Margiris making way again

Looks like the good ship Margiris is underway again after stopping for fuel in Gran Canaria en route for Australia. As the boat travels further south the level of public interest and antagonism towards her has grown from just interested parties like commercial fishermen and anglers in OZ.

Latest Fishing News issue

Cornish Fishmongers to battle it out once again at Newlyn Fish Festival

 Lee Trethewey the eventual winner representing Fish For Thought

Following the success of last year’s launch event, the organisers of the Cornish Fishmonger of the Year competition are thrilled to announce that this popular event will take place once again at the Newlyn Fish Festival, 27th August at Newlyn Harbour, kindly hosted and organised by Seafood Cornwall Training Ltd and supported by Seafish and Passionate about Fish.

The event will bring together the best fish filleters and fishmongers from around the county to test their skills as they battle it out for the prestigious title of “2012 Cornish Fishmonger of the Year”. Preliminary heats will take place throughout the day on the festival’s Demo Kitchen Stage located within the fish market; with the final scheduled for 3pm. Individuals will compete on behalf of their company or employer and will be required to demonstrate the many different techniques regularly employed by fishmongers to prepare seafood for the consumer.

The competition will be judged by expert Fishmongers; Duncan and Sue Lucas from Passionate about Fish, who will award points for technique, speed, yield, hygiene and presentation. The winning individual and company will be awarded the coveted title and will take home the Cornish Fishmonger of the Year Trophy as well as £100 in prize money and a Zwilling J.A. Henckels Filleting Knife, kindly donated by Pots ‘n’ Pans, Barnstaple. The runner up will receive £50 prize money and a Zwilling J.A. Henckels Filleting Knife also.

Ian Pilkington representing Matthew Stevens and Son, St Ives

Sarah Crosbie, the event’s organiser commented, “Seafood Cornwall Training is very excited to be able to bring this competition back to the Newlyn Fish Festival. Last year’s event was a real success and brought some of our most skilled employees from the Cornish Fish Industry out of the filleting room and into the spotlight. This year’s event is set to be very competitive indeed”. To enter:

Competitors should contact Seafood Cornwall Training for an entry pack. A £20 entry fee applies.

All competitors will receive two complimentary tickets to the 2012 Newlyn Fish Festival.

Telephone: 01736 364324 Email: sarah@seafoodcornwalltraining.co.uk

Visit: www.seafoodcornwalltraining.co.uk

Hunting the hake - a long way from home

The old country seems to have exerted its pull on skipper Alan aboard the good ship Ajax as she chases the hake a few miles off the Irish coast. No doubt the sights, sounds and smells from Deklan McCarthy's bar in Baltimore will be making themselves present in thought and mind!

Sardine hunting

Seems the weather that is no alone in being out of sorts at the moment. Shoals of Cornish sardines are proving elusive for the local ting netters. The tracks here show the amount of searching carried out by the Asthore, just one of four boats chasing the fish at the moment. No sunshine means no BBQs  which is probably just as well with mackerel and sardines in short supply!

Newlyn Harbour Commissioner's meeting today

Browse the agenda for today's NPHC commissioner's meeting held at The Centre, Newlyn.  Members of the community are welcome to attend and contribute to the first open session of the meeting.

Minutes from the last commissioner's meeting held in June.

The minutes talk about setting up a meeting between 'bank representatives' and commercial parties. This is an interesting area and highlights a marked difference in business culture between the Cornish fishing industry and the banks. It is probably an accurate observation to note that the bulk of banking activities for the fishing industry in Newlyn are carried out by Barclays Bank (nb originally Bolithos Bank) - they are the only bank to have a branch in the village. 

TtG remembers these incidents: North of the border in Girvan, on a Saturday morning, a regular feature of harbour activity would be the local bank managers down the quay discussing the fishing with their customers - the skippers and owners of the local boats; in Guilvinec, the regional (not local) Credit Maritime manageress discussing the kind of hauler aboard the Keriolet wanting to know how it didn't crush the hake as the net passed through - this at 8.00am on the quay - it would be interesting to know how many local bank representatives were able to demonstrate that degree of understanding and empathy with the industry? 

Sadly, the general attitude to the industry has often been more negative at times - fishing boats are, 'something that makes a hole in the water down which ever increasing amounts of money flow'! - luckily there are examples in contrast to that attitude and as a result there are several local boat owners who in the last few years have all invested heavily in newer and better boats.

Later in the day

 The angler's version of twin-rigging I guess......

 lunch at the Godolphin Arms, Marazion proved a treat with piles of local crab on the menu - proper Cornish portions.......

 some excellent local galleries.......

 and a very busy causeway as the Mount fills up with visitors......

full wet suit needed it seems.......

the Imogen III bound in being tracked by gulls......

as the crew struggle to hoist the mainsail......

up for sale.......

just delivered from Penzance Dry Dock after months of repairs to the hull and a new crankshaft in the main engine, built in 1973 and complete with her original Deutz engine.......

the St Georges looks a s good as new.......

PULL!........

just what the mackerel boys have been loooking for......

welcome to your new home Mr Blue.......

time to get the fish ashore from the Imogen III.