Wind blast.

The wind speed data from the Sevenstones lightship shows how dramatically the wind dropped from 40 mph to around nothing at 2am this morning.

The combi chart also shows the dramtic decrease in air pressure as the low passed over the region.

Torrential rain in the night.

While the middle of Cornwall around St Austell, St Blazey and Mevagissey were hit with torrential rain and some flooding, the far west escaped lightly.......

although this seal may have been a casualty of the weather......

with the Combe river in full spate past the Mission......

and a heavy swell at the back of the harbour wall......

the auction was a more inviting place, the St Georges being one of six beamers to land along with......

several netters, some with bags of monk livers........

and plenty of big fish to keep the otoloith hunters busy.......

working on the gear after landing........

the Sapphire had a good shot of cuttles to complement the white fish........

up on the hard prior to being lifted out at the weekend, SS126 is up for sale - details to be posted soon.

FishFight!

Be aware of the power of the internet - in the 18 hours since the web site that Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has put his name to launched it has picked up 18,000+ signatories, that's around 1 person every 3.6 seconds - this viral form of canvassing support can be used to support worthwhile causes for the fishing industry - the message is clear and simple:

Half of all fish caught - in the North Sea are thrown back overboard......

.......dead.

The Fish Fight Campaign will officially launch with a broadcast of “Hugh’s Fish Fight” presented by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in January 2011.

Updates will be posted here soon.

Monthly catch limits - information needed from the Under 10m sector.

Here's some good news from the MMO - especially ahead of the impending implementation of 'Conservation Zones' which many are concerned will turn small fishing ports in to ghost towns on the back of drastically reduced catching opportinites - especially for the under 10metre sector who's landing figures for the year seldom amount to a single haul on larger vessels - see the Countryfile report on BBC last week where a single 1000 ton haul aboard a Scottish mid-water vessel made close on £1 million pounds. In this instance a satisfactory resoltion was reached - but things could have been different for the Cornish handline fleet.

Inshore fishermen need to be proactive in protecting their livelihoods - despite the past, every effort must be made to stay in touch with current events and pre-empt in any way changes to quotas and fishing oppportunites - and one way of doing so is by becoming involved in any way that the MMO or CEFAS offer.

The MMO are currently seeking involvement from the Under 10m sector with regard to catches - with no information, Defra, CEFAS and ultimately the EU will make decsions based on the data available - with no dat things are even morte likely to go against the wishes of the small boat sector.

Here's the latest from the MMO:

Information needed - monthly catch limits:

We’re encouraging fishermen from the under 10 metre fleet and the nonsector to help us to manage quotas and monthly catch limits. We’d like you to send us comments, ideas or any information you think is relevant for us to consider when we’re setting monthly catch limits.

Quota manager, Estelle Groark, said: "We’d like your views and information to improve our understanding of what’s happening around the coast and to inform our decisions. We’d particularly like to know about local factors which are important for your fishing community." We won’t be able to respond to individual emails, but can assure you that your views and information will be considered when deciding the next round of monthly catch limits. So,please send information before the 15th of each month to:

catchlimits@marinemanagement.org.uk

Defra & MMO - Fisheries Focus

The Defra and MMO marine fisheries newsletter

Keep up to date with the MMO's fisheries newsletter, dowloadable form their web site. The current issues has links to another useful section on the site - catch and landing statistices.

UK fishing industry statistics:
Last month we published the annual UK Sea Fisheries Statistics for 2009. The report includes detailed data on the UK fishing fleet, the number of fishermen and the quantity and value of fish landings, imports and exports. It also provides the latest scientific assessments of the state of key fishing stocks and their sustainability. The statistics will help to inform Government policy making and changes to the Common Fisheries Policy.


Overall, the statistics reveal that quantities of fish landed in the UK were slightly down on last year, but the total value of fish landed increased.
Fish exports increased by 15%, while imports fell by 8%.


You can find out more at:
www.marinemanagement.org.uk/ fisheries/statistics/annual.htm

“Project 50” – a collaborative project between Cefas scientists and Devon, UK beam-trawlermen

Here's an example of collaborative work which yielded positive results for all those involved, especially the 11 Brixham (yes, them Bricky boys again) beam trawlers that took part in trials to reduce discards at sea.

“Project 50” – a collaborative project between Cefas scientists and Devon, UK beam-trawlermen.

Plaudits for collaborative “Project 50%” at EU symposium.

A high-profile project to cut the level of discarded fish by an English fishing fleet – led by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas) on behalf of Defra – received plaudits from the European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at a recent symposium in Belgium. The Commissioner, Mrs Maria Damanaki’s, remarks were made in a speech to the “Improve Fisheries and Science Partnerships as Policy Drivers” symposium, a Belgian EU presidency event held in Ostend on 9–10 November. Mrs Damanaki said: “We already have many good examples of fishermen and scientists joining forces .... One such example is "Project 50%". There the UK research institute Cefas, the fisheries department in London and fishermen working on 11 beam-trawlers have worked together to test new fishing gear. This gear cuts the discard rate down by half in the flatfish fisheries.” She went on to say that such initiatives show that there is the will for fishermen and scientists to work more closely together.  “These initiatives,” the Commissioner continued, “also bring direct benefits to the fishing communities. Take Project 50%, for instance. Here, the knowledge of fishermen and scientists together is helping to get fishermen the best possible value out of their products. It also gives fish a sustainable image among consumers. And last but not least Project 50% makes beam-trawl fishing less wasteful in terms of discards.”

Defra project lead, Dr Keri Torney said: “It’s great that we are getting recognition for the projects that the UK are running to reduce discard levels, and the work we are doing to communicate what we have learnt to other countries.” In 2009–10 the innovative Project 50% partnership was established between scientists and Devon beam trawlermen. Their aim was to protect fish stocks by reducing the amount of juvenile fish discarded overboard by 50%. Results from voluntary sea trials showed an unprecedented overall reduction of 52% thanks to the development of modified fishing nets.

Representatives from Defra, Cefas, Marine Scotland, the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, and the UK fishing industry gave presentations at the symposium.  Cefas has substantial experience running collaborative programmes with UK and European fishermen. The UK’s Fisheries Science Partnership and the European “GAP” programme are two such examples.

Fryderyck Chopin on the move.

Looks like the Fryderyck Chopin has left Falmouth's Number Two dry dock and is on the move under her own steam.  The boat had the damaged masts and rigging lifted ashore at the end of last week.