Let's talk skate - Newlyn Mission, October 12th.

An excellent opportunity to talk skate with key representatives from DEFRA, CEFAS and others keen to see the current restrictions amneded for the benefit of all concerned.

PZ 182 - the Asthore then......and now.

Built in 1926 at Porthleven and fished by the Lakeman Family from Mevagissey, the Asthore PZ182 was a highly successful fishing boat in its day........

eighty five years later and bearing the same fishing name and number as the original, today's Asthore is the UK's largest purpose built ring netter. Although based in Newlyn, being too deep drafted for her 'home' port of Mevagissey, she will 'follow the fish' targeting mainly Cornish Sardines and Anchovy.

El congero!

One end of the market was busy with beam and trawl fish.........

with evidence of congers moving across the grounds at the moment.......

much debate on the market about exactly which fish this little chap is [Think the Gary M might have caught a alfonsino or alfonsin, Beryx decadactylus - looks about right to me - Sue Mason]- about 30cm long and caught south side of the Scillies........

landed courtesy of the boys on the Gary M.........

the skies looking a little less menacing than they were yesterday.......

which means that the Gary M can take ice and get away again for the rest of the tide, expect to see her back in Newlyn landing for Monday's market........

a few day's work ahead of the boys on the Crystal Sea II it seems........

or else........

one Kernow flag flying in the strong northerly draught.......

that's one big meal waiting in the tank.

Steve Jobs 1955 - 2011

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."

Apple's Steve Jobs died today - the man who made using a computer and phone to create web sites such as this so much easier and so much more fun.

Gilt stocks nose ahead.

Not the brightest working conditions on the auction floor this morning........

unlike the fish which were positively glowing like these pristine red mullet......

golden gilt head bream........

bright-eyed red gurnards.......

and cracking looking line jigged squid.........

seems there is no shortage of hake on the ground with the netting fleet, as the Golden Harvest gets an early shot of fish ashore before the neap tide is even half way through.......

the long and the short of it, out comes the tape measure for the blue sharks.......

opening time at the Harbour Cafe........

one date for the diary, Stamp and Go, the big Porthleven voices assemble at The Centre in a few weeks time - an excellent evening celebrating the range of the human voice, from sea shanties to soliloquies........

this is one buoy the the Trinity House ships won't get their hands on - the company offers one of the more unusual cruises - aboard the Patricia passengers get to see first hand the day-to-day life of a ship actively engaged in supporting the safety of seafarers around the coast..........

and a pasty the boys in the team would like to!

Skipper Shaun Edwards honoured to get bravery medal.

The Shipwrecked Mariners' Society's Skill and Gallantry Awards recognise people who risk their lives in dangerous sea rescues. Mr Edwards will receive his award on Tuesday from The Princess Royal. Shaun Edwards, Skipper of fishing vessel Nova Spero and his crew had stopped fishing on the evening of 28 October 2010 due to deteriorating sea conditions when they heard a distress call from the Polish tall ship Fryderyk Chopin. The ship had suffered the dismasting of its fore and main masts in heavy seas.

Shaun Edwards, Skipper of fishing vessel Nova Spero and his crew had stopped fishing on the evening of 28 October 2010 due to deteriorating sea conditions when they heard a distress call from the Polish tall ship Fryderyk Chopin.

UK FISHERMEN TO BENEFIT FROM NEW LOW COST VMS

Screen shot of the new Succorfish VMS system as it appears in a web browser.

Succorfish’s new hi-tech global vessel monitoring system, the SC2, is low cost and easy to install and can be seen to the right of the light on the wheel-house.

There will be an Inshore VMS Demonstration Event held at Brixham Fishmarket on Thurs 27th Oct 2011. The purpose is to show the new advanced SC2 technology and vessel monitoring system that have been developed and tested as part of the Defra funded Inshore VMS project (MF1214). The Project trialled new mobile phone communication technology to address issues of monitoring and controlling access to Inshore Marine Protected Areas. All interested parties including individual commercial fishermen can learn more about the technology and see for themselves how it works. The event will be very hands on with plenty of opportunities to see the VMS working in real time and a participating fishing vessel will be giving tours whilst demonstrating the technology. The Event will also see the official launch of the Graphical User Interface (GUI), a bespoke web site developed to securely manage personal data in a format that will ultimately improve efficiency. We hope to attract all interested groups from inside and outside the UK. 

The aim on the day is to bring interested parties together to learn more about the technology and see for themselves how it works. The Event is intended to be very hands on with plenty of opportunities to “touch and feel” the technology and to see it working in real life. A participating fishing vessel will be on hand and guided tours of the vessel and the technology will be available along with onshore demonstrations of the technology. The Event will also see the official launch of the Graphical User Interface (GUI), a bespoke web site developed to present and manage the gathered data to interested parties in a format that will ultimately make their jobs easier.

Itinerary

11.00           Welcome followed by presentation   

1. The concept and motivation behind the project (Gus Caslake (Seafish) & Tom Rossiter – 15 Mins)

2. A walk through of the technology (Richard Hopper & George Hendricks (Succorfish) – 15 Mins)

3. Analysis of the data collected (Koen Vanstaen (CEFAS)  – 15 Mins)

4. The Conservation perspective (TBC (Natural England) – 15 Mins)

5. The manager’s perspective (Neil Wellum (MMO) – 15 Mins)

6. The fisherman’s perspective (Nick Prust (SWIFA) – 15 Mins)

7. Questions

Contact Richard Caslake at Seafish on 01736 362625 or e-mail r_caslake@seafish.co.uk


Commercial fishermen could benefit from this new hi-tech but low cost global tracking device that is being launched to improve the way the industry operates. Succorfish, has designed and developed a highly advanced vessel monitoring system (VMS); the SC2, specifically for the marine and fishing industries and following a series of successful trials across the South West of England, it is now to be rolled out worldwide.

The VMS has been developed alongside industry authority, Seafish, and will allow vessels to accurately map and monitor their position using dual GPRS/GSM software to within one metre, will provide closer access to marine protected areas such as Lyme Bay whilst avoiding hefty fines previously incurred when breached, and improve and increase overall inshore fishing activity.

The low cost device complies with current UK fishing laws and uses real time satellite and mobile phone technology, as well as online tracking software, to monitor and record the course and position of vessels via up-to-the-minute reporting. Information is then relayed back to a password protected website where users can view their personal data through a graphical user interface.

And, with new EU legislation being introduced in 2012 that will force all 12m-15m vessels to have monitoring systems with satellite reporting, the SC2 is now being regarded as the cost effective solution to a worldwide fishing industry problem. Additionally, for vessels 15m and over, the product is also e-log ready and directly interfaces with a specialist, state-of-the-art catch reporting software system via a global satellite network. George Henricks, Commercial Director of Succorfish commented, “We have worked very closely with industry representatives and listened long and hard to all of the stakeholders who have participated in the inshore VMS trial. All of those parties have a common goal in that they want to see the long-term security of both the marine environment and the livelihoods of the fishermen. Therefore, by designing and developing a product like the SC2, we can directly support the industry and make huge strides towards achieving its goal.”

The SC2 has been developed in conjunction with Seafish and CEFAS following a 12 months pilot project to monitor the UK’s inshore fishing activity. It has been funded by Defra as part of its remit to undertake economic and social research in the marine environment and overseen by representatives from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), NaturalEngland, Devon Sea Fisheries Committee, the South West Inshore Fishermen’s Association and the UK Marine Protected Areas Coalition Group.

Nick Prust, owner of one of the vessels that took part in the trials and Chairman of the South West Inshore Fisheries Association added, “This is the solution that the industry has been looking for and the system will be a real asset to fisherman regardless of their fishing methods. It will give us continued access to fishing grounds with spatial and temporal restrictions whilst allowing us to co-exist alongside newly proposed marine protected areas.”

Succorfish is an industry leader in the design, development and manufacture of bespoke, cost effective tracking and asset management solutions for the marine industry. See www.succorfish.com for details.

If you would like to speak directly to George Henricks, Succorfish Commercial Director, please call 07545 146343 or george@succorfish.com