Seems there's money in mackerel

Mackerel is caught by 25 boats registered in Fraserburgh, Peterhead and Lerwick. It is the industry's most valuable catch, worth £164m in 2011, or one-third of all the fish landed.

That's £164,000,000 / 25 = £6,560,000

info courtesy of the Herald Scotland

Strong North westerlies!

Tied up since the end of last week, wind-bound boats include... 

the Saint Malo trawler, Cezembre take shelter from this week's chilly northwesterly blast....

with a ground sea big enought to keep even the top two stern trawler's in port...

crab and net boats will look to sail later in the day...

while out in the Bay a number of small(ish) coasters lay at anchor.

NFFO Welcomes European Parliament Vote but Warns about Practical Implementation Issues

“The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisation has welcomed the vote today in the European Parliament as a step towards a more rational and effective fisheries policy. However, it warned that the history of the CFP has been littered with well intentioned pieces of legislation that have failed because insufficient attention had been paid to how the measures could be implemented. How political aspirations are translated into meaningful and achievable measures should now become the focus, as the Parliament, member states and the European Commission enter discussions on the final shape of the new Common Fisheries Policy.

As with any large legislative package, there is good and bad in the compromise text. For us, the key to a more effective fisheries policy is the decentralisation of decision-making to the regional seas level. It is only at this scale that management measures can be tailored to the fleets and fisheries involved and adaptive management can hope to work. We always recognised that there would be a discard ban in some form or other within this reform. The real issue however concerns the practical issues of applying such a policy at the level of each individual fishery. The European Parliament now has a mandate to begin discussions with the other European institutions. We hope that rhetoric and grandstanding will be left behind as the talks focus on the real outstanding issues.”

Barrie Deas, Chief Executive, National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations

That was rather large lump of water!!!

Newlyn netters Sparkling Line and the Ajax steam away from Newlyn for another hake trip - despite the decreasing wind...

and seas off Land's End as reported by the Sevenstones Lightship, things won't be too comfortable, as indicated by a tweet from the wheelhouse of the Ajax at the time...

 

Ajax AH32‏@Ajax_Hake

That was a rather large lump of water !!!

Niall sums it up in one!

European Parliament backs Common Fisheries Policy reform.Green lobby and MEPs fail to understand fishing yet again

"Discard ban makes good media soundbite for politicians but unworkable for fishermen"

Nial Duffy 2013

The EU Commisson's Blue Growth strategy for the maritime economy of Europe, adopted in September 2012. These areas are aquaculture, energy, tourism, blue biotechnology and seabed-mining.- stay tuned

Commissioner Maria Damanaki, will be in Paris tomorrow, Thursday 7 February, to participate in the first edition of the French maritime event, Euromaritime. Commissioner Damanaki will give a speech on the importance of Europe in the Global Maritime Economy. She will also update stakeholders on both progress made and developments foreseen in the five key areas set out in the Commisson's Blue Growth strategy for the maritime economy of Europe, adopted in September 2012. These areas are aquaculture, energy, tourism, blue biotechnology and seabed-mining.

Before leaving for Paris Ms Damanaki highlighted that "the benefits that we could derive from the maritime economy would be outstanding; we are talking about over one million new jobs and billions of euros by the end of this decade".

Euromaritime, a marine and maritime economy event, is hosting its first edition at Parc des Expositions, Porte de Versailles, Paris on 5th, 6th and 7th February. It will showcase 180 exhibitors in an area of 6,000m2. Euromaritime has received the patronage of the European Commission.

Victory as European Parliament votes for sustainable fisheries!

As reported on thew WWF web site earlier to day:

Strasbourg, France: After a committee vote in December that was praised by WWF as a milestone vote for sustainable fisheries, today all members of the European Parliament voted 502 to 137 in favour again of the draft report by Ulrike Rodust (S&D, DE) on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Basic Regulation, the cornerstone of the CFP reform package.

All of the five WWF key asks for the CFP reform were voted through.

“Today something truly exceptional has happened – the European Parliament voted for a strong fisheries reform to let our oceans recover and ensure the sustainability of fisheries in the EU. This is a triumph especially in these times of crisis and despite strong opposition from certain politicians with unsustainable industry interests”, Roberto Ferrigno, Common Fisheries Policy Project Coordinator, WWF European Policy Office.

“Everyone wants a strong reform: citizens, industry and fishermen. Members of the European Parliament listened to their constituents and used their newly acquired powers to act and make a difference. Now it’s clear after this vote that it is a political priority to shape up EU fisheries and provide long-term stability to fishing communities, fishermen and businesses and the marine environment they depend on”.

“The oceans, fish and those who fish sustainably have won one half of the battle today. Next it is up to fisheries ministers to vote their position on this basic regulation. It will be a tough battle but we hope national governments will listen to the strong message issued by the Parliament, and will sweep away vested interests to ensure a long term sustainable future for our oceans and Europe’s fisheries economy”.