Through the Gaps! - Newlyn Fishing News Cornwall UK fish commercial fishing fish cooking and art

Monday 26 January 2015

Education, education, education!

One man's high street experience:

"I've just been on the high street of my local town where I was accosted by a very young girl raising money for Greenpeace. I normally just walk past anyone collecting for Greenpeace but I gave her a chance to say her bit. Then I asked what she knew about the UK fishing industry.... oh she had all the patter ---- 'millions and millions of tonnes are being taken from the sea every year, and half of it isn't even recorded. No one can stop the fishing boats. And they are destroying the seabed at the same time and killing off birds, dolphins and all sorts of other things..."

Trying to contain my anger, I asked how many fishermen were there in the UK - didn't know. So I asked how many tonnes of fish is caught in the UK every year -- didn't know. So I changed my line of questions and asked how much money does Greenpeace get from donations in the UK every year.... didn't know. I just walked away.

But all of this makes a point.

There were three of these Greenpeace kids (probably earning about £25 for the day and just given the script of what to say) and this is their second 12hr day here -- so how many unsuspecting members of the public have been told by them about all the criminal fishermen and how this industry isn't regulated by anyone? It's no wonder the world thinks this is a crooked industry when they are being brainwashed like this."

Open consultation Common Fisheries Policy: implementation of the demersal landing obligation (discard ban) in England

HAVE YOUR SAY!

We are seeking views on how we should implement the demersal landing obligation in England. The demersal landing obligation is a ban on the discarding of fish. This prevents fish being thrown back into the sea after being caught, except when subject to specific exemptions. Demersal fisheries are those in which fishermen primarily catch demersal species (fish which live and feed close to or on the seabed) such as cod, haddock, sole and plaice.

In particular, we are seeking views on five keys areas of implementation including:

phasing in of the landing obligation

quota management

access to exemptions

catch management

monitoring and enforcement

The landing obligation for demersal fisheries will come into force gradually between 1 January 2016 and 1 January 2019.

Implementation of the demersal landing obligation is one of several measures that will contribute towards achieving Good Environmental Status in our seas.

Overview

We are seeking your views on our proposals to implement the landing obligation in England for demersal fisheries. The landing obligation puts an end to the wasteful practise of discarding, thus preventing fish being thrown back into the sea, dead, after being caught.

The phased introduction of a landing obligation, also known as a “discard ban”, was one of the key successes the UK Government secured in reforming the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The reform is designed to deliver sustainable fish stocks, a healthy marine environment and a prosperous fishing industry.

We are consulting on five key areas including how to best utilise the flexibilities the UK secured as part of the reform package, to enable our fleet to operate successfully under a landing obligation; enabling vessels to fish throughout the whole year, land more fish and benefit financially. Full details of these are included in the consultation document, which along with a draft impact assessment can be found on the consultation webpage.

Why We Are Consulting

This consultation will run until the 31st March and the responses will inform our policy position and negotiations at the regional groups to ensure we develop an appropriate, fair and effective Discard Plan for demersal fisheries. These demersal Discard Plans must be submitted to the EU Commission for adoption no later than June 2015.

We will publish a summary of responses along with a Government response to the consultation 12 weeks after it closes.

Give Us Your Views

Online Survey

Sunday 25 January 2015

Sunday in sunny St Ives

Looking over the Tate, Porthmeor beach soaks up the winter sun...

along with the rest of St Ives Bay right across to Godrevy light and beyond...

there is evidence of a fishy theme on almost every house in the village...

even the artists share their Porthmeor net loft studios

with fishermen and their gear...

while nearly forty surfers wait patiently for the next decent set...

the NCI keep a watchful eye over the Bay...

while the Porthgwidden Beach Cafe can't be recommended highly enough - great location, great menu, great food, great portions, great service, what more could a diner ask for?...