Teignmouth crabber, Etoile des Ondes lost in Channel.

Not the sort of news needed just before Christmas. French coastguards co-ordinated the rescue of three crewmen from the Teignmouth based Weymouth registered crabber Etoile des Ondes that sank around 2030 last night 20 miles off Cherbourg. Sadly, a fourth crew member is still missing. It is thought the boat may have been involved in a collision.

"The search for the young man disappeared have ended around 04h30 in the morning," said a spokesman of the prefecture. The fishing vessel, "The star of the waves," was at the time of the accident to 20 nautical (37 kilometers) north of Cherbourg in the rail level. Three of the four sailors were recovered from a life raft by a merchant vessel that had alerted the Cross Jobourg, after receiving a warning and saw a red flare distress.

The three sailors were transported to University Hospital by helicopter Pasteur Dragon 50 civil security. Two helicopters, Dolphin, Dragon 50, and Falcon aircraft the Navy has departed Lann-Bihoué (Morbihan) have researched some of the night to find the missing.

The circumstances of the sinking is not known, although the weather did not seem too difficult.

Story translated by Google courtesy of Le Figaro in France.

Longest night and last full market for the year sees out 2009

"Save our fish", again.......
the agility of ex-rugby man Mr Bick moves at speed across the market floor...... one of a single box of skate on the market......
more black gold from the Resurgam, one of around six beam trawlers that landed over the weekend......
more black, this time two shades of conger, one very black......

while up in the W&S office, one shade of white paint throughout is the order of the day to brighten the interior.

The coldest Saturday winter morning for years greets Mounts Bay.

Ashore, the rare sight of frost abounds while out to sea, another survey rig has appeared off the end of Penzance Harbour's lighthouse quay.......
under what looks like a snow-laden sky out to sea.....
the Trinity House vessel Patricia is hard at work on her deck cargo of buoys keeping the shipping lanes safe.....
the rig is set against the Anglian Princess back on station.....
popular eatery, the bay, that makes good use of the finest fresh fish from Newlyn on its menu and always has an interesting show art local art on display in the restaurant.....

at this time of year the IOS helicopter service runs flat out as a flurry of holiday makers, residents and relatives ply back and forth.

MSC - Cornish sardines are on the menu again.

MSC assessment status

The certification body, MRAG Americas Inc, has proposed two peer reviewers for the review of the Draft Cornish sardine, UK Assessment Report.

If you wish to provide feedback on the proposed peer reviewers, please contact Dr. Robert Trumble no later than the 28th December 2009.

Read all about the review in detail here.

Brussels' sprouts Christmas quota news.

The quota talks have ended in Brussels with yet more cuts - though not as severe in some areas as was feared. Predictably sole in Area VII has ufferred yet again despite the fishermen seeing more sole than ever on the grounds. pergaps CEFAS can step in here to help assess stovck levels to ensure a more equitable approach?

Brussels Fisheries talks ‘a slap on the face with a wet fish’ says Stevenson, but this time its not Elizabeth doing the talking.

The BBC gave some quota figures for caching area around the coast and also commented on one of the innovative ways in which boats miught be incentivised - install CCTV to record what comes aboard and what goes back over the rail.The regional paper Western Morning News covered the story in more detail through Kate Ironside's blog posting, "Fishermen's Friend or Big Brother"

Scads, tubs and blackjacks.

Bruce points skywards as the light lifts, there's a day's work ahead of the boys on the James RH putting the starboard gear back together starting with the chain mat seen here being raised.....
like a scene from Aliens, box washing in progress......
a good shot of wreck fish from the GaryM will help boost the Xmas coffers.....
white lightning.......
the Cornishman put ashore a few big tub gurnards.......
unusually, some line caught scad from the punt Penver......
along with a good run of the currently rather scarce winter mackerel - and they are making phenomenal money.....
Ocean Fish spent a lot of money on the bigger fish like these blackjacks today.....
a nonchalant film crew survey the auction in progress......
the Star's star.

The Rowney - on the way in - on the way out? maybe not!

Not too sure what the Billy Rowney is up to - on the way in one minute - on the way out the next? But - one to watch this - the AIS tracking has picked her up on the way out today from where it stopped tracking her yesterday - that makes it look as if she has turned about! - confirmed by checking the time/date display on the tracking arrows.