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Wednesday, 25 August 2021

Graduation day for Introduction to Commercial Fishing course students!

Seven lucky people recently completed the Introduction to Commercial Fishing course at Newlyn.



From left to right: Jack Gordon, Owen Williams, Sam Darby, Stephen George, Neil Moore, Instructor Andy Wheeler, Cory Webster, Steven Wilkins


Course member Cory Webster after completing the course said

“The course as a whole was really good as there was a lot of information being told to us by everyone that was teaching/training us, which is good as we would be learning about something one day and honestly I may have forgotten some of what was said the day before but as they say things multiple times is very helpful, every teacher/trainer was understanding if someone didn't get something straight away they always helped us understand what it was we didn't.”


Instructor Mickey Ringwood followed that up with:

“In my thoughts on this course are that I think it’s something that we should be quite proud of. I don’t know any other bodies that offer this course.

I can remember when I first started fishing when I was 17 years old and I did not know anything at all. There was a culture where you were expected to learn things on your own and to be honest the skippers of the boats did not seem very sympathetic or patient with inexperienced crew.

I think it’s fantastic that our new recruits get access to so much information, experience and knowledge. They also get to meet a lot of very helpful professional people including yourself.

The cherry on the cake is that they get all their statutory courses for free and will have a good idea of what to expect. “

So, whenever you get a chance, spread the word that the industry is one that will provide a challenging way fo life that can potentially offer many other career opportunities both ashore and at sea!


This induction course will suit both youngsters looking for a career at sea in the fishing industry and older candidates who are looking for a career change and interested in commercial fishing as an occupation.

Cost:  
Seafish funded (Subject to eligibility: applicants need to be at least 16 years old and have no previous fishing experience).


Next Course Dates: July 2022 (To be Confirmed)

Course Aim and Objectives

The aim of this 15 Days course is to provide new entrants with the basic skills to begin working at sea in a safe and useful manner. More specifically the course objectives are:

To provide trainees entering the fishing industry with an understanding and the basic information required to stay safe on-board a commercial fishing vessel. 

To give the basic knowledge and skills, for the duties required, to begin working on board a commercial fishing vessel in a safe manner.

Course Content: 

This course is essentially a collection of short courses and comprises of the units listed below:

    • Introduction and Overview of the Course Safe 
    • Working Procedures 
    • Ropes, Knots and Fishing Gear 
    • Net mending and Gear construction 
    • Watchkeeping and Navigation 
    • Basic Diesel Engine 
    • Knots and Splicing Basic 
    • Care of the Catch 
    • Basic Sea Survival 
    • Basic Health & Safety 
    • Basic First Aid 
    • Basic Fire Fighting 
    • Basic Fishing Vessel Stability

More information on starting a career in the fishing industry can be found here via the Seafish website Fishing as a Career

For more information on the course, call 01736 364324 or email info@seafoodcornwalltraining.co.uk

Seafish has a case study on their website



Sunday, 22 August 2021

Fishing crew -

It's time to let your voice be heard! Take our 20-minute survey to share your experiences of working on fishing vessels & help us better understand working conditions for fishers


Let your voice be heard! 

A shout out to the industry - please take our 20-minute survey to share your experiences of working on fishing vessels & help us better understand working conditions for fishermen.

Every contribution is vital for our research & all answers are anonymous.  The Seafarers charity launched a new research survey aimed at understanding working conditions from the crew perspective. 

Your responses will help inform our grant funding support for the sector. 

Saturday, 21 August 2021

It seems the PM & Cabinet MPs are not the only ones on holiday - where are the hakes?



The hake netter Ajax makes the first hake landing for the this neap tide - but 65 boxes after three days is not what the doctor ordered - an average would trip would see the boats return with more like 65 per day, hopefully, prices will be reflected by increased demand...


inside the market there's a good mix of fish including a box of claws...


and craws...


plenty of plaice form the Trevessa V...


a good run of John Dory from our resident Northern Irish boat, Unity...


who left the megrim catching to the beamer...


these guys are still very much in short supply...


not so Dover sole...


one of the less common sharks landed in Newlyn, but which one?..


these guys always remind me of a sock puppet...


best bass...



that's one big 'butt...
 

young Roger retired?, some people just can't leave it alone...


nipping out to haul a few tiers, Bonnie Grace...

as the Ajax heads back to pick up her gear...


and heading for the gaps next...



the Rachel of Ladram...


heads back out to pick up her nets again =having been left out at sea while the boat came in and landed.

140 years of Fishermen's Mission service fundraiser in Newlyn - one for the diary.

 



The event in Barron’s square is a small celebration of the Missions 140 years of service as a charity, we will have the stool and selling some items, raising awareness of the missions work and hopefully 140 celebratory cupcakes!

Friday, 20 August 2021

We got the #FishyFriday blues.

Looks like fish market boss Lionel is telling TV naturalist and explorer Steve Backshall all about the one that got away...



who's wife Helen Glover memorably won her first Olympic gold medal, a feat celebrated and no expense spared on the lavish window dressing of Jelberts, her father's famous Newlyn ice cream shop...



along with her very own gold post box...


however, husband Steve is here in Newlyn not to chase gold or to see fish like the voracious predator that is hake...

he's on the hunt for sharks...


but he's not chasing small fry like...


the spurdog...


he's looking for blues...


the Jaws of the Western approaches...


though they are no match for local fishermen like the wily Wiffer...


so keep your eyes posted come Autumn for his Backshall's next TV series and find out if he managed to get to meet live blues face-to-face while swimming the shark infested waters off Cornwall..

back to the fish auction and there are still a few late season spiders to be had...


name this fish...


the netter Ygraine landed a top trip of MSC Certified hake...


along with some superb haddock...


big blondes are everywhere it seems...


two good landings from the Harvest Reaper...


and the Imogen...


helped fill the market with the finest inshore fay-boat fish...


the quality of the Ygraine's red gurnard speak for themselves...


a moody end to the week...



with the iconic St Michaels Mount barely visible in the early morning low cloud...


Border Patrol vessel Seeker at rest...


as the Jen T heads for the iceworks...



fish lorries look evermore attractive these days...


while up on the slip...



the Sapphire II is about to receive a new coat of paint and a new name...




the sooner she gets back to sea, "where the fish are" and the money is, the better for her live-aboard crew...

the sardine fleet at rest...


not every day you see a boat parked up...


yacht Maybe at anchor in Gwavas Lake.