Through the Gaps! - Newlyn Fishing News Cornwall UK fish commercial fishing fish cooking and art

Friday 6 March 2015

Another view, this time from the wheelhouse

Yesterday morning, Radio Cornwall's Breakfast Show painted a glowing picture of the fishing industry in the land of St Piran to celebrate the saint's day.

Although only one boat had landed fish on the market that morning there was plenty to talk about with some of the key people who make a living from fish - whether it be from market manager Lionel Washer keeping a watchful eye on sorting and grading them, auctioning them in the case of Ian Oliver, acting as fish merchants like Rob Wing and Ian Greet from Falfish or even catching them in the case of CFPO's Andy Wheeler and Nathan de Rozarieux. The fishing industry seemed to be basking glow of the early morning light as captured by Through the Gaps that morning.

Listen to what they all had to say here:

Not too many miles away at the wheel of his 33ft inshore trawler, Celestial Dawn, skipper Peter Green was listening to the show while steaming out of St Mawes to the trawling ground in Falmouth Bay.

Peter Green and The Celestial Dawn UL2

Peter can trace his family back to Tudor times; almost all his ancestors have fished for a living. Although it bears a Scottish registration (UL), The Celestial Dawn was built in Cornwall in 1989.

From Peter's not-so-comfy chair in the wheelhouse of his tiny inshore boat the industry being discussed seemed a million miles away from the one he is experiencing at present despite enjoying the same sun's rosy-glow as he headed out to open water from Carrick Roads. With a new plaice quota of 100Kg for the month Peter was seething - he is currently catching that amount with almost every haul.

Listen to extracts from Laurence Reid's show later in the day as local fish merchant Rob Wing who takes fish from Peter's boat gives a slightly more realistic view of the industry and then a few words from Peter himself as he tows over the trawling ground in Falmouth Bay.

Listen here:

Are there really plenty more fish in the sea? a lecture at Plymouth University Marine Institute

Check out one of feeds from the talk last night:

Tweets by @ADJinman

University of Plymouth Mritime Studies held a conference last night with the working title:

Are there really plenty more fish in the sea?

We commonly use the phrase “don’t worry, there are plenty more fish in the sea” but with global issues such as overfishing, pollution and climate change impacting our oceans, how true is this statement?

You are invited to this latest Marine Institute public event to find out more. The event will provide an overview of how our seas and the fish populations within them have changed, assess the status of the world’s sharks and demonstrate what the SW fishing industry is doing nowadays to make a difference.

What's happening to our seas and what can we do?

Professor Martin Attrill, Director of Plymouth University Marine Institute

Professor Martin Attrill is a marine ecologist and Director of Plymouth University’s Marine Institute. His research interests focus on marine biodiversity patterns in time and space and how human activities can impact those patterns, and he has worked on fish and invertebrates in diverse habitats such estuaries, seagrass beds, coral reefs and the open ocean. He is currently particularly interested in the ecological and socio-economic impacts on the marine environment of Marine Protected Areas and Renewable Energy.

British wild seafood – responsibly and sustainably caught?... you decide!

Andrew Pillar, Fleet Manager, Interfish Ltd, Plymouth

Andrew Pillar has 15 years’ experience within the UK fishing industry, managing pelagic and demersal fisheries (oily fish and white fish). Andrew has managed demersal fisheries around Devon, Cornwall and the English Channel and pelagic fisheries across Europe and international waters. His areas of experience and expertise lie in fisheries and sustainability advice to UK retail clients, sustainability advice to international seafood brands, marine conservation (including advising the Marine Conservation Society) and he is a member of SEAFISH Pelagic Advisory Board.

Contact the Events Team for further information (tel: 01752 586005 / events@plymouth.ac.uk)

Thursday 5 March 2015

Kernow bys vyken! Happy St Piran's Day! and #EatMoreFish !

from sunny Newlyn...

where the lights are on the prom...

and the sun about to put in an appearance...

as Pam Spriggs and James Churchfiled from Radio Cornwall's Breakfast programme celebrate St Piran's day on the fish market here talking to top auctioneer Ian Oliver...

in the saffron bun-laden hands of Cornwall Food and Drink saying @ChooseCornish with...

fish merchant and Newlyn Harbour Commissioner, Rob Wing takes the opportunity to celebrate the port's position as the home of the finest fresh fish...

clock-watching, like a scene from Alice in Wonderland, James gets to cue in the seven o'clock news on time......

while right on cue the overhead air traffic carves a huge St Piran's Day cross in the sky...

as the sun breaks out over the horizon...

allowing a few tubs of Cornish Sardines about to wing their way to Falmouth for processing...

the harbour is almost empty of boats...

though out in the Bay a handful of handliners are working a shoal of mackerel near the Mount...

in Penzance Town the stage is set for a whole range of festivities starting with 600 children dancing the Penzance Furry Dance down Causewayhead before all hands make their way to Morrab Gardens for a huge rendition of Trelawney!

St Piran's Day in Newlyn

Wednesday 4 March 2015

Gear before beer.

Just the one boat this morning.

Now you see him...

now you don't, while Seafish Gus gets off a pic of the market all done and dusted by 7am - over 100 boxes of megs from the St Georges made good money this morning...