Follow Fishy Friday - if you bought ray or skate today.....

From 'Zest! Recipes from top Irish Restaurants in aid of the Irish Hospice Foundation
L'Ecrivain - Michelin starred restaurant in Dublin 

Courtesy of Rick Stein from his eponymous book Richard Stein English Seafood Cookery.

And last but not least, Mr Simplicity, the father of TV fish chefs, Keith Floyd from his first fish book, Floyd on Fish.

EU latest - Give fish to the poor says Damanaki!

Fish from European waters will be distributed to the poor as an alternative to throwing them away at sea, the EU fisheries chief told MPs on Thursday, as part of a sweeping reform of marine policy. Maria Damanaki, the European commissioner for fisheries, said that as part of a proposed new deal with fishermen aimed at ending the wasteful practice of discarding edible fish at sea, lower value fish could be distributed to charities and other public organisations.

See the full story in the Guardian here:

A few years ago a certain Mike Mahon tried to do the just this when he was overrun with haddock fishing in Mount's Bay .........

- and despite pleading his case with Fisheries minister Benyon at the time, was threatened with legal action if he did so! - how times change.

Penlee Lifeboat crew to make historic bike ride for charity.

A message from Penlee Lifeboat crewman, Wayne Davey

Hi everyone

Just a quick message to let you all know about the bike ride that I'm training for to raise £20,000 for three charities.

Two Royal Marine Commandos, Cpl Justin Morgan, Cpl Damian Barnes, both of 771 squadron Search and Rescue and myself (Wayne Davey, SWAST Paramedic) are cycling from San Diego to New York, which is approximately 3100 miles, including scaling the Rocky Mountains, and we are hoping to complete the ride in less than 17 days, which means we'll have to average 185 miles each day. We are all riding together, and NOT in a relay so its going to be physical!

The charities that we are raising money for are the Little Harbour, which is the new Childrens hospice in Cornwall, the Cornwall Air Ambulance, and the Royal Marines Benevolant fund.

Our website is http://www.3100miles.co.uk/

We are also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/messages/?action=read&tid=id.230903603631829#!/groups/222647601131553/

And you can donate at  https://www.justgiving.com/3100miles

Or you can text your amount and RAAM99 £    to 70070 (if you want to donate £3 then text=    RAAM99 £3       to 70070

Hope you are all well and happy to support our effort!

All the best

Wayne Davey

The Last of the Hunters

Filming in Newlyn.

Fishermen and other readers of a certain age who were around in Cornwall during the heady days of TSW (Television South West) with its pioneering ENG services and focus on local news and issues from all corners of the South West may recall having seen a film about the fishinmg industry at the time, Last of the Hunters. The film was made at a time when Falmouth and Mount's Bay were filled with local handline fishermen competing with the likes of Eastern Block factory ships as they took mackerel in huge quantities from the entire Scottish pelagic fleet and the might of England's deep-sea trawling freezer fleet fished unabated to within six (and sometimes closer) miles of the beaches - beam trawling was in its infancy with the first few of Stevenson's fleet, the AA, Algrie and Anneleise having just joined the fleet. Thankfully, descendants of those last hunters are still going strong and putting fish ashore on a daily basis!

Through the Gaps has been reminded that among other local Newlyn fishermen featured in the film, a certain Bobby Jewell skippering the Galilean featured prominently. If anyone has a copy of the TV programme on VHS tape - or even better can convert a copy to digital please contact TtG.

Harbour rents - Cornish woman battles it out in London.

It seems that the issues with harbour rents are the subject of contention all over the Uk. Ex-pat actress, Susan Penhalligan who lives on a houseboat on the Thames is involved in a rent battle with the Port of London Authority over what are effectively 'harbour dues' for the privilege of having a mooring on the river.  Susan, along with a number of other floating residents has formed an action group to fight the good fight and protect all those river residents affected by the changes to dues - that have reportedly risen more than 300% and more.


The action group are fearful that the PLA will try to push a Harbour Revision Order (HRO) without recourse to normal parliamentary channels.

More information can be found on the Organisation of Port of London Authority Customers (OPLAC) web site to support the residents here.

Three Lorient trawlers come together.

Éric Guygniec et Xavier Le Floc'h two skippers, owners of trawlers Annythia, Marie-Lou and Carmalia created a new structure: 'Armament of the artisanal fisheries of Keroman', the first in the fishing port of Lorient, much more used to big industrial firms like Jégo-Quéré and Scapêchet.

Why create the Apak? To achieve economies of scale, says Eric Guygniec, appointed manager of the new venture. To control equipment for three boats works out cheaper than for a single boat. It's that simple. The costs are expected to decline further when Apak take on a fourth trawler. Acquiring a 18m-20m, is in my plans, confirms Eric Guygniec. But a good boat, not too old. The Apak was not yet established when the two owners had already secured the services of an engineer in house. Their role? Follow the maintenance of three boats, mechanical and hydraulics.  Again, it is anticipated, said Eric Guygniec that this will prevent more worries, less boat time will remain in dock and will be more profitable as a result.  A direct response to the high cost of diesel fuel, whose prices are rising year after year.

The creation of the Apak also led Eric and Xavier Le Floc'h Guygniec to invest in a service building. Each boat was cramped in its own net shed. Trawls net, chains, ropes, etc, now all equipment is assembled in the old AML wharehouse, with plenty of room for gear in the 800 sq m and there is 350 sq m of sheltered courtyard", says Eric Guygniec. Offices in the front will be leased to the local fisheries committee who will occupy the premises at the inception of the departmental committee in January, after the merger with the local committee of Auray-Vannes. Apak are also equipped with a crane truck to transport the material to the boats. "The investment ends there, insists Eric Guygniec. We will continue working with companies in the port. Management with the group management, repairs, painting, electronics, etc. with our regular suppliers, to each his skills.

Pilchard fishing - Chichester Lass remembered.

Extracted image from the short British Pathé newsreel clip showing a young Bobby Jewell in the wheelhouse of his trawler, Chichester Lass.

Some-time crewman Roy Shelley remembers the days:



"What a great little film! I went pilchard driving many times with Bobby Jewell on the Chichester Lass in the early 1960s. John Foster Tonkin was with Bobby for a long time.  We would mostly fish off the Wolf  Rock . I think the Chichester Lass was owned by Shippams. Bobby later bought her for trawling. Later on in the 1960s I had a trip with Bobby from Falmouth, I think this was aboard the Girl Sybil PZ595 for pilchards again. His last boat was the Galilean, a St Guenole trawler (later owned by Mervyn Mountjoy). He lived in Porthleven where the rest of his family live; the last time I saw him was at John Fosters' funeral in 2000. He lived Liverpool way then.

We would leave Newlyn  not later than 6 pm head for the Wolf Rock area to shoot the huge long net like a curtain hanging down. First put a Tilley lamp on the dhan to mark the end of nets, which you could hardly see - seemed a mile away!  Then stay there all night with mizzen up drifting. Always plenty of Newlyn boats around.   Bobby would talk on the radio to others and sing hymns. Most men wore thigh boots, cotton smocks and peak caps. During the night we eat a good fry up and chocolate bars.  In the early hours  we would haul in net driving ahead slowly to get all the tiers aboard full of  pilchards shaking them out as we went. Later returning to Newlyn in the early hours, 5 or 6 in morning to land. Maybe the pilchards where transported to Shippams factory in Newlyn where Trelawney Fish is today - everyone called the little slip opposite there Shippams Slip.

I would stay with John Foster in New Road, his wife was a good artist - lovely people.  Good views of  Breton crabbers on the buoy also outside on anchor and also the coaster on stone quay."

PILCHARD FISHING INDUSTRY

This is one film about Pilchards from British Pathé that could do with some local input from fishermen. The opening scenes are shot at Mevagissey while the rest is made up of clips from Looe and Newlyn. The cannery was Masons in Mevagissey. It would be good to identify which boat the fishing sequences were shot aboard and any faces that appear in the films.

Email any comments or info here.