Full-on #FishyFriday in Newlyn.

 

The repairs to the Fishermens Arms must be taking longer than when they built the place...

Mordros looking good in the morning sunshine...

some classy curves on the crabber Francesca's  revamped wheelhouse...

modern hurdy-gurdy mackerel gear...

won't be long before the yellow-wellies fill these berths...

this is the St Georges, not to be confused...

with the Margaret of Ladram...

nice graphic on the company car...

breakfast time for the resident turnstones...

check out the area meetings in March for Regional Fisheries Groups...

today's high water times in Newlyn...

and what a pleasant, if somewhat chilly, start to the day...

cuttle keeping a beady eye on things...

plenty of pollack on the ground, a few hours work for the netter Ocean pride...

there's no 's' in conger...

beat that! yesterday, turbot made £39 a kilo...

seems these guys are becoming more abundant...

big meaty wings...

spiders are on the move early this year...

a brace of big mackerel, well, big for these days...

and the blues are crawling again...

'ansum 'erring...

yet more meaty wings...

fine trip of lemons and other flats from Brackan...

while the big beam trawler St Georges finished the week off with Dovers...

plaice...

monk...

megrims...

lemons...

and brill...

as ever, the Ygraine popped a good trip of quality hake ashore...

along with pollack...

long thin things...

and blackjacks...

it's the time of year for big white fish roe...

one black...

one red...

its just a question of getting the right tally on the right box...

'ansum 'addock...

and yet more 'ansum 'ake.

MP Derek Thomas will be in the Swordfish, Newlyn from around 7pm this Friday to answer your questions.

Happy Hour in the Swordfish 

Local St Ives MP Derek Thomas (he's the one on the left) will be holding a local surgery in the Swordfish Inn in Newlyn tomorrow evening (11th Feb) from around 7pm.

With the future of Newlyn, which depends heavily on the income generated directly though fishing and associated trades this week's surgery being held in the Swordfish Inn, Newlyn provides the perfect opportunity to question or put across your thoughts directly to local MP Derek Thomas.

The harbour is looking at a number of large scale concepts based on feedback from harbour users over the last few yeas to future-proof the port well into the 21st century - some of these plans could depend on the creation of an access road that connects the harbour and other developments planned for Sandy Cove and beyond. Plans for much needed affordable housing is also at the top of the MP's agenda as coastal areas in Cornwall wrestle with absurd increases in the price of property and the now, almost non-existent long-term rental market, especially those within easy reach of ports. Covid and Air BNB have contrived to nor only price out but drive out not just affordable but almost any property on the open market.

Private and commercial traffic passing through Newlyn currently causes chaos at peak times as as heavy goods vehicles, buses, holiday and local traffic negotiate the narrow streets adjacent to the port or, worse still, head up and down Chywoone (Paul ) Hill. 

Newlyn, like many areas is in desperate need for affordable housing in order to meet the growing demands made by the expansion of commercial fishing and maritime related businesses - a positive sign for the future of the town but one which is seriously hampered by the lack of sufficient, suitable accommodation.

Derek Thomas will be at the bar of the Swordfish ready to answer your questions from 7pm, so don't be late!

Check out the harbour's concept plans here.

Sumwing beam trawl trials report.

Report on Sumwing beam trawl trials We were asked to provide technical support during a sea trial of an innovative Sumwing beam trawl by the Western Fish Producers Organisation (WFPO).

A short sea trial was carried out over the course of three days on the MFV Margaret of Ladram (E 198). It’s a 30m beam trawl vessel fishing from the port of Brixham on the south coast of Devon. This was the first time the technology had been trialled on a UK fishing vessel operating on fishing grounds traditionally worked by the UK beam trawl fleet.

Results from the trial showed a 42% saving in fuel, and on average since the trial, the skipper has reported a 30% fuel saving. Impact of the trawls on the seabed has been reduced substantially, resulting in a reduction of benthic discards by 69%. The reduction in seabed impact has improved the quality of the fish retained in the trawl and reduced wear and tear on the gear, doubling its lifespan.

The full report on the sea trial explains the methodology undertaken. It also includes details of the technical characteristics of the Sumwing beam trawl gear. 

You can download a copy of this report from the link.

Review of gear trials in the UK

During the spring and summer of 2020 we interviewed experts about their experience working on gear trials. We wanted to gather knowledge and insight on good practice to see what can be learned from past projects. The findings from the review have been compiled in a final report. It includes recommendations on:
Funding and project duration;

• Project coordination and management
• Trial ideas and development process
• Tendering for vessels
• Trial protocols and contracts
• Data collection
• Data analysis and industry report

A copy of the report is available from the link

Fishing gear database

Our gear database is an online tool with information on fishing methods used in the UK and EU. You can search the database for records on different types of gear and selective devices. The records include:

• Full descriptions and explanations of each gear and device
• Illustrations and photos of gear and devices
• Lists of species caught by each gear
• Lists of selectivity and discard reduction methods commonly applied to each gear
• Assessment of how effective each selectivity method is in targeting specific species or size of fish

You can access the database from the link:

Assessing the financial performance of fishing gear It’s important to assess the financial effectiveness of modifications to make sure fishing remains profitable with new gear. We have developed best practice guidance for industry and scientist-led gear trials. These guides make it easier for those involved in trials to compare the cost and revenue of new gear. This can help vessel owners to choose the right gear for their business. Access the guides on the following links below. We have also developed a financial assessment tool for vessel owners and trial supervisors to use alongside the guidance. This spreadsheet provides a simple way to collect, analyse and compare gear trial results and assess the financial effectiveness of fishing modifications. 

You can use this tool to: 

• Calculate trip level fishing revenue based on catch composition and market prices
• Consider fishing expenses, such as fuel and crew costs
• Generate a trip level financial assessment of the gear – this can be compared across trips and scaled up to estimate longer term financial impacts

A copy of the spreadsheet is available from the link.

Danny Finn - A new trawler to launched for La Houle.

 

A new trawler to relaunch La Houle 

Moored at the quay of the port of Saint-Guénolé, the Danny Finn opens up new prospects for the La Houle shipyard, 90 employees including 70 sailors, for € 11 million in turnover. Built at the Vestvaerftet shipyard in Hvide Sande, a port located in the west of Denmark, the 25-meter trawler translates for Jacques Pichon, the director of the fishing company, “the will to give a future to the armament”.

Five years after the takeover of La Houle, the shipping line is suffering from an aging fleet. Stopped for a year and a half, the Pluto replaced by the Danny Finn will have fished for 30 years before being scrapped. An investment of 4.35 M € made thanks to the shareholders of the Bigouden armament. Irish fishermen provided 30% of the investment, followed by the banks.

Monkfish and langoustine

“The only French double bridge of 25 meters”, the trawler, which will be baptized this Friday morning, will reach western Ireland next week. A usual fishing area, in fine weather, for the trawlers of the armament. But supported by the State and professional organizations, the project was able to benefit from additional capacity to face the seas of Porcupine bank in winter.

Rather than going to target haddock and cod from the Celtic Sea, the Danny Finn will go fishing for langoustine and monkfish. The stake is economic. The fitting-out director aims for an annual turnover of between 1.60 and 1.80 M € for the vessel with regard to the targeted species and fewer technical stoppages for maintenance, in particular by taking nine trawls on board.

In the west of Ireland, Breton sailors will work under cover once the trawl is in the water. By a system of conveyor, the fish will join the completely covered lower deck where fish and langoustine will be worked before joining respectively positive cold hold and deep freezing hold. The other major development, for the fishing industry, is the level of comfort of the living spaces on board: heated parquet floors, wifi, etc.

The new trawler marks the beginning of the renewal of the armament fleet. This Friday, shareholders could announce the construction of a sistership as early as next year for delivery in two years. The opportunity for Saint-Guénolé to see such a trawler again. Given its 5.40 m draft, the Danny Finn will land at Dingle or Douarnenez from where the catch will be sent to the Guilvinec auction.

Full story here

Monday morning in Newlyn - a misty start to the day.

Hung out to dry...

only a lucky few get to enjoy this kind of stroll to the office first thing...

port record one week, tied up for repairs the next, c'est la vie...

working inside the 12 mile limit means using smaller (3 or 4m) beam trawls...

a third of the length as that used by the bigger boats...

time to take ice..

for the Ajax...

only at high water can the larger boats get to the fish market, the very biggest not at all...

a bit of gear maintenance aboard the ring netter Serene Dawn...

it's a new venture for the new Venture up on the slip...

old and the new company colours...

as the sun came up, down came the cloud...

as the Crystal Sea headed out through the gaps to sea.