Ajax AH32 heads home.

North side of the Scillies, the hake netter Ajax is picked up and tracked via VesselTracker's AIS monitoring station in Penzance.  VT software owners can set up alerts via email triggered by a vessel's change in status or movement. In this case, when the Ajax entered the reception area - very useful for tracking specific vessels in range.

The day it all went wrong - some might say!

The day discards dawned as we know them today.

Cartoon (normally cartoons are funny) - though for many fishermen - and not just here in the UK - this joke is no laughing matter - the story of the Common Fisheries Policy from day one.

Sun up moon up.

Not often the moon is high in the sky as the sun puts in an appearance......

with five grades of JDs these are the medium sort of fish........

an almost double sided plaice with the normally white underbelly almost covered in the same markings as the top side......

"and I'll have those there"........

even fishing has its won fair share of red tape.......

looking out for potential new customers, fresh Newlyn hake keeps an eye on early morning proceedings......

top quality monk from several inshore boats was up for auction this morning on the last market of the week.......

with the sardine boats putting good shots ashore after a much quieter night weatherwise in the Bay.......

visiting beamers included the Admiral Gordon from Plymouth.......

and the Waterford registered Shauna Leon skippered by ex-Newlyn boy Titch Harvey........

the big cat Lyonesse makes waves on her way back to berth......

while the netter Gary M with her empty net bins aft indicating that all her nets are still out there fishing takes on ice before returning to the grounds........

tagged before the paint was even dry........

hard to make sou the numbers, but this looks like a new boat in town!........

with work still to be done on deck getting her ready for sea........

but the freshly painted stern reveals all - the much awaited third ship, Louisa N joins the Nowell fleet with the number PZ101.........

along the dockside work in progress on the old ice-breaker continues..........

as the Mount gets a dose of sun rays.

It's the same the whole world over........

 Wherever you are around the eastern coast of Sicily, Mount Etna dominates the skyline, rumbling away like some grumpy old uncle........

 down at sea level it's make do and mend, bits of an old Lambretta power this beach winch........ 

 with several examples of local craft at Giardini near Taormina high up on the sand......

 some have obviously been around longer than others.......

 no tide, no wind and 32˚..........

 one of the bigger boats in the local fleet that fish for tuna and swordfish in season.......

 with familiar variations on haulers.......

 on smaller punts too.......

the local fishermen's 'mission' is a scene familiar in every port........

for those with deep pockets the Villa Sant Andrea nestles in the cliff in a stunning location...... 

and at €52 for two OJs, a beer and a vodka and coke the service is impeccable! 

Up to the limit.

VesselTracker have added another feature to their 'Cockpit' view on the AIS browser and there's plenty of French, sorry, Breton fishing action right up to the limit on the north coast. These boats are very quick to share fishing info with one another.

Now Scottish Langoustine - next Cornish Hake?

Scottish prawns are set to grace the shelves of Sainsbury's supermarkets after suppliers struck a deal with the retailer. The prawns, caught off the West Coast of the country, will be branded as Scottish langoustines. The deal means shoppers will be able to buy UK-caught langoustines that have not previously been frozen for the the first time. The Fresh Scottish West Coast Langoustine will be available in all of Sainsbury's 390 fish counter stores.

Let's hope it won't be too long before Sainsburys has a new line of prime fish, Cornish Hake!

Cornwall Food and Drink Festival starts tomorrow.

Visitors to Newlyn fish auction see the food trail from the start.Cornwall's Food and Drink Festival starts tomorrow - a fantastic chance for people to follow the food trail - a celebration of local produce.......

 with a wide range of local shellfish (like those supplied by the Mussel Shack)........

 Cornish hake.......

and just coming into season fresh squid now being caught in the waters off Cornwall. Of course it's not all fish! - there are producers and suppliers representing the full range of the best in Cornish Food with all the information needed in this downloadable programe of events........

head for the centre of Truro and the Lemon Quay area.