Big boats big fishing just off the coats of Mauretania

Three of the biggest distant water stern trawlers in the world including the infamous Margiris are busy bashing big hauls of fish of the Mauritania coast this week - bet they are popular with the local boats as they work right up to the 12 mile limit.

#FishyFriday sees the Seafish Board get some fish candy for their visit to the finest fishy port in the country #eatmorefish

Big moon big tide...

almost high water in the Bay...

as Tom keeps a weather eye on the Nazarene as she heads out to sea...

old school technology for the arrivals in the port...

there's signs of summer as the Dorys get more plentiful...

good to see the port's newest boat, Millennia get fish on the market...

pollack get the otolith treatment this morning from Cefas...

 a tidy shot of grey mullet from the Victory should all go to good homes on a menu tonight...

there's a few hake keeping an eye on things...

on a day like today when all you have to do is go and shoot a few pots away what's not to smile about...

are these white coats we see?...

the Seafish Board members get to done suitable apparel...

as Lionel and Gus give the lowdown on the port...

fish are on the move...

looks like Gus is doing the one that got away again...

bet the hake has heard that one before...

a few herring made it to market...

a chance to get a few pics of the board in action...

as a few boxes of Mount's Bay mackerel get landed...

stunning gilt nose bream shine in the morning sunlight...

just a few of the punts to land this morning...

and they will be back out again after they have had a few hours sleep before landing this evening.

Great British Family goes for hake

Good to see hake getting more widespread coverage as it rockets to the top of the sustainability charts in EU waters!

Here's what the patriotic British Family web site has to say:

"After a hard day at work it is easy get home with very little enthusiasm for cooking a decent meal. Last night was one such evening and with nothing but a couple of hake fillets in the fridge I was not all that inspired. I set about throwing anything that came to hand on my fish and what came out at the end was about the best meal we have had in a long time."

Go to their web site and check out the recipe - plenty of Cornish hake coming ashore over the next few days from boats like the Ajax. 

New! Marine Conservation Society’s Pocket Good Fish Guide

The Marine Conservation Society’s Pocket Good Fish Guide puts YOU in control.

You can safeguard the future of our fisheries and other marine wildlife by only choosing fish from sustainable sources.

The Pocket Good Fish Guide tells you which fish are the best sustainable choices, which fish you should avoid completely, and the fish you can eat just occasionally to limit pressure on their stocks.

Can you help?

We'd love your help to make sure we are bringing you the best guide we can. If you have a few minutes could you answer our really short (6 questions) survey after you've had a look at the guide. 

Take our Good Fish guide survey

NFFO chief Barrie Deas goes head-to-head with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on Newsnight

Story courtesy of the Times 14th May 2014 #eatmorefish

Celebrity chef and campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall launched a campaign to end the EU policy obliging fishermen to throw fish back into the sea if they can't be sold. The crusade claimed half of all fish caught in the North Sea were being chucked back dead. It was a phenomenally effective campaign which changed the law. But is it possible that one of the most successful mobilizations of public opinion ever seen in the European Union was based upon lies and distortions? That is the claim of the fishing trade, which says the new rules introduced as a result of the campaign are themselves environmentally vandalistic. 

Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, and Barrie Deas, who runs the organisation representing fishermen discuss. 

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Wonders of #AIS - keeping watch

Nice to know where your seafaring son is while he is at sea - close enough to smell #Marrakesh on the evening air if there's an offshore wind I dare say.

Brixham - the movie

Hold on to your seats as the biggest blockbuster movie of the year hits the screens - Fresh Brixham Fish, a film that will stand alongside other classic tales of fish and daring-do like Moby Dick and the Perfect Storm.