Hard-won fishing trips as winter weather keeps all but the biggest boats in port.

Big tides and wild weather continues to berate the Southwestern Approaches keeping the netters and the biggest boats tied up...

so for the likes of the Enterprise...

and the Billy Rowney, every fish landed was down to the skipper and hard working crew aboard the boat

and with so few fish coming ashore anywhere in the UK prices should be higher than average...

especially for quality flats like these brill...

bass...

and hake...

a good run of red gurnard should help boost the landing too...

while this solitary ling will no doubt fill plenty of fish pies...

nearly 200 boxes worth of cuttles also came ashore...

while just a handful of inshore boats managed to find some lee to work a few lines and nets to help pay those bills...

 the biggest of which is paying for fuel to keep the propellers turning of course!

EU State Aid for Fishing

 

Commission approves €2.8 million Irish scheme to support the fishery sector in the context of Brexit The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €2.8 million Irish scheme to support the fishery sector affected by effects of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.

The aim of the scheme is to compensate owners of fishing capacity for voluntarily returning their off-register capacity (i.e. capacity held in the owner’s account but not assigned to a vessel). The scheme will run until 31 December 2023.

Under the scheme, the aid will be granted to Irish-registered capacity owners holding off-registered capacity in the form of direct grants to compensate them for returning their off-register capacity to the Irish Sea Fisheries Board. The aid amount will be calculated on the basis of the market value of the off-register capacity returned. Under the scheme, the returned off-register capacity will be permanently withdrawn.

Fish of the Day - week 8 - the mighty cod!

Just one of only a few dozen cod landed on Newlyn fish market this morning.

While the people of the home nations still have an affinity for battered cod - even though many will not realise that much of the cod sold over the counter in fish 'n chips shops is not caught by UK boats - people are increasingly being offered alternatives to the nations favourite accompaniment to chips - many now offer hake - they continue being caught in increasingly significant quantities both in the South West and off Scotland.

The codfather of fish has shaped the world as we know it today - the surprising and fascinating story of which was superbly told in Mark Kurlansky's book, "Cod: A biography of the Fish that Changed the World" which puts cod up there with the wheel and the Romans in terms of global impact!

When anyone asks a chippy down here in Cornwall where they get their cod from it certainly won't have been landed on the market at Newlyn. There are two very good reasons for this seemingly illogical state of affairs. 

Number one reason is that these days there is no 50-70ft trawl and longline fleet as there was back in the 60s-90s when heavy fishing on big white fish "up channel' was a thing in the Spring of every year. Today's netters tend to work well west of these grounds and the trawls used by the beam trawl fleet, when they do get in the Channel, are just not designed to catch such fish which tend to swim en-masse above the height of the any beam trawl. 

Number two is that the grounds within reach of Newlyn never has been a major source of cod throughout the year. It is only in early Spring that cod appear on the ground in any significant numbers and even then the main fishing area is "up channel" - anywhere from off Pendeen all the way up to Lundy - basically, it's the spawning season.  As far as I know, no tagged cod, caught and released in the South West, has ever been caught anywhere else other than in the South West and never far from where they were tagged in the first place.

However, such an iconic fish has always figured in the public eye. None more so when the Times ran a bizarre story in 2012 saying that there were fewer than 100 mature cod left in the North Sea. Fishermen were outraged at the blatant dis and mis-information ('fake news' being nothing new it seems) being so gleefully peddled by the media. I wrote a piece for the Great British Chefs website in order to try and put some perspective on the matter - very much needed as the full impact of Hugh Fearnley-Whittinstall's well intentioned but totally misguided Fish Fight campaign that was about to hit our screens was to bear witness!

Tragically, the same narrative is still being peddled by disingenuous NGOs today - their scaremongering serving largely to justify continued support from lobby group funders and organisations like PEW who largely funded HFW's Fish Fight TV series. Scottish white fish boats often seek to avoid areas where cod are in abundance in order to conserve quota. Crucially, poor catch data recorded and submitted by MAFF on behalf of South West boats saw a ludicrously small quota pf cod assigned to Area VII - something like 10% of the tonnage the French claimed for at the time. To be fair to them, they had a track record from nearly 200 boats that fished Area VII - many of them prawn trawlers that caught cod as a by-catch. The change in the fleet structure of South West boats meant a double whammy was dealt as the newer more efficient fleet of gill netters and remaining trawlers in the late 1990s and early 2000s struggled to avoid what cod there was given individual boats often had around 100kg of cod quota per month - when each boat was capable (and did) very often catch that amount in a single haul.

Brexit MPs before and after the Referendum endlessly peddled the, 'take back control' mantra - and the fleet are still waiting for a resolution of the quota imbalance for cod and other white fish like haddock.

Whatever the arguments, there is no denying cod is a fabulous fish to eat, Fish and chips aside, big, pristine white flakes of flesh when cooked well are sublime. I remember taking two ITN and Sky journalists to Bruce Rennie's, The Shore in Penzance. The guy from Sky savoured every mouthful of his asian-fusion cod fillet as if it were going to be his last.

There are more recipes for cod than I can count but there is one simple rule for cod in the kitchen - DON"T OVERCOOK IT!

First #FishyFriday for 2023!

When the morning view from your office is as good as this...

 who couldn't resist the temptation to record the scene?..

Top turbot from the beam trawler Cornishman will be winging their way towards the top dining tables of the UK within minutes of being sold...

fish or plant?..

John Dory haver a mouth to match their flavour, big...

there's few saithe from the gillnetters to land this morning...

along with good shoots of new year hake...

and some solid tails...

more hake from the other half of the duo, Silver Dawn...

bass seem to be everywhere as they were landed by netters, handlinerss and beam trawlers alike...

plenty of the mighty flavoured haddock...

and more bass...

bog [plaice will be on the menu somehwhe this evening for sure...

as will fresh mackerel...

at 8kg, the biggest octo of the year, so far...

and a specimen sized undulate ray...

the mighty conger, base for many a fish stew recipe...

the market floor shows signs of the tons of cuttles that were landed overnight...

and there is now much more bait like these monk heads for the crabbers...

wonderful fish and flavour from the weaver...

as is the brilliant brill... 

and an ongoing brilliant morning view to boot!

Working principles announced for UK Gear Forum

The UK Gear Forum brings together industry, researchers and governments to discuss and advance gear innovations to drive sustainability in fishing. 

The UK Gear Forum focuses on selective gear innovations to support sustainable fishing 

UK Gear Forum focus and role Selective gear innovations have a vital role to play in advancing sustainability in wild capture fisheries. They are also central to the delivery of key fisheries objectives under the Fisheries Act 2020. Following an inaugural meeting in the summer, gear technology expert Mike Montgomery has been appointed as Chair of the Forum.

Members have also now agreed working principles to take forward into 2023 and beyond. This sets out the priority work themes for the group:

Advancing the research evidence-base to inform the development of new policy and technical measures. An operating framework in which fishers are able to demonstrate and deploy more selective fishing gear designs. Tangible outputs which provide practical solutions to address priority industry challenges and needs. Timely dissemination of work outputs – and sign-posting to other good practice, including case studies – and in appropriate formats for the intended audiences.

Further development and delivery of fit-for-purpose training resources for fishers and non-fishers. These themes will inform a work programme to be taken forward by ‘task and finish’ working groups focused on delivering practical solutions and outcomes.

We convened the initial Forum meetings. We will continue to provide the secretariat and will support the Forum in delivery of its agreed workplan going forward.

Mike Montgomery - The UK Gear Forum is chaired by Mike Montgomery 

Dr Stuart McLanaghan, our Head of Responsible Sourcing said:

Advances in selective gear innovations are an important part of responsible fisheries management and central to the delivery of key fisheries objectives under the Fisheries Act 2020. We’ve convened the UK Gear Forum to provide a pan-UK platform for industry, the research community and government to discuss and progress activities with the goal of advancing sustainability in all wild capture static and mobile fisheries.

I’m thrilled that Mike Montgomery has come on board as Chair, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in gear technology, trials and innovations. It’s also great that members have now agreed the working principles for the Forum. Mike Montgomery, Chair of the UK Gear Forum added:

I’m pleased to take on the role of Chair for the UK Gear Forum and to be able to work with a Forum that aims to improve gear selectivity and vessel efficiency in the UK. I hope that my many years of experience with the UK fishing industry can be put to good use in helping the UK Gear forum be beneficial to the industry and industry managers. Ben Collier, Fisheries Conservation Technologist from Northern Ireland Gear Trials is another UK Gear Forum member. He added:

Fishing gear technology has often been associated with developing new approaches to avoid unwanted catch. The sustainability and climate change objectives of the Fisheries Act, alongside net zero commitments, blue carbon habitats and the circular economy are widening the focus of this work. The UK Gear Forum brings together members with a range of skills and expertise along with a shared interest in helping the fishing industry to identify solutions to these challenges. 

Further information about the UK Gear Forum is available on our website:

Find out more For queries on the UK Gear Forum please contact: 

Dr Stuart McLanaghan Head of Responsible Sourcing

RIP skipper Bill Tate.

 

Silver Fern of Newlyn PZ1919.

One of Newlyn's long time skipper owners, Bill Tate, died shortly before Christmas aged 85.

Bill had been stationed at RNAS Culdrose but, like a handful of other exNavy guys, saw an opportunity in the fishing industry when he retired from her Majesty's Senior Service. An early investment in a clinker-built boat from Newhaven and named Joan after his wife saw both him and Joan fish together and join the then growing, mackerel fishery in the early 70s. His next boat, the Mes Filles saw him mackereling in the winter then joining the boom that was crawfish netting using nylon tangle nets. It was at that time that I made two 'pleasuring' trips on the Mes Filles along with David 'Dumps' Hichens, Anthony Hobin and Frank Busby, the first time was handlining for mackerel 

the day after the Conqueror ran aground off Mousehole, the second was a day on the craws tanglenetting - I spent most of both days curled in a heap on the floor of the wheelhouse thinking, "Jeez, you can't even get off!"

Eventually, Bill invested in a much larger boat, the 56' Silver Fern built at Fairlie for Andy McCrindle in 1950. Bill fished successfully with the boat first longlining then, like many others changing over to multi-mono then monofilament nylon fishing primarily on wrecks and for hake until the 1990s when St Ives man, Billy Bunn took over as skipper for Bill who went shore skipper and eventual retirement.

In the days when the Mission was the hub of Newlyn fishing life I remember a tablefull of us being entertained early one morning by one of Bill Tate's many stories - told with a wry smile but without exaggeration. As he told it, he, and dozens of other small Newlyn men had left Falmouth at the end of the mackerel season all stretched out from Carrick Roads,  around the Manacles and headed for the Lizard. The weather was a bit scuffly and visibility poor. The mackerel boats mainly used VHF Channel 8 while they were at sea to communicate with one another, but the boats also always monitored Channel 16, the emergency channel.  Bill heard one of the Porthleven men on a small 30ft tosher, Leven Mor, calling on Channel 16 giving his position and enquiring after another vessel some 5 or six miles south of the Lizard that appeared to have been stationary for some time giving the Porthleven man cause for concern. The ship in question had identified itself by name including the letters ULCC and thanked the skipper for his concern and offer of assistance saying that he was drifting very slowly with temporary engine problem. The Leven Mor skipper immediately offered the boat a tow (obviously mindful, as ever, of the opportunity that such a situation might present for a Lloyds Open Book salvage opportunity). Intrigued, Bill upped the range on his radar only to see a blip on his radar in his words, the size of a f*****g matchbox! So here we had a 35ft, 25 ton wooden fishing boat offering a tow to an Ultra Large Crude Carrier of some 550,000 tonnes! Bill was never sure if the ULCC skipper was aware that the offer of assistance in the first place was genuine or not!

There will be a celebration of Bill's Life at Treswithian Downs Crematorium, Camborne on Friday 6th January 2023 at 10am. Donations in aid of The Fisherman's Mission and The Stroke Association may be made via www.pendlefunerals.org.uk 

All enquiries to Pendle Funeral Services, Helston. 

Tel: 01326 573080.

First fish for 2023 in Newlyn

Just a few more days left to enjoy both Newlyn and Mousehole Harbour lights...

with a cheery thought that every morning sees the sun coming up just that little bit earlier every day...

fine weather over the weekend saw a few of the inshore boats, like the Guardian, get to sea to provide the market with the first supplies of fresh fish...

like ray wings...

with a few boxes or even just kilos of each species like these big place...

and red mullet for many fish, prices were high...

the handliners had several days of good fishing for mackerel...

and inshore cod...

while the inshore trawlers saw to it that the crab fleet have some fresh bait to start their new year with...

and there were plenty of these guys to show for their efforts too...

young Gary on the Bethshan having a better day than many...

but he wasn't the only one to pick up good landings of bass...

others concentrated on the mackerel...

or even a few silver darlings...

with some of the mackerel being a half decent run...

more than enough to keep buyers busy.