Inshore trawler Valhalla towed in by the trawler Defiant

Valhalla with her trawl net in her prop - known as being 'mopped up'

Trawlers face the dangers of getting their trawl in the propellor every time they haul and shoot. Sometimes a lack of wind and a tide running awkwardly contrive to push the trawl under the hull of the boat without the skipper realising. Infine weather this results in waiting for another boat to come and tow you in - in poor weather such a problem can be far more dangerous - just getting a tow line aboard another boat is hazardous as it involves two vessels in close proximity. Trawlers engaged in pair trawling are far better equipped to deal with this as they come together to swap trawl warps every time they haul and shoot!

Thanks to Ed for the photo.

In the summer time...

We need ice!, the inshore trawler Harvest Reaper makes her way to the Cornish Ice Company's ice works...

while Jeremy on the multi-purpose inshore netter/potter/handliners Nazarene...




and John on the Girl Pamela takes on boxes of frozen bait for a day's crabbing...

just some of the shining inshore fish for sale...

and, unusually for the inshore trawlers a few boxes of hake on the inshore grounds...

an excellent weekend's work on the best bass in the west...

signs of summer - Roger will be smiling all the w\y back out to catch more John Dory this week given the fine forecast...

not so abundant are the mackerel - a dozen fish is not much reward for a 4am start...

Chris Tacha, off to get bait.

AIS and Traffic Separation Schemes

All ships at sea have to comply with a set of international rules about how to conduct themselves - no ,matter what nationality, size or means of propulsion - the rules are the same the whole world over - the ominous sounding Collision Regulations or "Rules of the Road" - aka the Highway Code of the sea.

As a rule, ships are free to roam anywhere they please by whichever course they care to choose. However, there are areas where shipping traffic has to comply when traveling in certain directions, normally off heavily congested transit points like those of the Scillies and Land's End.

In the example above, the small coaster Arklow Wind is on passage from Dunkirk In France to Aughinish in Ireland. In order to safely navigate past Land's End she has to comply with following the North bound sector of the traffic separation scheme. All those ships making their way North from the English Channel or coming up from the coast of France have to follow a narrow shipping lane closest to Land;s End, South bound traffic must take the western shipping lane. The AIS also shows how the boats must join and leave the separation lanes at their extremity.

Any vessel needing to cross these invisible lanes must do so, or as near as they can to right angles. Fishing vessels are also expected to follow the same procedure.


Here are the rules in full:

Traffic separation schemes

(a) This Rule applies to traffic separation schemes adopted by the Organization and does not relieve any vessel of her obligation under any other Rule.

(b) A vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall:

(i) proceed in the appropriate traffic lane in the general direction of traffic flow for that lane;
(ii) so far as practicable keep clear of a traffic separation line or separation zone;
(iii) normally join or leave a traffic lane at the termination of the lane, but when joining or leaving from either side shall do so at as small an angle to the general direction of traffic flow as practicable.

(c) A vessel shall, so far as practicable, avoid crossing traffic lanes but if obliged to do so shall cross on a heading as nearly as practicable at right angles to the general direction of traffic flow.

(i) A vessel shall not use an inshore traffic zone when she can safely use the appropriate traffic lane within the adjacent traffic separation scheme. However, vessels of less than 20 metres in length, sailing vessels and vessels engaged in fishing may use the inshore traffic zone.
(ii) Notwithstanding sub-paragraph (d) (i), a vessel may use an inshore traffic zone when en route to or from a port, offshore installation or structure, pilot station or any other place situated within the inshore traffic zone, or to avoid immediate danger.

(e) A vessel other than a crossing vessel or a vessel joining or leaving a lane shall not normally enter a separation zone or cross a separation line except:

(i) in cases of emergency to avoid immediate danger;
(ii) to engage in fishing within a separation zone.

International Symposium on Labelling and Authenticity of Seafood (ISLAS)

The Labelfish team are proud to announce our next stakeholder workshop under our networking initiative Labelfishnet: the International Symposium of Labelling and Authenticity of Seafood (ISLAS).

Covering an array of topics related to labelling and authenticity of seafood the symposium will include the following sessions:

1.Latest labelling legislation and governance for seafood2.Labelling and traceability: industry perspective3.Labelling and traceability: consumers4.Seafood authentication: current methodologies5.Labelling: environmental and conservation issues6.Progress on seafood authenticity methodology

Registration is not yet open, but keep an eye on the News & Events section of our website where these and other ISLAS details will be announced in the coming weeks and months. All registered stakeholders will receive ISLAS notifications, so to make sure you are kept up to date on this and other Labelfish news sign up at here.

Invitation to the Forum Science and Governance of the Marine Ecosystem of the Channel Caen, 2-3 July 2014

Here is an open invitation to this year's Science and Governance of the English Channel conference due to take place in Caen this July.


The Promoting Effective Governance of the Channel Ecosystem project (PEGASEAS) is hosting three Cross Channel Forum events in 2014. These events are designed to bring together policy-makers, practitioners, stakeholders, and scientists to advance the governance of the Channel ecosystem using natural and social science.

We are proud to announce that the second Cross Channel Forum is entitled “Science and Governance of the Channel Marine Ecosystem” and will be held in Caen on the 2nd and 3rd of July 2014. This event is being organised by scientists from IFREMER Boulogne-sur-Mer and the University of Caen Basse-Normandie and will focus on integrating marine science into the governance of the Channel ecosystem.

The Forum will provide opportunities for: s

• Scientists to contribute to a trans-disciplinary analysis of the Channel marine ecosystem by sharing their results and conclusions.
• Stakeholders and policy-makers to hear about recent research into the Channel marine ecosystem and consider how this can support the governance of the Channel.

Session tittles:

• The Channel ecosystem: actual state, tools, results and its governance 
• The present and future challenges in the Channel: Science and Governance 
• Toward integrated management of the Channel: what are the future research and action in order to improve the Channel governance?

Workshop topics:

• Partnerships and improvement of the management of the marine ecosystems. 
• Management of the human activities and governance at multiple scales 
• Participation and involvement of stakeholders and use of the data/information

Simultaneous translation in English and French will be provided.

Download the registration file below and send it back to forum@pegaseas.eu to register for free

Watch Pendeen Watch - the next Helen Glover?

Good to see the number of kids coming through aboard...

the gigs Portheras and the Pendeen Watch....

 which one will be the next Helen Glover?...

the Rowse crabber Chris Tacha towers over the quay at high water...

more shellfish in the shape of scallops aboard the Celtic Pride making their way into the port...

throught the gaps is the Amethyst...

and the Rebecca heading for the gaps...

local art work brightens up the coast path.

Penzance's Ross Bridge opens to let out a fishing boat.

Captured in a time-lapse video- the beam trawler Aaltje Adriaantje exits Penzance Dry Dock and passes out through the Ross Bridge which carries road traffic across the harbour in Penzance.