Mid-week market in Newlyn

Hake form the netter Ajax...

along with the Govenek of Ladram filled much of the market this morning...

gurnard - from grey to not-so-grey to red...

plenty of big haddock with the netters this tide...

while the beamer, Aaltje Adriaante managed a few bass...

and a good few ray and gurnard...

a solitary conger...

and a handful of witches...

to go with the turbot...

and tub gurnards - fantastic value for the flavour they have...

while suitably attired in woolly hats, staff from Falfish get the low-down on red mullet from Nathan...

just the one big monk tail this morning from the Trevssa IV...

and a handful of huge squid...

showing off a dorsal spur from where the fish gets its name...

a bevvy of big thornbacks...

and boxes of tubs for the Trevessa IV...

young James was busy bidding for the Ajax's hake...

while the Govenek's finest were waiting to be auctioned...

Girl Pamela, all set to sail after picking up fresh bait...

over on the sleep, Rowse's latest addition to the fleet...

is having under the waterline maintenance and alterations ahead of her fitting out...

she is typical in construction of many...

'hard chine' boats.

November's free Hook & Net issue is out now.

After years of stagnation, this months free Hook & Net celebrates the rising number of new builds for the fishing industry.

There's a fee online app for Apple or Android  that allows you to download your free copy of hook & Net to your phone or table for easy reading anytime.

Monday morning in Newlyn

For those driving along the seafront to Newlyn, Penzance Dry Dock company are doing their bit for the town's Xmas spirit...

a big trip of hake form the Karen of Ladram filled the market this morning...

big eyes...

and short, but razor-sharp teeth give hake their fearsome countenance...

and need to be handled with care...

cracking inshore pollack...

here's a name from the past, Suttons were one of the big fish companies locally, specialising in ray and mackerel...

with their distinctive cardboard boxes used to ship fresh mackerel...

the Cornishman was the only beam trawler to have fish on the market this morning with a big trip of megrim sole...

and monk tails...

tub gurnards showing off their flat belly that allow them to feed so close to the bottom and 'walk' on their modified pectoral fins...

guess the fish by its mouth...

just the odd red mullet from the Imogen III

as Sid on the Karen of Ladram seems to have stolen all of young Roger's JDs!...

but not his squid...

or bream...

ray wings are meaty when cut like steaks...

sometimes in the excitement of bidding for fish you just lose your footing...

but its good to know there's a helping hand ready for you when it comes to getting up...

some nice big flats came the Imogen's  way...

two of the ports best bass men were in action over the weekend again...

as Roger slips away with another haul of fish...

it is time for the Padstow netter, Charisma to take ice...

all tubbed up in the rain...

another couple of tons of ice flow aboard the netter...

the Intuition back in port after her latest trip...

as the Co-op stocks arrive.

Saturday morning

Most of the fleet are at sea. An hours worth of activity in Newlyn harbour as heavy storm clouds pass over Mounts Bay.

CFPO's response the the Environmental Rural Affairs Committee

Here is the CFPO's response the the meeting held in the House of Commons on November 15th, 2017.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee holds its first evidence session for its fisheries inquiry. The aim of the session is to highlight the main challenges and opportunities for UK fisheries after withdrawal from the EU.

• Watch Parliament TV: Fisheries
• Inquiry: Fisheries
• Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Wednesday 15 November 2017, Committee Room 8, Palace of Westminster

At 9.30am

Witnesses

• Bertie Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation
• Mike Cohen, Chairman, The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations
• Dr Bryce Beukers-Stewart, Lecturer, Environment Department, University of York

Purpose of the session

In this session, a panel representing the UK Fishing Industry will address key opportunities and challenges for the industry following the Government’s announcement on 2 July 2017 that it will be withdrawing from the Common Fisheries Policy (CPF) and the announcement of a Fisheries White Paper and Bill. 

The next fisheries meeting is next week - one for the diary!

You can watch it live online here:

Wednesday 29 November 2017 at 9.30 am, Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster

The Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee holds its second evidence session on Fisheries. Watch it online at Parliament TV.

Witnesses:

At 9.30 am ?Helen McLachlan, Programme Manager, Fisheries Governance, WWF UK ?Dr Thomas Appleby, University of West England ?Dr Steven Mackinson, Chief Scientific Officer, Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association ?Erin Priddle, UK Fisheries Manager, EDF

At 10.30 am ?Griffin Carpenter, Senior Researcher, New Economics Foundation ?Professor Richard Barnes, University of Hull ?Aaron Brown, Fishing for Leave ?Jim Portus, CEO, South West Fishermen's Producer Organisation

2018 Fishing News Awards - new Sustainability Award nomination!

CFPO's Phil Trebilcock (left) holding the coveted MSC Certified Cornish Hake symbol over the first ever landing of certified hake from Ajax skipper, Alan Dwan.

Skipper of the "Ajax" Alan Dwan is being nominated for the newly created, Sustainability category in this year's Fishing News awards.

Alan's dedicated work using increased mesh sizes, less gear and shorter trips together with eleven other Cornish hake netters eventually bore fruit with the coveted MSC Certified Cornish Hake awarded in February, 2016, "Obtaining MSC certification has been a lengthy and rigorous process but we're very proud to have finally achieved it," said Alan Dwan, skipper of the Ajax. "This is great news for the hake catching fleet but also for the wider Cornish industry and hopefully will help to bring more Cornish seafood into the spotlight."

The significance of Alan's and many other Cornish fishermen's efforts in creating a demand for Cornish fish cannot be emphasized enough - to put things into perspective, ten years ago, 80% of hake bought by one major Cornish company was exported straight to Spain - today, 80% of hake is sold by the same company into UK markets. MSC Certified hake along with Line Caught bass, mackerel and pollack all significantly improve the market share of Cornish fish.
Please take a minute to add your nomination for him here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/JCXN2JF 

The 2018 Fishing News Awards themselves will be held in Aberdeen on the evening of Thursday 24th May 2018.

The event is dedicated to shining a spotlight on achievements, expertise and innovation from within the UK and Ireland’s commercial fishing industries during 2017.

David Linkie, Editor, Fishing News: “Last year’s successful Fishing News Awards illustrated the industry’s tremendous support for its members, and celebrated the achievements of an enterprise whose strength is so much more than the sum of its parts. We are delighted to be able to recognise and reward the individuals and organisations whose achievements in their respective fields do so much for commercial fishing.

“I am pleased to announce two new categories for the 2018 Awards. The Sustainability Awards, sponsored by The Fishmongers Company, will recognise outstanding innovation and achievement in improving sustainability and environmental responsibility within the UK or Irish fishing industries. The introduction of a Trainee of the Year category, sponsored by Sunderland Marine, reflects the importance of encouraging new entrants into the industry. This award will acknowledge both trainees’ academic and personal achievements.

Ultimately The ‘Fishing News Awards’ is very much a team effort, in which everyone has an important role to play in supporting the industry by putting forward their nominations in the various award categories.”

The Nomination Process
We are now open to receive your nominations, through to midnight on Tuesday, 13th February 2018. We cannot accept further nominations beyond this point.

Demersal Fisherman of the Year	Sustainability Award
Pelagic Fisherman of the Year	Fishing Port of the Year
Shellfish Fisherman of the Year	New Boat of the Year
Fish Processor of the Year	Trainee Fisherman of the Year
Indep. Fresh Fish Retailer of the Year	Young Fisherman of the Year
Technical Innovation of the Year	Lifetime Achievement Award
Coastal Fish Restaurant of the Year

To go straight to the nomination forms, click here
To see last year’s winners, click here

Fishing prize draw!

Over the autumn of 2017, Cornwall Rural Community Charity will carry out a survey of the UK’s fishing community. This work is supported by the trustees of Seafarers UK and its partners; including The Fishermen’s Mission.

The aim of the survey is to enhance understanding of the lives of those involved in fishing in the UK and to identify the type of support that would most benefit the lives and wellbeing of fishermen and their families.

We want to hear your views and appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey; either; online on a PC, tablet or phone; or by paper copy. We will also be holding detailed telephone interviews, so please leave your contact details if you are willing for us to discuss your responses further with you. Please note: This is a confidential survey and we will not share your answers or contact details, with anyone else.

NB: For ease of use, the survey uses the term “fishermen” – this includes everyone that is involved in the fishing industry, equally.

PRIZE DRAW
WIN!!
£200 Gael Force Voucher

Every completed survey will be entered into a prize draw to win £200 Gael Force voucher. Please provide your contact details in order to be entered. These will NOT be shared with any third party and your responses will remain completely anonymous.

To complete the survey online, please use the following link; www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/fishing17. Please return any completed paper copies to:
Seafarers UK Survey
Freepost RSAH-SJCY-SGLL,
Cornwall Rural Community Charity,
2 Princes Street,
Truro,
TR1 2ES

The survey
Please tick throughout all questions which apply to you and feel free to make any comments.