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Sunday, 3 December 2017

Spiced monkfish Galton

Christmas is coming and what better way to celebrate than by ensuring you get the very best out of our Great British Seafood by hinting that you want this excellent new fish cook book from Galton Blackiston...


and when the first thing you see is a quote from the Father of Fish you know it's going to be a worthy fish cook book!




The proof of the pudding is in the eating so what better way to review the book than by giving a recipes a go using one of our most abundantly landed fish...



 from the market in Newlyn - a whole monkfish tail.



To go with with the spiced Cornish monkfish is a big aromatic saffron-yellow rice ...



the rice that gets a few extra ingredients...



to give it that extra sweetness and distinctive colour...



while the whole monk tail first needs coating in a Rasel el hanout spice (which is a great Moroccan spice that can be bought readymade) and browning quickly in a pan...



before roasting in a hot oven...



and serving coated with a simple but hugely tasty curry sauce - just blend mushroom, shallots, butter and cream.  This is just one dish from the Spicy section of the book that adds that extra zing to every dish. if you like your shellfish dishes then this book will keep you in good company for dishes that celebrate crab, prawns, scallops, lobster and langoustine!

The book has a neat transparent book jacket that doubles as handy book marks. Inside, over 90 clearly explained recipes are divided up by the kind of meal you might want to serve, Quick, Small Plates, Stress-Free, Mains and so on - with an excellent Basics section, at the back, every dish is referenced by the main ingredient in the index. John Scott Blackwell's photos capture each and every dish as they would appear on the table.

Hook Line Sinker – is a seafood cookbook by Galton Blackiston published by FacePublications.com

Galton Blackiston runs the Michelin-starred Morston Hall hotel and restaurant on the Norfolk coast, and recently opened No1 Cromer, a modern take on the traditional fish and chip restaurant.

Galton is a familiar face to UK food lovers from his regular appearances on the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, and as a finalist on Great British Menu.

Galton Blackiston says: “Seafood is one of the last truly wild sources of food on the planet. Even though fishing methods have changed dramatically, fish are still wild, living in their natural habitat, and are free to swim where they want and feed how they want. I’m as enthusiastic about it today as I was as a child when I used to go shrimping and catching mackerel.”

The book is a collaboration with Leeds-based specialist publisher Face Publications, whose previous cookery books with Michelin-starred chefs Sat Bains, Graham Garrett, Andrew Pern and James Mackenzie have won international awards.

The book features a foreword by Michel Roux OBE, who says: “Like all the best recipe books, Hook Line Sinker is not merely a collection of recipes but an honest celebration of life, discoveries and ideas: a story shared about the simple, sometimes nostalgic, pleasures of sharing and eating. Few are so intimately and enjoyably written as this one by my friend Galton Blackiston.”

Consultation - Responsible Fishing Ports Scheme


Responsible Fishing Ports Scheme to give seafood buyers confidence of good practice


Fish buyers on Newlyn Fish Market
A certification scheme is being developed to promote good practice in UK fishing ports and give seafood buyers added confidence in the quality and sustainability of the seafood landed there.
In a move to assure buyers of a fishing port's good practice, Seafish is currently running a Responsible Fishing Ports Scheme (RFPS)pilot programme and is seeking input and feedback from the seafood industry and other interested parties, as part of a public consultation which has been published today (1st December).
The scheme aims to promote responsible operating practices in UK fishing ports and is focusing on five core elements: Food Safety and Structural Integrity, Port and the Working Environment, Care for the Environment, Care of the Catch and Traceability.
Pilot audits at four fishing ports across the country have just been completed by Acoura Marine, an independent third party appointed as the certification body to carry out the trials.  Feedback from the pilot audits has been used to further develop the standard to ensure it is fit for purpose. Responses to the public consultation, which is open for 60 days, will also generate useful feedback to inform further changes to the draft Standard.  
Plymouth Harbour took part in one of the four pilot audits, and Harbour Master Pete Bromley said: "The recent RFPS development audit carried out at Plymouth Fisheries was welcomed by all parties involved and we were pleased to take part and provide feedback.
The implementation of a workable and practical certification scheme for harbours and first sale establishments will serve to standardise working practices throughout the industry, provide clear guidelines and increase buyer confidence by regulating hygiene and safety standards."
The project is being driven by the British Ports Association Fishing Ports Group in an effort to develop consistency, and improve standards and transparency across UK fishing ports, while providing a guarantee of good practice to buyers and the wider supply chain.
The current standard has been developed for large ports but future development of the standard will include a separate version to suit small ports and harbours.
RFPS Project Manager at Seafish, Marcus Jacklin, said:
"The vast majority of UK fishing ports are already acting in a responsible manner and working to a high standard.  This scheme will give assurances to buyers that these high standards are being adhered to.
The five core elements we are focusing on reflect the main priorities of seafood buyers and by assessing these, we can assure all parts of the supply chain that certified fishing ports and auctions are acting responsibly and following good practice."
The Public consultation on the scheme opened today (1st December) for 60 days and industry and other groups are  encouraged to respond. Full details on the scheme and how to respond to the consultation can be found on the Seafish website


The Responsible Fishing Port Scheme (RFPS) Standards will provide assurance to seafood sellers and buyers that all certified or engaged fishing ports and auctions are acting in a responsible manner with the seafood landed and sold through the market. The standards cover five core areas; 
  • Food Safety and Structural Integrity
  • Working Environment
  • Care for the Environment
  • Care of the Catch, and
  • Seafood Traceability.  
The rationale behind the standards comes from an increasing need for assurances of transparency across the full seafood supply chain and the fishing port, and auctions were identified as an area that would benefit from guidance on industry accepted best practice.


Public Consultation on the Responsible Fishing Ports Scheme
As part of the RFPS development process, it is essential to undertake a 60 day public consultation to generate feedback from as many interested parties as possible. 
To provide feedback on the RFPS draft Standard, please;
  1. Download the Public Consultation document
  2. Download the excel Response Form.
  3. Submit responses on the response form by no later than 29th January 2018 to marcus.jacklin@seafish.co.uk 


Saturday, 2 December 2017

£10,000 for the Mission and the official opening of the 'shed'!


The poster has been on the door...


the shack made secure and ready with TV and Wifi access...


and it was officially opened by Edward Bolitho (L), Mission CEO Dave Dickinson and head Newlyn Mission man, Keith Dixon...


after an introductory speech from Dave Dickinson thanking all those involved including the Newwlyn Fish Festival team who have donated their office for use as a shed...


Kevin Bennets handed over a cheque for £10,000, proceeds from this years Fish Festival,...


on behalf of the Fish Festival team...


then it was down to Edward Bolitho whose grandmother donated the original Mission building in trust to the charity over 100 years ago...


all caught on camera...


then it was inside for tea and a sumptuous cake spread...


and more Mission talk...


all set for the first fishermen to make use of the facility...


which will be accessible by key-code 24/7...


as the business of fishing...


never stops.

Ocean Pride and the Battle of Trafalgar.

PZ 134 Ocean Pride is the only Newlyn built counter-stern lugger left in the country. Following many years of Service, she was taken to Rye Harbour, Sussex, where she lies today out of the water and deteriorating.

A number of 'Likeminded' individuals have come together to try and get her brought back to Newlyn and over time restore her to her former glory. This is going to be a very long process, with the first hurdle being to get her home. Once we have secured finding for the lifts and transport, we hope to put the Ocean Pride in a purpose built restoration area at Sandy Cove, Newlyn.

Our project will be a community project, not just us, we hope that a number of local groups and individuals will support it and benefit from the knowledge learned and the satisfaction of helping protect what is a very unique artefact in Newlyn's history.


If you believe you can offer support or help fundraise please contact us



Here she is going through her paces under full sail when owned by local landlord and seafarer, Les Rowe.

Friday, 1 December 2017

#FishyFriday in Newlyn




With the weather moderating, extricating the crabber Intuition from the quay requires patience first thing in the morning...


two of the biggest bean trawlers side-by-side in Newlyn...


while on the market most of the fish and cuttles came from the Cornishman...


and  Sapphire II...


while the netter Charisma landed a good shot of hake...


and other whitefish l;ike these whiting...


haddock...


and ling...


there were just a handful of bass up for auction...


a few dozen scallops with their amazing 200 eyes...


restaurateurs' favourites, brill..


the powerful 'claspers' found on male ray...


tubby gurnards...


and a box of scampi tails...


the odd JD...


and a few huge monk tails...


gave up a good selection of cheeks...


and the odd turbot...


along with a handful of red mullet...


lemons, Dovers and megrim soles...


came for the Cornishman and the Sapphire II...


and the odd plaice...


who donated to this morning's Newlyn Christmas lights fish auction...


while these stunning squid...


from the man himself aboard the Butts...


plans for the market...


are on display for all to see.