Grande Saint Bernard in Newlyn this morning.

The MMO assisted by H.M. Navy personnel brought the Grand Saint Bernard into Newlyn this morning.

Friday night's fishy feast - a little ray of sunshine.

 This is a job for the fishmonger - but if you do end up with a whole ray first off, trim the two wings.......

 and discard the centre body piece (no good for stock as the ray is a member of the shark family and has cartilaginous 'bones' - great for kids though as they can be eaten!)......

 now the tricky bit, take the tail end of the wing (belly side up) and slip a thin knife blade between the flesh and the upper rough skin.........

 once you have a start of a few centimeteres, use a te towel or paper towel to grip the flesh and pull it off the skin - just like a Dover sole.......

 you'll end up with two clean ray 'wings'........

 on with the chips.......

 down they come.......

hard to beat good ol' fish 'n chips!

Fishy Friday - ray, chips 'n mushy peas!

What's in a name?

Popular among fishermen only for use as bait - undoubtedly, the lesser spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) has more colloquial names for it than any other fish that swims in the sea - they are amongst the smallest members of the shark family. The flesh when cooked is a dull pink inclour and firm - its larger brother, the spur-dog was a popular choice in the fish and chip shops of London where it is/was better known as Rock Salmon - a popluar choice to give children as being a member of the shark family means there are no bones to deal with! The skinof these fish are still used in cosmetics and in medicine to dry or clot wounds.

In Newlyn they are referred to as mergys (phonetic spelling). According to R Morton Nance's definitive  work on the subject, A Glossary of Cornish Sea-Words, the correct spelling is morgy - derived from the two Cornish works mor, sea and ky, dog.

Extracted from R Morton Nance's 'Glossary of Cornish Sea-words'.

In the Clyde, or at least in Girvan they are called, Blind Lizzies. No doubt the Isle of Wight has a variation?

Small-scale fishermen fear quota review.

Two typical 'under tens' hand line mackerel men head for home.

FISHERMEN from across Penwith have reacted angrily to the news that small vessels may be subject to tighter regulations. Those fishing from boats less than ten metres long (known as under-tens) from Newlyn, Penberth, Sennen, Cape Cornwall and St Ives fear proposals to reform quota management could put them out of business.

Industry meetings have been held throughout the county, including a gathering in Newlyn on June 7, to hear the views of skippers of under-tens, and representatives of the inshore fleet also met recently with Andrew George, MP for St Ives and the Isles of Scilly, to express their worries.
The main cause for concern is the proposal for each fisherman to receive an allocation based on their track record from 2007 to 2009. But the lack of clear information on the reform by Defra and the Marine Management Organisation is frustrating many fishermen.

Jerry Percy, leader of the New Under-Ten Fishermen's Association, said: "There is clearly a legitimate fear in providing a positive response to something where you don't know the outcome and especially when it appears that you could end up being even worse off than at present." Mr George has waded into the debate, warning fisheries minister Richard Benyon that the proposals which are intended to protect smaller and traditional fishing ports and methods may do the reverse, as the new rules could see small-scale fishermen like mackerel or sea bass hand-liners competing with more powerful boats which happen to fall within the same bracket. Mr George said: "It is remarkable that fishermen who use these low-impact methods like hand-lining, long-lining or potting can still eke a living. Fish which are thrown back usually live on – hundreds of people can still make a living from the least destructive of all fishing methods. "Surely this is something which the Government should be learning from and encouraging, rather than threatening by over-policing and by imposing an inflexible quota system which really ought to be applied to international vessels operating at an industrial scale."

The fishermen have asked for an extension to the consultation deadline on the Government's reform proposals, which is due to close at the end of June. Mr George has asked to speak to the fisheries minister before the Government takes its policy any further.

article copyright THE CORNISHMAN

Commission to make three appointments this summer

THERE are 11 harbour commissioners, of which eight are appointed by the board, two appointed by Cornwall Council and one to be the harbour management representative. Three new appointments will be made in 2011.

Nominations are sought from stakeholders, harbour users and others for the position of Newlyn harbour commissioner to be appointed from July 2011 or as soon as possible thereafter, to serve for a three-year period in compliance with the Newlyn Harbour Revision Order 2010.  The position is without remuneration. At present, monthly board meetings are held, but the frequency of these meetings is likely to reduce in the coming months.

New appointments are made against a job description under a selection and interview process and will be in accordance with rules for public appointments.

Criteria:

Successful appointees are expected to have special knowledge or ability in one or more of the following fields: commerce, shipping, fishing and cargo handling, maritime activities, boating and leisure activities, health and safety, community issues, public/industrial relations, management, accountancy or financial management, environmental matters. On this occasion the board is particularly seeking to appoint persons with commercial licensed fishing boat-ownership experience, especially in a seagoing capacity, and from individuals who have a keen interest in the harbour and the local community.

Appointments will be made by Newlyn Harbour Commissioners.

Closing date for nominations is 9am on June 30. Selection and appointments will take place in July. Further details can be obtained from Andrew Munson, harbourmaster at the Harbour Office in Newlyn. Call 01736 362523 or e-mail andrewmunson@btconnect.com

article copyright THE CORNISHMAN

Sandy Cove development still on table despite storms.

Sandy Cove development still on table despite storms.

AMBITIOUS proposals for a boat maintenance yard in Newlyn are still on the table, despite recent upheavals within the harbour commission.

Commissioners announced plans in November to team up with MDL Marinas to build a large-scale multimillion-pound development at Sandy Cove. One of the chief proponents of the scheme was Juliet Taylor, who worked closely with the firm to develop outlines for boat storage, a chandlery and engineering works to support the fishing fleet, and strengthening works for the south pier in a quest to create dozens of new jobs.