Catching and landing top quality hake is no headache for the netter Ygraine.

Not a bad start to the day...

with plenty of beautiful top quality hake form the netter Ygraine testament that a good crew ensure that the fish are taken out of the nets without damage, handled, gutted and washed with the minimum of handling to maintain the kind of quality need for this prime fish that has become such a firm favourite with restaurants and many fish and chip shops who have found these MSC Certified sustainably caught fish as a brilliant alternative to cod...

the big fish that never smiles...

ray, guaranteed to put a smile on any diner's face...

big brill need bleeding in the same way as turbot to reduce discolouration of their delicious white flesh...

big tasty tubs...

dazzling morning...

cracking tails for the beam trawler St Georges...

plenty of haddock and whiting from the Northern Irish Unity...

and megrims...

two very different Dovers...

dazzling John Dory...

luscious lemons...

even more megs...

and some superb plaice...

plenty of weavers still on the grounds...

the bass boys are picking away...

as are the sardine boats...

looks like Cod had a more productive day...

shellfish delights...

there were even a few boxes of mackerel to be had by the handliners...

good to see Shane back in the mix doing his bit to feed the nation...

pots annihilated by winter gales...

these days the boats bring in every bit of seabed 'litter' that they come across in response to the 'Fishing for Litter' scheme - an old telecoms cable displaying its component parts - very often the bare wire ends are worn to a deadly point - when tangled in trawls they can be a nightmare to cut through if all you have on board is a hacksaw...

the remains of a weather balloon - these are picked up quite often as one is released every day from a field near Camborne!
 

Misty Monday morning in Newlyn.

Fish galore this Monday morning with big white fish to the fore like these cracking gillnetted haddock...

and hake from the netters Silver Dawn and Stelissa...

along with a good shot of dogs...

a solitary black bream...

this is how a gurnard spends its days, scavenging the seabed with its finger-like pectoral fins where the first three rays are modified to allow them to sense small fish or crustaceans buried in the sand...

undulate...

and blonde wings...

I think if this had landed on my deck I would have put the old boy back to enjoy his retirement, probably first graced the seabed in the middle of the last century...

fish to put a smile on any skipper's face...

blackjacks or coley...

and pollack landed from a big trip by the Ocean Pride...

squid often begin to show in bigger hauls at this time of year...

while monk remain a constant throughout the year...

slack fishing for big reds this week...

time to load the van with the morning's winning bids...

as one of the harbour's resident gulls takes flight...

closely followed by...

a few more of this year's youngsters...

fish market breakfast meeting...

as the visiting scalloper Geertruda makes for a berth...

young Edwin on his way to pick up FalFish's morning's purchases - coming to a Morrison's near you!

 

Safety Bulletin 17: Safety concern over lifting operations on fishing vessels

 

In the wake of recent incidents with gear failure the MCA has issued a Safety Bulletin in addition to the existing code published in 2006:

Guidance:

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency are issuing this safety bulletin to remind owners, employers, skippers and crew of UK fishing vessels of their responsibilities regarding health and safety following a number near misses, accidents, and a fatality – during lifting operations. Although applicable to all fishing vessels it is scallop dredgers that are of immediate concern.

It is a requirement of the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Lifting Equipment and Lifting Operations Regulations) 2006 (SI 2006/2184) that the owner / employer shall ensure all lifting operations are properly planned, appropriately supervised and conducted in a safe manner[footnote 1]. It is a further requirement, by thorough examination and inspection, that the owner / employer has the equipment inspected to ensure it is both safe to operate and capable of operating safely.

Since the introduction into UK law of the Work in Fishing Convention (ILO 188) it is a requirement for every owner to take responsibility for the health and safety of those working on their fishing vessel(s), its operations and the manner in which it is operated[footnote 2]. The owner / employer shall identify the operations that pose a risk to the skipper and crew through a risk assessment[footnote 3]. The owner / employer shall ensure that the company instructions are passed to the skipper of the vessel.

• It is the responsibility of the skipper to follow these instructions and for the crew to follow all reasonable instructions made of them. 

• It is the owner’s / employer’s responsibility to ensure that a lifting plan has been provided to the skipper and that the skipper knows what is expected of them 

• It is the owner’s responsibility to identify key areas of risk in respect of lifting operations in accordance with the Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/2962). The owner must identify, for example, potential crush zones and blind sectors due to vessel structure. 

• If crush zones or blind sectors exist, then the owner must ensure appropriate measures have been put in place to mitigate the associated risks and ensure safe operations. If a lifting operation cannot be undertaken safely then it shall not continue.

• The skipper shall be made aware that he has responsibility for the safety of the crew, the vessel and its operations whilst at sea. In deteriorating sea / weather conditions it is the skipper’s responsibility to identify the operational limits for safe lifting operations. 

• Due to recent cases scallop dredging has been identified as being of particular concern due to the number of reported incidents. 

• Actions to take In order to determine the extent of the issue surveyors will request the lifting plan during attendance on a fishing vessel. 

• Owners, operators, skippers, crew and safety advisors are requested to be aware of these issues and take appropriate action. 

• Owners shall ensure that their obligations under ILO 188 have been met in providing their crew with a safe place of work. The manner in which the vessel should be operated shall be clearly provided to the skipper. The provision of a Lifting Plan is essential for meeting one of the obligations of the Working Fishing Convention ILO 188.

1. Footnote: The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment) Regulations 2006 ↩
2. MGN 587 Responsibilities of fishing vessel owners, managers, skippers and fishermen. ↩
3. Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 as amended in 2018

The full Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment) Regulations 2006

 

Last tuna of the season landed and sold on the fish market to the public in Guilvinec, Brittany.

A tradition for some and a first for others

 

At the port of Guilvinec, many customers snatch up the last arrivals of tuna a few days before the end of the season. Like every year, many of them fill up to have preserves all winter long. In two hours, more than a hundred customers bought fresh tuna at the port of Guilvinec at the end of the season. 

More than fifty people crowd into a hangar in the fishing port of Guilvinec, in Finistère. "It's madness, there are too many people", launches Patrick, one of the salesmen who are busy serving those who come to buy tuna from only 2.50 € per kilo.

Among them, there are regulars like Nadine, who has bought her fresh tuna every year for direct sale in Douarnenez or Guilvenec for more than fifty years. "It's a tradition since my mother, my grandmother ... I did this all my youth. For me it is important that there is a transmission from the grandparents and parents to the children . I don't think mine will do it afterwards so I keep the customs going.” she explains with a burst of laughter.


Another happy customer, Bissiry traveled from Rennes to buy around twenty kilos of tuna. For others, it's the first time. Gaëlle and Philippe usually use tuna from the supermarket to make their preserves. This year, they let themselves be tempted by direct sales "by chance" and they were won over. "The price, the quality, it is true that (the product) is super fresh. We know very well that there, the sinner will do better. We prefer to go live and if everyone did that, this would be better" explains Philippe.

The reputation of Guilvinec tuna goes beyond the borders of Finistère. Right next to the couple, Bissiry loads 20 kilos of tuna into his car. He made the trip from Rennes to provide all his family for the winter: "We contribute to buy diesel so that I can buy, then I bring back and we share" . But the attractive prices are deserved . Buyers must now make the journey home with the tuna in their trunk ... mostly without ice!

Full story courtesy of France Bleu.

Free training for ‘financial champions’ to boost resilience of fishing communities

 

The Seafarers’ Charity - a leading provider of grants and support to the maritime community - are offering a free, online workshop to train ‘financial champions’ in UK ports and harbours, as part of their strategic aim to strengthen the financial resilience of fishing communities around the UK. The workshop, which will be delivered by The Money Charity on 7 October, will empower trusted allies of the fishing community - such as harbour masters, local volunteers, and front-line staff - to provide important support and information on money management to fishers and their families.

The workshop is supported by the British Ports Association, UK Harbour Masters, The Fishermen's Mission, and Stella Maris, and will mark a significant milestone in The Seafarers’ Charity’s efforts following the publication of the landmark ‘Fishing Without a Safety Net’ report in September 2020. The striking report, which revealed the financial difficulties and subsequent mental health impacts of small-scale fishers in the UK, included the urgent recommendation of financial education for fishers, via an informal, peer-to-peer approach.

During the workshop, key individuals with a personal or professional connection to the fishing industry will receive information and training to enable them to become financial ‘buddies’ or ‘champions’, capable of sharing accurate, up-to-date information regarding saving options, budgeting, credit choices, taxation and sources of free support to help with financial problems. Catherine Spencer, CEO of The Seafarers’ Charity says;

“We understand that advice is often best received when it comes from trusted local, social and community networks. That’s why we’re boosting the financial knowledge of those close to the fishing industry, so fishers have someone to turn to for reliable support. This training represents a vital step towards our ambition of supporting fishers and their families in becoming more financially secure, resilient and independent.”

As was raised in the landmark report, share fishers - those who are self-employed and receive part or all of their income via sharing the profits from the catch - are often subject to financial insecurity. Share fishing offers fishers flexibility and freedom, and many value it, but it can result in a precarious and fluctuating income, with little access to affordable credit or any of the financial security and benefits afforded to PAYE employees. The comprehensive workshop on October 7 will include information about the value of establishing long-term savings and budgeting plans, and guidance on how to signpost fishers toward free tools that aid financial planning, and the sources of free help that is available when experiencing financial problems.

Various maritime charities and harbour-based organisations have already agreed to train their staff as trusted, front-line workers who fishers will be able to turn to for help and advice. David Dickens, CEO of The Fishermen’s Mission, whose whole team will be trained, said:

‘‘Our small-scale fleet has long experienced financial vulnerability, and now following the catastrophic impact of Covid-19, it is vital that we help fishing livelihoods to thrive. We’re really looking forward to training up the whole Fish Mish team to be ‘financial champions’, to become more financially clued-up ourselves, and to be able to share practical, accurate information to fishers and their families.’

The workshop will take place on 7th October, 2 pm, and is open to anyone identifying as close to the fishing industry, in a position to be a financial ‘champion’. The Seafarers’ Charity welcomes registrations from all interested in supporting the financial resilience of fishing communities here.

How can we help make fishing safer?

 

Reporting marine accidents.

Seafood Cornwall Training would like to find out how many fishers and vessel owners report marine accidents at sea and to find out any concerns and how we can help. Please share your experiences and thoughts here, we will ensure information is treated in confidence. 

Click here to help us complete the survey.

Throughout this campaign, we aim to give fishermen the opportunity to share their experiences and concerns about reporting marine accidents at sea. Fishermen, vessel owners and skippers will also be able to access a free safety audit from Safety Adviser Clive Palfrey, to ensure that if a vessel does need to report a marine accident, their vessel will be ready for any subsequent inspection from the MCA. 

“We’re interested in finding out how many marine accidents are reported and providing a safe and confidential space for fishermen and vessel owners to discuss any concerns they have about calling the Coastguard,” says Clive Palfrey. “We’re also here to meet with vessel owners and help them make sure they have all the paperwork and safety measures in order so that should they need to call the Coastguard, they will pass any follow-up inspection, which has been a concern for some vessel owners. We’ll also be sharing the survey and information on our social media channels. 

To find out more about the campaign, follow us on Facebook or Twitter at @SCTNewlyn.