Hake, the all round fish, all round the UK!

On Peterhead market this morning, a good run of big hake from the pair-seiner Budding Rose
Photo courtesy of Peter Bruce, skipper Budding Rose.

As if to emphasise the opportunity, both Seafish and Scotland Food and Drink are all promoting hake as the healthier alternative to cod:

"Catches of Northern hake, landed around the UK, are looking plentiful this season – so Seafish, the authority on seafood, is urging consumers to try this excellent whitefish.

Seafish:

Website

Hake used to be a familiar fish to Britons but seems to have fallen from favour at a time when availability is very good. The UK spent only £1.5 million on chilled hake in supermarkets in the past year, compared to £124 million on chilled cod (Nielsen retail figures for 52 weeks leading up to 16 April 2011).

Dr Paul Williams, Seafish chief executive, said: "With properties similar to cod and haddock, hake is an excellent species to try and it’s very good value for money. 

The Scottish pair team of Budding Rose and the Lapwing are reporting big hauls of hake in the North Sea - unusual for them - the two botas are using Twitter and their own blog to keep readers informed. The Newlyn netter, Ajax has begun to use social networking to do the same when fishing off Cornwall.

Indian summer? - day one.

Never mind, "red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning".......

far from home.......

tagged by the bowls.......

Tom in silhouette........

the Mission is quiet at high water.......

most of the boats are at sea save a trip from the Cornishman and the Imogen II.......

still detained and things not looking good for the Cap 3000.......

keeping it in the family, another name change for the growing Nowell fleet, now the Karen N........

all set for a pleasant day.......

maybe it's time the new fenders were put in place........

solo swan on the boating pool.

EU FISH STOCKS IN THE ATLANTIC AND NORTH SEA: COMMISSION PROPOSES FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2012

The European Commission presented today its first proposal for 2012 fishing opportunities for the stocks in the Atlantic and the North Sea that are managed by the EU exclusively. Commissioner Maria Damanaki said: "our proposal's cornerstones are long-term management of stocks and reliable scientific data to base our decisions on, in line with our proposed reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. This reform will deliver a fisheries policy fit for the future, based on viable fish stocks which will assure fishermen a decent income." 


 Based on scientific advice, the Commission proposes to increase the total allowable catch (TAC) for 9 stocks (certain stocks of cod, anglerfish, herring, haddock, hake, sole, megrim and Norway lobster) and reduce it for 53 stocks. For cod in the West of Scotland, the Irish Sea and the Kattegat, the Commission proposes that no fishing takes place in 2012, given the poor state of these stocks. The proposed changes would amount to an overall reduction in TACs (by weight) of 11% compared to 2011. 


The Commission's goal is to set TACs at science-based levels which help recover the stocks and make fisheries sustainable in the long term. A second proposal will deal with the 66 stocks for which the fishing opportunities must be agreed with Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) or in the context of consultations with third countries and will be tabled later this autumn. Thanks to splitting the proposal in this way, fishermen will learn sooner how much they can fish in 2012 and be able to plan ahead better.

A sort walk from Copperhouse to Mexico - parking at Lethlean Lane.

Looking up thorugh Hayle harbour, home to a small community of inshore boats as the London bound intercity train passes over biggest viaduct this side of Truro........

spotted against the qall, the Lowestoft Drifter, Feasible..........

looking across the estuary to the house that was once landscape artist John Miller's home and studio...........

plenty of wave action in Hayle estuary, shame there's still no action with the wave hub a few miles offshore........

these days, the RNLI run all the lifegaurd provision on Cornish beaches.......

looking at to Godrevy Lighouse from atop Mexico Towans.........

a big ground sea hits the bluff on the towans.......

and keeps a few hardy swimmers at bay.......

up the beach there are dozens of surfers making the most of crosshsore wind and good swell........

one of the quieter graveyards in the town.......

despite the change in season there are a few late year butterflies on the move........

with plenty of red admirals about, no lower ranks in Hayle of course.......

the troops left their mark her in 1975.

A few visitors in the port.

Tiz the season of the harvest........

and out across the Bay not much sign yet of the impending heatwave.......

time for an early cuppa aboard the WillSupply from Williams Shipping en route for Haversham............  

while over on the pontoons, resting in Newlyn over the weekend, an 8m Sutton catamaran, the Boy Shayne on her way to Peel in the Isle of Man........

also resting, but for quite different reasons, the Cap3000 from Paimpol was arrested for logbook offences on Sunday.........

not so good, one parted lower bridle.........

the boys are 'anging! ..... with CEFAS aboard for a monkfish survey the crew of the Billy Rowney this trip have been doing one hour tows - hard going.........

and just to make matters worse she appears to be missing a vital part of the her deck gear........

just one fine example of hake from the Ajax's trip on the market this morning........

there were boxes of fish mend-to-end on the market this morning, with a good showing of squid from some of the boats.........

ice delivery.

Ecumes des Jours - in and outbound - for ice.