Brexit - things are not looking so good for our UK fishing industry.

During #PMQs today the Prime Minister re-affirmed the government's intention to remain in the CFP during any transition period...

which then prompted the question as to what or when exactly is the 'transition period'

with some fearful that this may be the answer!

Fishing news have just posted a more in-depth piece on the matter which includes a robust response from the Fishing for Leave camp:

FFL: ‘Fishing must not be included’

FFL said Theresa May’s proposals amounted to seeing the status quo re-badged for an unspecified ‘transitional’ period. “It leaves Britain wide open to being in the same position in two years as now, trapped in purgatory.”

It said that Mr Barnier had made it ‘crystal clear’ that during any transitional period, the UK would still be in the EU in all but name, and would have to have to abide by the acquis (all EU law).

“By appealing for a transitional agreement that is only in the EU’s power to gift, the government has blown itself wide open, instead of being able to walk away under the premise of ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’, said FFL.

“The EU can now demand blind obedience to anything it wants – including a continuation of the CFP and continued access to Britain’s rich fishing grounds.

“Usually, in a negotiation, you only concede for something in return… we have conceded everything to get more of the same! This speech marks the start of Britain’s fishing and coastal communities being sacrificed again.

“No one voted for a transition period. This is just a way to kick the can down the road till the next election.”

FFL claimed the transition proposal showed that the ‘establishment’ wants to negate Brexit at all costs.

“In having to agree to a continuation of all EU law in order to get a transition, areas like fishing will be thrown to the wolves. This will suit those running the federations who never wanted or campaigned for Brexit and are only advocating keeping the status quo.”

FFL claims UK waters will be partitioned into an exclusive 12-mile zone for an under-10m ‘cottage industry/marine park’, to buy off the smaller vessels, appease the green NGOs and spin ‘Brexit means Brexit’. But outside 12 miles it will be ‘business as usual’ under a never-ending transition deal.

“The EU will keep its shares, and quotas will be kept, with a discard ban enforced. Choke species will force out the majority, and family businesses, and continue consolidation into the few hands running the federations.

“It is now vital that the government disproves the above assertion by categorically stating that fishing will not be part of this transitional arrangement,” said FFL.

FFL called on all fishermen to see the reality of what is happening and join its campaign for a clean break with the CFP.

“Fishing for Leave welcomes them to support our campaign for the implementation of replacement policy for all fishermen to prosper, to ensure an unequivocal clean break.

“The assertion that ‘only worry about getting our waters back and worry about policy later’ is playing right into the government’s hands of keeping the status quo, and will see this wonderful opportunity annihilated along with what’s left of the industry.

“We seriously hope that in time we will not be proved correct, as our predecessor FAL was in the 1990s.”

Full story from the Fishing News here:

Don't treat fishing in isolation.

HOW MICHAEL GOVE’S PROPOSAL COULD GIVE US LESS CONTROL OF FISHERIES, NOT MORE.

Theresa May’s speech on Brexit has created a scramble amongst British politicians and European leaders – that’s the Florence speech, not the coughing conference speech. The proposal of a two-year transitional period to help soften the bumpy ride ahead has been met with mixed reviews, even amongst the Cabinet. Today, Michael Gove, Secretary of State for the environment, has demanded that fisheries is removed from any transition deal, opting for a ‘hard break’ in 2019.

It is unclear at this point how the divisions within the Cabinet will resolve themselves, or even if there will be a transition deal at all. What is clear, however, is that attempting to remove a single issue from the Brexit negotiations is only superficially appealing and is based on a series of misunderstandings about the breadth of fisheries policy and the forces acting upon it.

By attempting to remove fisheries from a transition deal, Michael Gove is taking the stance that fisheries should be managed ‘our way’ at the earliest possible opportunity. This is much too simplistic as for better or worse, the UK is not able to simply step away and fully control the impacts on mobile fish stocks. From a policy perspective, it may even be the case that the UK would have less control through this isolated approach. The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations commented that “The problem is that when we leave the EU we will not be part of the decision-making process that sets annual quotas. It would be a case of ‘get what you’re given’ and that can’t work for fishing.”

Gove’s position is also based on a misunderstanding around how fisheries is likely to be linked to other issues, most notable access to, or membership of, the Single Market. The EU has made it clear in their communications that there will be no separating of access to fishing waters and access to markets for fish products. For the EU, this whole discussion is not a moot point.

The importance of market access cannot be overstated, so the EU position is certainly cause for concern. Currently more UK-caught fish is sold in the EU market than in the UK itself. For the fishing industry, especially the often forgotten processors and wholesalers in the supply chain, fishing must absolutely be a part of these negotiations.

By focusing on removing the UK from the Common Fisheries Policy, Gove is not only ignoring the importance of tariffs to UK fisheries, but a whole host of other issues. Immigration is a significant issue in fisheries, especially in the processing sector, and as a perishable product, decisions made around port inspections could potentially cripple UK fish exports to the EU. Simply put, a single policy area cannot be plucked out and dealt with in isolation, especially not one as complex and integrated as fisheries policy.

It would also be unwise to unravel fisheries policy at the earliest possible opportunity, even if we could. Figuring out how fisheries policy in the UK could or should be governed post-Brexit is still in the early stages. There are also issues with key policy dates when the two-year deadline for Article 50 expires. Many fish stocks are now growing in size and the Common Fisheries Policy has a hard deadline to end overfishing by 2020. Stepping out now, especially with nostalgic motivations for times past of severe overfishing, is dangerous and irresponsible. Similar deadlines are on the horizon for the end of fish ‘discarding’ and the end of the EU subsidy fund.

Cabinet ministers are keen to be seen as securing a good standing for their portfolios in the Brexit negotiations. Attempting to remove an issue from the broader negotiations and deals is not the way forward. In areas of deep and necessary collaboration this is simple a concession of power, not a gain.

Full story courtesy of Griffin Carpenter writing at the New Economics Foundation

Captured on canvas, art, Newlyn and fish make a compelling combination.

With the refurbishment well under way, enter ye all who dare, the western end of the market is now in regular use...

with a mid-week market of mixed fish from the punts, inshore and beam trawl boats sure to make good money as gales hit the north western waters of the ~UK over the next 36 hours...

so premium fish like this 8kg turbot will make well over £100...

and bass, which since the MLS (minimum landing size) has been increased they have seen a substantial price hike......

one cod, one ling staying close...

the stacks of grey boxes tell their own story, two trips of plaice from the beam trawlers...

another fish auction image, the paint is still wet on this canvas tough, local artist Henrietta Graham who has a studio behind Trelawney Fish has just completed this fish auction study - her and partner Tim run Cornwall Painting Holidays between them and specialise in portrait and marine painting for beginners to experts...

mean the the buyers are busy taking down prices as they work through the trips...

some of the bigger plaice...

the inshore boats all made the most of the fine start to the week...

including the new kid on the block...

that's whole lot of plaice you got there Don...

these boots were made for working...

some of the handliners touched on a few mackerel...

and bass...

while the two beam trawlers filled their boots again with cuttles...

Tom snuck in the odd monk tail...

Mark always lets the buyers now when his fish were landed...

a mixed bag...

another piece of seabed scrap is brought ashore for recycling...

a workboat with a seriously big working deck...

today is day 6 of Seafood Week and these guys all catch the recommended fish of the day, Cornish Sardines nee pilchards.

Infographics and more: Pulse Fishing

The makers of the infographic on Pulse Fishing have very kindly pointed out that there is an English version! Many thanks to the guys @MinistiereEZ

this is an excellent insight into the highly controversial method of fishing whiuch has prompted Bloom Associates to file a complaint against the Netherlands!

Gyotaku - the ancient Japanese art of printing direct from fish.

Fisherman, artist, escapologist and general all-round-talented-guy, Simon Bradley seen here with his adopted herring gull pal...

and TV celebrity Derek, perched on the bow of his punt Stargazy Pie as they steam away from Cadgwith where Simon is based 

in his Porthole Studio...

and currently fishing for cuttlefish, with the occasional octopus thrown in...

it seems the ink from cuttles covers every surface in the boat!..

Simon has been experimenting over the last few years practicing Gyotaku, the ancient Japanese art of printing on heavy paper directly from fish...

like the octopus featured above...

Watch the video to see how cuttlefish change the apperance of their outer body to match that of the seabed!

which was caught whilst Simon was using his GoPro to film fishing cuttlefish using a squid lure off the Lizard.  If you didn't know, Cuttlefish make a superb alternative (and cheaper) to squid and can be used substituted into nearly every kind of dish that uses squid - as Cornwall's very own, Nathan Outlaw will testify in this recipe and article on the ubiquitous cuttle - it comes complete with its own sauce (the sepia ink sac)...

here is one classic Sicilian dish that has featured on the blog before but is a very simple dish with which to try.  Ask your local fishmonger to see if they can order some Cornish cuttles while the season is in full swing!  In Newlyn you could order from Stevenson's Fish shop, Fresh Cornish Fish or Mousehole Fish in Penzance.

Newlyn, at its best in the light of an autumnal Monday evening.

As the sun goes down behind the village, the Scottish trawler Vision III is busy with her stern against the quay taking on new gear...

tour round the Vision III

as the Cornish sardine fleet spread out across Mounts Bay looking for fish...

at high water...

the net boats all took ice today ready to sail late tonight or early tomorrow morning...

the Maverick in the fleet is nearly ready for her first trip line fishing for pollack...

while over on the fish market, the landscape gardeners are about to arrive to dismantle the lush growth on the market's environmentally friendly roof - luckily this is before Cornwall Wildlife Trust get wind of the move and start protesting about the number of unknown or endangered species that have made their home there over the years...

and, just as a precaution, a huge net has been erected to catch any escaping beasts if they decide to make a bid for freedom...

meanwhile, down the quay work continues to get the Vision III back to sea...

good to see Padstow's dredger, Malin visiting the port again...

time to measure the chain lower bridles.

Master and vessel owner found guilty of fishing offences in case brought by Marine Management Organisation (MMO)

Kenneth Savels, master of Belgian beam trawler Van Eyck (Z53) and owner Irina NV (represented by Steven Savels) were sentenced at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on 26 September 2017 in a prosecution brought by the MMO.

The court heard how the defendants had failed to maintain an accurate logbook by incorrectly recording the area of capture for sole and plaice on several trips in 2015.

On 7 May 2015 the Van Eyck was boarded by MMO officers on a joint patrol with the Isle of Man Fisheries Department in Welsh waters. A diary was found containing details of 12 fishing trips in 2015. The recordings for three of these trips did not corroborate recordings in the logbook.

Both entered not guilty pleas but were found guilty by the judge. Irina NV was ordered to pay a £27,000 fine, £9,115 costs and a £120 victim surcharge. Kenneth Savels was ordered to pay a fine of £3,000 and a £120 victim surcharge.

In sentencing, the judge said:

Taking together all of the evidence for all of the trips, I am satisfied that there are no credible or plausible explanations for the existence of the diary or the inconsistencies between the diary and the log. On each contentious trip there is a clear incentive to misrecord.

A spokesperson for the MMO said:

The court in this case considered these offences to be serious in nature and imposed significant penalties, which recognises the scale of offending that took place in failing to record logbook information correctly.

In these cases the MMO will always take the appropriate action, including prosecution, to ensure offenders do not profit from such illegal activity and to protect fish stocks for the wider fishing industry and future generations.