Final November #FishyFriday in Newlyn.

As winter approaches the skies darken evermore frequently over Newlyn...

as the porters busy themselves picking up the morning's purchases...

there's plenty of hot air blowing across the auction floor...

with so much hake from the Stelissa...

and Silver Dawn...

the Enterprise spent a week at sea and this is the sum of all the cod she caught...

and a handful of bream...

stack 'em high...

yet more squid...

and monk tails...

though John Dory are noe becoming more scarce...

unlike Dover sole, staple diet for beam trawlers...

the dogs of yore...

a senior citizen of the lobster world, this guy would definitely qualify for a bus pass...

a slack box of scad...

more cephalopods...

and some cracking inshore gurnard...

a handful of handline mackerel men braved yestardy's weather in the apty named. The Storm Child...

and the Sea Spray, of which there must have been plenty when these were hauled aboard...

just the one big bluefin to finish off the week...

a small return for a hard morning's work with the jigging gear for young Gary on te Bethshan...

market tour over, there's a little more light in the sky...

with two of the top boats gracing the ed of the Mary Williams pier...

the sardine boats have returned from working out of Falmouth and Mevagissey for now...

good to see Bleach of Lavant's family trucking history showcased in artwork on the side of the truck.

 

Fisheries debate in Westminster - good turnout from Cornish and coastal MPs.

In today's Westminster Fisheries debate Cornish MP Anna Gelderd asked for all sectors to work together.

Anna Gelderd MP for South East ornwall

"Thank you, it is a pleasure to serve under your Chairmanship Mr Efford. I also thank the Honourable Member for Orkney and Shetland for securing this important debate.

Listen to the full debate here

As South East Cornwall’s MP, I am proud to represent a constituency with a rich fishing heritage. Our iconic small-scale fishing fleets and charter vessels from Looe and Polperro, and from Fowey in the neighbouring constituency, are the life blood of our communities—a proud tradition passed down through generations, tying our communities to the sea.

I want to pay tribute firstly to those who support our brave fishers and their families: the harbour master and port authorities, the RNLI that I had the privilege of working for previously, SEAFARERS UK, and the Fishermen’s Mission. If you haven’t bought your Christmas cards yet, may I suggest these fantastic charities that do so much when things go wrong. I would also like to pay tribute to Cornwall Seafood Training, especially Clive Palfrey of Looe, for his tireless work to raise safety standards and still makes time to helm the Looe Lifeboat.

This Labour Government is rightly committed to tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. Damaging practices have taken a significant toll on the marine environment and urgent action is needed to secure the sustainability of the fishing industry and restore the health of our seas.

Offshore wind is essential to achieving home grown, clean energy, but developments must be carefully sited to minimise disruption to ecosystems, sensitive habitats, and historic fishing grounds. Marine spatial prioritisation provides a framework to balance these competing needs, but our fishers must be included in decisions. I urge the Minister to ensure that consultations are held in local ports, scheduled around tides, so that fishers can attend without sacrificing a day’s income or missing the chance to be heard. This should become the norm, rather than the exception. It is a simple ask, but I know it would mean so much to our fishers and improve Government engagement, which is vital.

Sustainable fisheries management is also essential. Catch limits should be set using the latest available scientific advice, but the UK lacks robust data on many commercial species. I wonder if the Minister agrees that prioritising a roadmap to improve stock assessments and working with partners on shared stocks to secure sustainable management, is essential.

Better monitoring and enforcement are vital to compliance, but issues with CatchAPP and Inshore Vessel Monitoring must be urgently addressed. Could the Minister seek assurances that the MMO will address this, ensure transparency and timelines on fixes, and adopt a pragmatic approach until these systems are fully operational.

Globally, management and enforcement of marine resources are often poor. Stronger labelling laws could block IUU fish from entering UK markets and protect our domestic fleets. I would be grateful if the Minister would commit to a review of the existing labelling laws to protect not just the world’s oceans, but our markets too.

Locally, buying UK products helps to boost incomes for our fleets. I pay tribute to fishmongers like Pengelly’s of Looe, who do a great job of supporting their local fleet and offer an overnight service for those without a local shop.

I also want to highlight the work of local Looe fishers; Murray Collins, Dan Margetts, and David Bond on the tuna tagging programme, and most recently with Dr Bryce Stewart and Dr Simon Thomas on pollack data gathering. I would welcome the Minister’s support in expanding fishery science partnerships to fill the knowledge gaps and secure robust data for all of our commercial stocks.

I support a transition away from damaging practices, alongside advancements in vessel safety and technology. Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) offers a cost-effective way to improve transparency, sustainability, and data integrity while creating jobs. Better data means better management, which benefits everyone.

Fishing is central to the jobs, culture, and identity of South East Cornwall, a region grappling with low income. Our fishers are ready to play their part in regenerating our seas, but they need a fair deal that respects their knowledge, safeguards their livelihoods, and protects the marine environment.

I am proud to see this Government working with our fishers, and I urge the Minister to continue working closely with fishers, scientists, and all involved to secure a just and sustainable future for our seas."

For fishermen - Catch app news

Update on the CR app - Catch Recording App. 

A new version of the Catch Recording App is available in app stores. Once users have updated the app, logging out using the small log out icon in the top right corner of the app and logging back in should push through any catch records that are stuck.

Quick guides - 

Logging out

Adding a website shortcut to your mobile homescreen 

Those with older devices may still be experiencing issues, if this is the case it is advised they use the web service at https://record-catch.service.gov.uk/sign-in.

For ease of access, it is now possible to save a shortcut to the web service on device home screens. Alternatively, the catch recording helpline is available 24hrs a day on 0300 0203 788, with agents available between the hours of 7am and 8pm Monday to Friday. 

Please note, when using the automated service to log catch records, it is important that users stay on the line until a record ID is received at the end of the call.

Further guidance is available in catch recording quick guides.

Tagged blue shark's journey this summer.

Remember Tasha the blue shark tagged back in July with Chippy from FV Bite Adventures, The Fish Locker and our project partners at NOAA Fisheries, the University of Exeter, the Marine Biological Association, the University of York, the Shark Angling Club of Great Britain and the Pat Smith Database?   Well, here she is! 

Above, you can see a track of her satellite tag pings off the coast of France since we tagged her in July. 

Thank you so much to the skippers and anglers participating in this huge collaborative tagging effort to understand more about blue sharks in the Northeastern Atlantic and their potential response to climate change. 

Learn more: https://fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/noaa-partners-uk-anglers-and-scientists-learn-more-about-blue-sharks

The Board of Peterhead Port Authority (PPA) has approved the introduction of an Electronic Auction within the fish market.

 

The Board of Peterhead Port Authority (PPA) has approved the introduction of an Electronic Auction within the fish market. PPA launched a wide-ranging consultation process on the subject earlier this year, and the results showed overwhelming support for its introduction. 

The consultation also highlighted a number of challenges, which PPA has been reviewing and seeking solutions to. PPA chief executive Graeme Reid said: 

“This is an exciting moment for the Port and Peterhead community. Peterhead Port Authority has invested around £70m on facilities in the Port in the last 10 years, and this next investment will further reinforce and future-proof Peterhead Port’s position as the leading fish port in Europe.” He said PPA staff had met with some representatives from stakeholder groups to consider how challenges could be resolved. “The Board of Peterhead Port Authority are now content solutions to these challenges have been found.” 

Work will now commence on detailed design of the E-auction system, involving further engagement with stakeholder groups, with a view to it going live in early spring next year.

Mounting concerns from industry - 2025 fisheries agreement negotiations at a standstill!

 In the latest statement from CFPO Chairman, Paul Trebilcock: It comes as there are mounting concerns from industry that there are zero signs an agreement is imminent over negotiations for a UK/EU fisheries agreement for 2025.

Fine weather and the entire fleet is all at sea from Newlyn!

 

No rain, the morning sky is heavy with cloud, but when the St Georges leaves the quay there won't be a single boat over 12m in the harbour - the entire fleet is at sea this morning,...

yesterday, the inshore boats made the most of the break in the weather and picked up the nrmal fayre for this time of year including ray...

including a nice big blonde for young Roger N...

bass...

squid...

and brill should make good money this morning...

with supplies of fish adversely affected by the weaver the length of the UK...

shots of squid have been a feature of beam trawl landings of late they are everywhere including in the Helford and Fal estuaries and Brixham harbour......

pelagic fish like mackerel...

are fair game for these fish which, according to those who have been catching and gutting them at sea this season tell, they will eat anything that they can get down their gullets...

even bass apparently which leads some to suggest that they pose a very real threat to stocks of inshore fish as they are not afraid to venture close inshore as the fishermen who work from the Helford river will attest to.....

away goes Mr Tonkin with his morning's purchases...

he might be SWHA tag number 2 but he was number one bass man yesterday...

mackerel by the thousand...

the market at dawn...

with lorries-in-waiting...

yet another fender bites the dust, mainly due to the action of gribble work, starved to death woth no wooden hulls to chew on these days......

last of the season's yachts, en passant.