Newlyn fish market filmed in 1987

Filmed in 1987 not long after the completion of the new quay - or Mary Williams Pier to give its correct name. The harbour had been dredged out to accommodate boats against the new quay almost as far as the fish market. At that time the only source of ice in any quantity for the boats in the port was from W Stevenson - so moves were afoot to create an independent ice works (at 18s you can see the space where the Cornish Ice Company now stands) as the number of boats began to increase due to success of gill net fishing. 

The space immediately in front of the fish market has not been dredged - nor had the 'new' fish market been built - and when it was a new roof was fitted and the market extended into the harbour by a few metres. The blue tarpaulins were put in place in an attempt to protect the protracted auction process which on a 'good' day would go on past lunch time - but then the auction did not start untill 8am!

At 2m 2s you can see the end of the market where the 'gut bins' were kept - during the summer months visitors' nostrils were often attracted by several tons of fermenting offal maturing in the sun - despite being well known for the huge quantities of prime fish being landed, Newlyn was a little slow in appreciating the need for fresh food handling practices in keeping with the 20th rather than 19 century - how things have changed!

In the lorry park, vehicles from Jack Reynolds (who transported away the gut bins), Stevensons and Suttons (the yellow Fodens). At 2m 44s shows the huge empty shed which was built as a temporary measure to house the fish auction while the old market was given a facelift - it is still in use today as a workshop.

At 4m 14s an internal of the fish market reveals stacks of 10 stone kits - even some of the old aluminium variety. Big ground fish like dogs, ling, ray, pollock and coley were weighed in kits.

At the time there were no cold storage facilities built into the fish market so boats were forced to keep their fish on board if they returned earlier than planned.  At the end of their trips, boats would start landing their fish  alongside the market from midnight or later - if bad weather forced the fleet in there would be dozens of boats all trying to get their fish ashore and the boats would lay three or four deep against the market. To this day it is illegal for a boat to be left against the fish market unless it is landing - and once landed the boat should be moved away immdeiately to allow others access.  With the advent of the market fridges the boats can now land at any time and keep their catch in chilled storage.

Jason Arandhara-Blackwell - Food Photographer

Spot the hake!

Great to see food photographer Jason Arandhara-Blackwell win this year's Philip Harben 'Food in Action' award for the Pink Lady Apple Food Photographer of the Year - and checking out his web site we find no less than two photos of hake in his food section - and they appear to have a distinct Cornish quality about them!

Aquarius - tug sinking update

The Aquarius, a British tug of 20m, sank on Monday, shortly before 8 am, 75 km north of Aber Wrac'h. Two of the three English sailors on board were rescued. The third is still missing. Research, especially with a Falcon 50 of the Navy, continued until late afternoon. And they stopped with nightfall. 


At )7:20, on Monday, a tug of 20 m, the Aquarius , which was on a Corunna-Plymouth, requested assistance while he was in the northern tip of Britain . "Le Cross Corsen immediately relayed his request to ships present in the area," reported the maritime prefecture of the Atlantic. dark Tug Shortly after, the Aquarius , which was three crewmen, announced he was sinking as a result, it seems, of a leak. At 07:40, she finally sank while two sailors managed to reach the life raft. A third crew member himself is missing. An extensive research was undertaken by the Le Cross Corsen then brought the helicopter to the Cayman-based naval aviation Lanvéoc-Poulmic. The latter took off at 08:05, with a medical team of the Army Medical Service and immediately visited the area. Cayman Helicopter fleet arrived at 33F area at 08:28 and was hoisted both survivors , which were supported by the physician and the nurse of the Army Medical Service. He then began a search at sea to try to locate the last survivor.

One of three crew members missing A 10:55, the two survivors have been filed by the Cayman to the DZ of the naval base of Brest and were supported by naval firemen to be transferred to the Hospital armies in Brest. After going to refuel at NAS Landivisiau to 16:00, the Falcon 50 is returned on the search area until late afternoon. With nightfall, the maritime prefect of the Atlantic has decided to suspend the search.


Weather: Wed 5, 240 Wind (SW) to 70 km / h (35-40 knots), visibility 5 km.


Info courtesy of Le Télégramme / translation via Google.

Pasty Political Broadcast

Newlyn job vacancy: Fisheries Community Animateur

There's an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate from the local community to work in helping to develop a better future for the fishing industry.


Recruitment:  Fisheries Community Animateur 


35 hours per week Salary £23,000 per annum Based in Newlyn with extensive travel around Cornwall.


We are seeking a Fisheries Community Animateur to work with the Cornwall Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG), a working group that strategically supports the sustainable development of the fisheries community. 


The post holder will be required to work within the community to bring about, develop and secure funding that will meet the aims of FLAG strategy, and to project a positive image to the local and identified FLAG community. Fisheries knowledge not necessarily required but the ability to work on own initiative and see tasks through to completion is essential. Excellent communication skills required, both written and oral, together with sound IT knowledge. The successful applicant will need the ability to write clear reports and business plans and interpret complex funding rules and strategies. Would suit a friendly, outgoing graduate (or level 6 qualified) with the above skills. The ability to travel independently throughout Cornwall is a requirement of this post. 


Application forms should be emailed to crcc.jobs@cornwallrcc.org.uk. 
Unfortunately CVs cannot be accepted. 


Closing date: 8 May 2012 Interview date: 15 May 2012 


Job Description 
Person Specification 
Application form 

The way ahead

Someone needs to keep an eye on things in town.......

is this what is needed to bring about proseprity to the area - OAP flats on a waterfront overlooking the amazing Mounts Bay?

Wet Wednesday

Evidence that last night was a dirty night at sea.......

with the promenade at Penzance getting a good soaking this morning......

follow that sign (but don't try and find the museum as it is long since gone).......

looks calm enough in the harbour......

and inside the fish market there are plent6y of broken trips from the boats forced in by the weather........

not enough to keep top bass boat Cynthia from landing these beauties..... 

top score from the beamer WSS.......

the netter, Gary M went through some pretty rough days to get these guys ashore, good turbot and monk up for grabs......

as did the Govenek of Ladram......

who also landed a few boxes of these fine looking Cornish hake......

it's all go in the fridge Mike.......

one very wet looking quay.......

where else?!