include any slot on quota, nor will they be discussing options for the future of Plymouth market as this is not within their remit. Members of the enforcement team will be attending and will be available to answer any questions. 

The agenda for the meeting is as follows: 

• Buying and Selling (RBS) legislation – Pippa, MMO Compliance   

• Box labelling – Emma, MMO SW Coastal 

• Transport documents – Emma, MMO SW Coastal

• Funding – MMO Grants 

• Stevensons logistics – Paul, Stevensons 

• BTA logistics – Adam & Matt, BTA

Further background to the story:

Talks are underway in a bid to keep the city’s fish market operating after Plymouth Trawler Agents ceases trading after tomorrow. Sutton Harbour Group Plc (SHG), which owns the quayside market, said it has begun discussions with potential operators.

Meanwhile, alternative arrangements are being made for fishing boats to sell their catch elsewhere after the closure of Plymouth Trawler Agent Ltd (PTA), which runs fish auctions at Sutton Harbour. One insider described this as “crisis management” and Plymouth City Council spoke of its “shock” to hear PTA was wrapping up after nearly 30 years and called it “the end of an era”.

At a parliamentary debate on the future of South West fishing, Plymouth Labour MP Luke Pollard called for the Government to step in. He said: “The closure of Plymouth’s fish market and auction is a shock. Fishing is a vital part of our city’s economy and social fabric.

“That’s why I’m calling for Government support to help secure the market’s facilities and find a new operator. The closure of the fish market not only shakes the economic viability of Plymouth fishing boats but those boats that landed in smaller Cornish ports and overland their catch to be sold in Plymouth.”

No explanation has been given for the closure of PTA and the company has told PlymouthLive it is not making any public announcement. But it is understood economic factors, and even the bad weather over the past few months, may have played a part.

Two weeks ago Sutton Harbour-based PTA wrote to Plymouth’s fishing fleet to say its final auction will be on May 17. Owners and skippers were urged to find other markets for their catch.

Plymouth Fishing & Seafood Association (PFSA) has been working with fishing vessels who will continue to land their catch at Plymouth after May 17 but it will have to be transported by road to markets in Brixham and Newlyn. It will mean big changes for skippers who will have to register and face additional charges.

SHG said it was told by PTA on May 3 that the company would be ceasing to trade. It described PTA as “a long-standing pillar of the fishing community and strategic partner with the company” and said: “We are saddened by this turn of events.”

SHG said it is committed to the re-establishment of the fish market at Sutton Harbour “as quickly as possible”, and has started discussions with “entities who have expressed interest in assuming the operation of the market”.

A SHG spokesperson said: “Since receipt of the news, the company has been intensively engaged with various and multiple strategic stakeholders for the implementation of immediate arrangements, including Plymouth City Council, the Plymouth Fishing and Seafood Association, the operators of the Brixham and Newlyn fish markets, local vessel owners and skippers, and others. These immediate arrangements are being put in place to ensure that catch being landed to Sutton Harbour will be brought to market at either Brixham or Newlyn.”

SHG said it is committed to providing services to enable the landing of fish at Sutton Harbour, including the sale of fuel and ice. The spokesperson saidL “Vessels are encouraged to establish contractual relationships with the Brixham and Newlyn operators to enable the settlement of auction proceeds, as well as sale of fuel and ice via Sutton Harbour in the most efficient and seamless manner.

“The company is committed to working with the fishing industry and its various members to weather this storm, with the hope and intention of emerging from it together, with a stronger and enhanced fish market operation looking to the future.”

Edward Baker, PFSA chief executive, said it was hoped the market could continue to operate. He said: “There is a lot of will and desire to create a new market on a new model.”

Plymouth City Council said it was aware of “a number of ongoing issues relating to the fish market”, but news of its closure still came as shock. Senior council officers met with the PTA, PFSA and fishing industry representatives last week and with SHG since then. Senior officers have also been in touch with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), to discuss the impact the closure could have on smaller fishing ports along the coast, such as Looe and Mevagissey.

The authority stressed Plymouth hosts a variety of fishing sectors and will continue to be a fishing port. The PFSA and the council are working closely in partnership to support the fleet of about 100 Plymouth boats, with another 100 also using the facilities.

The council said transporting catch to Brixham and Newlynwoudl be an interim solution while options are explored. Council leader Tudor Evans said: “Everyone we speak to wants the market to continue in some form. Our hope is that there will be a viable way for vessels to continue to sell their catch in Plymouth and we are extremely keen to help broker these conversations.

“Fishing has been part of Plymouth for centuries and while the closure of the market is the end of an era, it is not the end of the industry in Plymouth. Vessels – the smaller ones in particular – will still land their catch here but we as a city need to work with the industry to explore all possible options to support its future here in Britain’s Ocean City.”

Plymouth Trawler Agents was incorporated in 1994 and began trading the following year. It is an independent firm of fresh fish auctioneers and fishing boat agents.

The company said it was formed "by fishermen for fishermen". In 2018, the business handled the catches of 392 different fishing vessels and auctioned 4,222 tonnes of fish to a value of £16.7m from its base at Plymouth Fish Market.

Plymouth Trawler Agents' most recent set of accounts, for 2022, showed it had net assets of £2.423m and employed 22 people It is understood workers will be made redundant.

Full story courtesy of Plymouth Live

Pioneering all-electric fishing boat - a sign of the times.

 The all electric revolutionary Laura Jane

A practical demonstration of an all electric lobster potting boat. Hauling, towing, weather and other daily functions. This short is intended to show the capabilities and restrictions of working an all electric fishing vessel. Currently the boat is fully certified and fishing at a commercial level on the west coast of Scotland. For full info and more films go to www.itllneverwork.boats

A simplified talk through the systems on an all electric lobster potting boat. The drive motor, the batteries, the hauler and the kettle. This short is intended to show the mainstream usability of working an all electric fishing vessel. Currently the boat is fully certified and fishing at a commercial level on the west coast of Scotland. The full boat details can be found at www.itllneverwork.

Full story here: www.itllneverwork

"Newlyn harbour set to grow"

Harbourmaster, Jonathon Poynter (2nd left) recently met with local MP Derek Thomas and Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper.

Newlyn played host to BBC Radio Cornwall's Breakfast Show this morning which gave harbourmaster Jonathon Poynter a chance to outline the harbour commissioner's ambitious plans to become more than just England's top fishing port.

 

(Click to listen)

Despite increasing pressure from incoming second-home owners, Airbnbs and holiday lets, Newlyn is still very much a thriving working port and perfectly situated ready to grow dramatically as the need to develop green energy drives the blue economy.

Listen to the rest of Breakfast Show with voices from the new fish auction, Newlyn Filmhouse, fishing net recycling FishyFilaments, spider crab picking skills and the work being done fo the well-being of both working and retired fishermen in the port.

An overview of the Sandy Cove proposals can be seen here:

Apply now! SAMPLING SCHEME FOR SMALL-EYED RAY IN THE WESTERN ENGLISH CHANNEL

The government has limited the amount of small-eyed ray (RJE) that can be caught in the western English Channel. This is to allow scientists to learn more about this fish.

Scientists are looking for commercial fishermen who fish close to shore to help them gather information. They want to know what other types of skates are in the area, along with the size, sex, and biology of the small-eyed ray itself.

The scientists from Cefas will be working with fishermen all along the western English Channel, focusing on these four specific areas:

(a) Mounts Bay area (southern part of ICES Rectangle 29E4)

(b) St Austell Bay to Whitsand Bay area (within ICES Rectangle 29E5)

(c) Bigbury Bay to Start Bay area (within ICES Rectangle 29E6)

(d) Lyme Bay area (within ICES Rectangle 30E7)

You'll use your knowledge of small-eyed ray and other inshore ray species to help scientists catch them for data collection.

Scientists want to know:

• What other types of skates and rays are caught in specific areas (weight by species). They'll record the exact location (latitude, longitude, and depth) where you catch fish.
• The size (length) of male and female small-eyed ray, and whether they're kept or thrown back (discarded).
• How many fish you catch and discard on each trip, and how much effort you put into fishing (e.g., number of hooks used, fishing time).
• You might also help collect biological samples from the fish, as agreed with the scientists.

• You can fish your usual spots, following local fishing rules.
• You can land some of the fish you catch for the program, but there's a limit per trip, month, and boat.
• Any small-eyed ray you land counts towards the total allowed catch (quota) for the area.
• Before starting, you'll attend a short training session to learn how to collect data and agree on a detailed plan with scientists.

To participate, you must:

• Have at least 3 years of experience catching skates and rays in the specific areas they're interested in.
• Have a quota for the area (SRX/67AKXD).
• Be flexible to collect samples throughout a period to be agreed upon.

Note: There might be more details about specific requirements in the application materials

Defra will prefer applications from those inshore vessels most affected by the current restrictions on landing small-eyed ray.

To register your interest, please email procure@cefas.gov.uk as follows by Wednesday 22 May 2024 at 23:00.

I would like to register to receive an application pack for the self-sampling scheme for small-eyed ray in the western English Channel, ICES division 7e. The area I am interested in is: 

a) Mounts Bay, 

b) St Austell Bay to Whitsand Bay 

c) Bigbury Bay to Start Bay or 

d) Lyme Bay (please select as appropriate).

Only those who register an interest will be provided with an application pack.

Timeline

May 10th – Opening Date to register interest.

May 22nd – Closing date to register interest (by 23:00)

May 23rd – Application Pack issued to those registered.

June 2nd – Closing date for submitting applications (by 23:00)

June 17th to 21st – Vessels selected and advised

Early July – Scheme to commence (after letters of dispensation issued and Detailed Operations Plan agreed)

How the weather doth change! Monday morning in Newlyn.

Smart moves on the market this Monday morning...

sorting out the hake...

and monk...

from the haddock...

witches...

and megrims...

a few craws are crawling...

it's a wrap...

beam trawl monk tails too...

and more hake...

always HG Wells...

monsters of the deep...

name the fish that some cannot land and others can...

big, beautiful bass...

happiness is spiderman Tom, like a dog with two...

just a handful of prawn boats...

in a rain-swept harbour this morning.