Something fishy going on in natural treasure trove

This story, from Martin hesp at the Western Morning News, could be repeated the length and breadth of the UK's coastline in order to bring to the public's attention the farcical system of fish quota managment we have ended up with since negotiating the Common Fisheries Policy.

This week I acquired some fish. No big deal, you may think, but it was a lot of fish. So many, I physically couldn’t lift the box out of my car. So that, in itself, was something special. These were sea fish and it’s not often a land-lubber Exmoor boy comes home with a boot groaning with marine creatures. However, I write about my haul here because the story behind these fish was something special. Crazy, idiotic, illogical, but special.

I’ll be vague when it comes to how I got them, because I don’t want to get anyone into trouble. Most readers will know there are strict regulations concerning the catching and landing of fish. The rules, of course, are there for good reason. If there was a free-for-all at sea, the oceans would soon be empty of life. Some fishermen may balk at this, saying they are the best people to safeguard the future of fish because healthy stocks represent their own future. And I am sure that there are many Westcountry fishermen who could be trusted to act as the stewards of the sea. However, there are always rogues, there are trawler-operators from other countries who play by different rules, and there are desperate people who would do anything to earn a few quid. Nevertheless, the current regulations concerning quotas are crazy – as has been so eloquently highlighted by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and his Fish Fight.

So this week, when I was near the coast and I heard a fishermen claim that one sea-area was alive with haddock, I couldn’t help but take an interest. He put it like this: “There’s so many you could walk across the surface of the sea.”  He also told me: “My boat has a monthly quota for haddock – and we fill that quota in the first four hours of fishing every month.” After that he must seek other species which are either not under quota or where he has a shortfall in his capacity. In doing that, he cannot help but catch more haddock – which cannot be landed and have to be chucked back dead.
By-catch rules will change soon when a new network of red tape is cast out of the EU to tie our fishermen in knots. Many operators fear the new rules even more than existing ones, because they will be prevented from going out to sea the moment a quota is reached. No more hunting for other species. By-catch will become a thing of the past because Westcountry fishermen will be forced to sit on the quay twiddling their thumbs. Or forced out of business altogether. Which is why I am writing this. If there is one thing I love it is seafood – and I cannot believe it is beyond the wit of man to both care for, and harvest, the wealth of our seas.

Now imagine a middle-aged journalist borrowing a boat and rowing offshore to meet a trawler that was going about its lawful, but shamefully wasteful, business – chucking fresh, gleaming haddock back dead into the waves. Imagine the fishermen not noticing the journalist in the rowing boat and accidentally throwing the fish into an open box in its stern. Actually, imagine what you want – as long as you know no money changed hands. There were quite a few residents of one Exmoor valley who were most grateful that those fishermen were so casual when ditching dead fish. I ran out of haddock recipes. It was all very delicious and I was glad to be able to feed neighbours and my own family for free with nutritious food that was otherwise destined to pollute the sea. But this is not a jolly story.

None of what I’ve said above is in the least bit sustainable. The fishermen told me EU policymakers would be much happier in future if there were only a handful of giant super-trawlers fishing the seas because it would be so much easier to monitor who was catching what. That is the exact opposite of the way it should be, which is local fish for local people. It does, however, dovetail with the present situation which sees so many Westcountry fish being instantly exported.

We ought to be doing more to buy, eat and celebrate our fabulous local seafood. If an entire community loves something – if an entire region is passionate about some treasure it is blessed with – then that is the real route towards a sustainable future in which we all make sure that our natural wealth is nurtured and cared for.

Sourcecourtesy of: http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Martin-Hesp-fishy-going-natural-treasure-trove/story-26058008-detail/story.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#ixzz3SMHj1yzQ

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#FishyFriday finds French fishers on foot!

Enjoy the Google Translation - you get the drift!


Foot Fishing enthusiasts repossess the foreshore widely discovered by the tides. In Crozon peninsula (29), we followed two agents of Maritime Affairs for control operation. In two hours, fifty fishermen presented their baskets. Three minutes were written for undersized abalone. And the officers answered a lot of questions. 

Brittany yellow vigilance, risk of flooding in Finistere As we approach the peak Roscanvel, Olivier David and his colleague of coastal Unit Maritime Affairs - four agents in the Finistère - out of their car and sweep the strike with their binoculars. They did not come for nothing. The silhouettes on the rocks are numerous. "We regularly makes such controls. But the bulk of our business still remains the police fisheries with pros and Security pleasure. "

Bacteria on Saint-Jacques 

The first checks start. In a fairly relaxed atmosphere. "Hello sir, Maritime Affairs. You can see what you caught? ". The man runs with a smile. Certain to be within its rights. In his seal, six beautiful St. Jacques shells that were already salivating. "You're going to have to return them to the water. In the harbor, this species is contaminated with a dangerous toxin to health. Their fishing is prohibited here. " The man and his son who just Plonévez-Porzay (29), flabbergasted. "Tell it to the other fishermen approaching you," continued agents, aware that many, many people do not have access to that info. 

Further, a young man is too small monitor with abalone. He said he was not a regular in the strike and maintains that it did not know the legal size. "Give them to the water, ask her agents. You'll have more fun catching them in a few months. When they are bigger and they will be reproduced. " The controls are continuing. Speaking of abuse, a retired tells that rakes torque while. "I even started to water small abalone so they do not find it. They do not respect anything and did not even call the stones in place. They say it's Parisians stuff. "

This concept of resource conservation has yet a long way. As proof, the templates that some fishermen may have on them. Made by them - a single notch on a tool enough - or bought in maritime cooperatives. "Some are quite familiar with the regulations. They know that the text should be displayed in the town hall. " Others not, and do not seek to know. "Check winkles while you're there! 

" So regularly, after sorting the basket fishermen, agents demonstrate teaching by distributing a printed that lists the minimum sizes and quantities for many species. Sometimes too, they have to deal with irate people who make high. Like this woman verbalized feet in the sand and offers ironically controllers to check the winkles. "She is taken away. I found it was ten fifteen abalone which did not meet the minimum size, one of which was barely two inches instead of the nine required. She replied that she would sort it all home. They would have ended directly in the pan. " 

The report was sent to the administrator of Maritime Affairs, which proposes that before any prosecution, financial transactions wrongdoers fishermen. "It can go very far. Up to 1,500 € for the strongest abuse ". In the coming hours, the agents of Maritime Affairs will be very present on the coast. "We will be there throughout the weekend. And do it again for the great tides of March. " Then they resume their hunt for poachers true that act, band, especially at night. 

Another story © Le Télégramme - Plus d’information sur http://www.letelegramme.fr/bretagne/grandes-marees-vos-paniers-20-02-2015-10532144.php

It's the Safety Awareness course in Newlyn today.....

Risk assessment - "Le Kereon" Lighthouse - keeper relief.

Last days of a manned lighthouse - taking off the crew and their gear - in the days before someone in HR came up with the forms for 'risk assessment' - no life-jackets, hard hats or safety lines - all good until something goes wrong, or even worse two things go wrong - then you have a real problem and the blame starts.

Does not look like Le Kereon or Le Jumet lighthouse though? One for you Saffron ;-)

100 mile tow for beam trawler with fouled propeller.

High water on a big Spring tide in Newlyn...

means all the netters are back in port...

and riding high against the quay...

on their mooring ropes...

it's been a busy end of the week on the market...

with mostly beam trawl fish like...

nosey megrim soles...

by the hundreds of boxes...

and a good shot of ray or 'roker' as the Milford boys call them from the Sapphire II...

plus  a few dozen scallops...

and a shot of hake form the Britannia V...

some of the beamers just love those cuttles...

and so do some of the merchants...

with an insatiable market for the sepia beasts...

they get whisked away to be sorted and packed in ice...

there's a few of those JDs about though this time the WSS' trip was cut short...

with the problem all too obvious for anyone on the quay...

as the boat is seen here being towed into Newlyn after a 100 mile tow behind the Twilight now making her way to a drying out berth so the net can be cut free form the propeller.

GET ON BOARD WITH #CATCHOFTHEDAY!

Members of the UK fishing industry are being encouraged to get on board with a forthcoming campaign designed to champion the diversity and sustainability of many species landed by the UK fishing fleet in a week-long Twitter campaign set to take place in March.

Tony Delahunty, Chairman of The NFFO with Warren Jones

The initiative, dubbed #CatchofTheDay, is being launched by the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO), the body which represents fishermen’s groups, individual fishermen and producer organisations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Running from Monday 16 March until Friday 20 March 2015, the campaign will encourage people to share photos and videos which either represent their involvement in the industry or celebrate the fantastic variety of sustainable fish now available to UK consumers.

Throughout the week members of the UK fishing industry – including fishermen, retailers and processors – as well as chefs, restaurateurs and members of the public will be encouraged to share their love of sustainable fish through photos or videos using the hashtag #CatchofTheDay.

For chefs and restaurants it could be an opportunity to showcase their best fish dish, or for fishermen and producer organisations the chance to show an example of a ‘great British catch’. The Federation is urging people to tweet now with the hashtag #CatchofTheDay in preparation of the week and spread word of the event.

Tony Delahunty, Chairman of the NFFO said: “The idea behind #CatchofTheDay is to give individuals the opportunity to recognise the fishing industry and its contribution to UK life through one simple tweet. We hope it will be a fun way of getting across a serious message not only about the importance of the industry in providing a healthy, sustainable food source to a growing population, but also its inherent commitment to ensuring its future through sustainable methods.”

Over half (52%) of people in the UK now eat seafood at least once a week and in 2013, 624,000 tonnes of fish were landed in the UK, generating a £718m economic contribution from the industry.

This initiative is being launched as part of the NFFO’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the growing variety of sustainable species in UK waters and the important strides which have been made by the industry, particularly in the last 10 years, to improve gear and catch methods to in turn boost stock levels. According to the latest ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea), there has been a 50% reduction in fishing pressure across all commercial stocks in the North Atlantic since 2000.

To get involved in #CatchofTheDay, tweet your photos with the hashtag during the week 16-20 March.

Sea to Plate - the haddock way.

Sea to Plate from Beard Askew Productions on Vimeo.

The journey of a North Sea Haddock from the sea to our plate needn’t be a complicated one! In fact it shouldn’t take more than 24 hours.

The Scottish White Fish Producers Association (SWFPA) wanted to explain how an MSC certified Scottish Haddock is caught, handled, landed, sold at market, processed, delivered and sold to eat all with in 24 hours. Caulm Richardson, owner of The Bay, Stonehaven, believes that shops need to act responsibly and provide customers with not only as much fresh produce as possible, but also educate customers to the provenance of the food we eat.

This is exactly what the people that feature in the series believe.

Peter Bruce has been going to sea for more than 30 years. He is the skipper of the Budding Rose, a pair trawler in the North Sea. We spoke to Peter immediately after he landed 400 boxes of MSC sustainable haddock and he explained his part of the process.

Danny Couper Jnr is a second-generation fish merchant. His father Danny Snr started Couper Seafoods and his son Jaime is now working for the business. Danny explains the role of the buyer and processor in the journey of a North Sea haddock.

Calum Richardson owns The Bay Fish and Chips, Stonehaven, which is currently the Independent Fish and Chips Shop of the Year 2013! So he knows a thing or two about cooking haddock. He is also a big supporter of sustainable fishing. Calum tells us how important sourcing the best fish possible is, and how vital it is to support our local fishing communities.

Storming start!

Photos courtesy of the Ajax

Karen of Ladram dodges in bad weather over 150 miles west of Land's End on her maiden trip from Nelwyn as a hake netter. She landed over 400 boxes on both Newlyn and Brixham fish markets on Monday this week. prices were poor.