Margaret of Ladram's first Monday morning sale in Newlyn.

Big boats with big trips...

plenty of hands-on work for the shore staff this morning...

a kind of fairy story trip for the St Georges who seemed to have found herself right amongst the witches...

and a handful of langoustine while...

the new kid on the block, the Margaret of Ladram put ashore lemons...

plaice, megrims...

and monk...

a good time of year for conger full of 'chittlins'...

St Pierre had bigger thumbs for some fish...

compared to others it seems...

making Nelwyn the best fish market in the UK to supply these cracking fish...

while the few punt men who were at sea over the weekend...

managed a handful of bass...

even the inshore trawler Shiralee pickede up a few on the grounds...

now you see them or do you...

the Govenek of Ladram finished off the other end of the market with a big trip of hake - don't forget the next episode of The Catch goes North across the border tonight...

the Emma was one of the few boats at sea last night as a gale swept through the Western Approaches.

Latest boat to join the Newlyn fleet - Margaret of Ladram

After completing a shakedown trip in the Western Approaches south of Brixham...

and berthing on the end of the New Quay...

one of the biggest most powerful beam trawlers in the UK fleet, the Margaret of Ladram...

with a huge working deck area...

fully shelterdecked stern...

has joined the fleet in Newlyn...

with a set of beam trawls to match her size and power.

Indian Summer

A gathering of gulls at the mouth of the Coombe River, Tolcarne...

all set for her first trip after her summer refit...

fine morning for one of the Scillonian's last season voyages to the Scillys...

a kick ahead and a cuppa...

time to ready the bow rope...

and another gets a kick ahead...

Nelwyn lines...

don't let the grass grow under your feet, or on your deck...

fishing boat Girl Stella for sale...

and some gear...

a few more nets go aboard the Ajax at high water...

is that another carpenter from Galilee...

scarfs in some frame ends...

as the Karen of Ladram starts another trip on the hake...

steady as she goes.

Forgot it's #FishyFriday?

Two boats and over two hundred boxes make up this week's #Fishyfriday offering...

these lemons making good money on a relatively quiet market thanks to the huge tides this week...

squid in excellent condition like these with their thin brown film still in place always make good money... 

while these lean, long ling make excellent fish cakes or fish pie big flaky flesh ideal for a fish stew or soup too...

top table fish of the day...

 have to be these big bass from Capn' Cod...

though John Dory are a great but very different eat - sweet delicate flesh...

all hail the hake as Phil would say. though these fish are ones for the history books, the first to be landed by relief skipper Edwards taking the Karen for a spin...

mackerel are still keeping the small punts in the money...

on quiet calm morning...

though looking at the deck of the Admiral Benbow...

there's more than a day's work to get her fishing gear assembled... 

as the punts head for the gaps in the morning gloom...

Tome= keeps an eye on the fleet...

as the sun makes a break from behind the Mount...

the big moon...

is still hanging in the sky.

EU and Africa to build fishing future on foundation of collaboration and transparency.

The Long Distance Advisory Council (LDAC) shares recommendations on IUU fishing, sustainability of fish stocks and fishing activities, regional governance initiatives, and defense of workers rights. The release of this extensive set of recommendations follows a wide-ranging international conference on the implementation of the ‘external dimension’ of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), with a special focus on Africa.

The 16th and 17th of September saw some 150 delegates from 14 different countries descend upon Las Palmas, in Gran Canaria (Spain), brought together by the LDAC to discuss the challenges and opportunities provided by the ‘external dimension’ of the newly reformed CFP. Viewing the policy as a potential ‘driver for positive change’, delegates and speakers debated how the external dimension may enhance collaboration between EU and African countries.

The event featured dynamic panel discussions around topics such as fisheries investments in third countries and the fight against IUU fishing, and offered industry, NGOs and policy makers the chance to share perspectives on how sound fisheries management can be achieved outside EU waters, while enhancing development of African economies and communities.

Stefaan Depypere, Director of International Affairs and Markets at DG MARE, and current Chair of ICCAT, commented: ‘This is a unique forum where you hear everything from different angles – a particular issue may be commented on by people with opposing views, and from the confrontation of these views you have a good synthesis of what really matters to the various parties. This is essential for us to know how to balance our intervention, [and] how to steer the policy, which is very useful.’

With a view to feeding directly into policy, at the conclusion of two days of in-depth discussion LDAC steering group members worked collaboratively with delegates to pull together a list of concrete recommendations which can be downloaded here: http://ldac.chil.me/LDAC-EDCFPCONFERENCE2015

These recommendations will form the backbone of LDAC’s work in advocating for an effective and meaningful implementation of the CFP external dimension, which will improve the lives of coastal communities in Africa, as well as offering opportunities to European economic interests in the region. The recommendations are broken into two key themes:

1) Harmonisation of the conditions of access for foreign fleets to African waters to fish tuna, small pelagic and demersal species, with a view to establishing favourable conditions for fishermen operating responsibly and sustainably.

2) Improving scientific knowledge, and quality of data, and promoting the international governance of maritime fishing.

The detailed recommendation points are made under over-arching general points of agreement – including that the essence of the partnership between African countries and the EU should be the joint promotion of sustainable environmental, social and economic development based on transparency and the participation of non-governmental stakeholders, especially the professionals who depend on fishing for their livelihood.

Alexandre Rodriguez, Executive Secretary of the LDAC, concluded: ‘The aim of this event was to bring together representatives from the whole spectrum of European and African fisheries stakeholders: from big fishing operators to small fishing communities, women’s networks, and environmental and development NGOs. We believe that we have achieved this goal and we were proud to see so many delegates contributing to the discussions and engaging enthusiastically in constructive dialogue with policy makers. This collaboration strengthens the value of the recommendations we have produced as and EU advisory body. Transparency between stakeholders is essential to inform policy decisions and take effective, positive, and collaborative steps to improve the management and understanding of fisheries in Africa.’

Download a full set of resources from the event - and view archive footage of all panel sessions - here: http://ldac.chil.me/LDAC-EDCFPCONFERENCE2015

Follow LDAC and view event social media on: @LDAC_EU / #CFPED

For more information, images or quotes, please contact: Katrina Borrow, Communications Manager at Mindfully Wired Communications – Katrina@mindfullywired.org

Working with Fishermen to Prevent Seabird Bycatch

Working with Fishers to Prevent Seabird Bycatch, Filey Bay & Bempton Cliffs, North Yorkshire.

In the summer months, Filey Bay is home to thousands of breeding seabirds, a wildlife spectacle enjoyed by many visitors. It is also the location of a sea trout and salmon gillnet fishery. Interactions which occur between the seabirds and fishing gear can result in bycatch as seabirds accidentally become tangled in the nets and drown, if they are not released quickly. 

RSPB have been working with the Filey netsmen, the Environment Agency and Natural England to mitigate the bycatch problem. Hear from Rory Crawford and Rex Harrison about the successes of this collaborative project, developing long-term sustainable solutions to the bycatch problem at Bempton Cliffs, that can be applied worldwide. 

Find out more about this project, and the work of RSPB here: www.rspb.org.uk