Prins Bernhard - Day 8 - Yann's story.

 

"Yann, he has 29 years of fishing. On deck, more than 20 years of experience. He has the modesty of those who have seen.

On the bridge, perched on its portico some 10 meters high, Yann, the second mate, is the right arm of the 'bosco' (skipper). Manoeuvring the crane during hauling and turning, monitoring winches and warps, operating the fish pump: it is all essential for the smooth running of fishing operations.

Embark. 

Discover the images of the herring season in the English Channel on our LinkedIn page and on the dedicated page of our website (https://lnkd.in/e8cBt_pS).

Creel of Stories - Cliabh an t-Seanachais.

 

Tells the story of fishing in the Ross of Mull and Iona, featuring conversations with local people and original music by Hannah Fisher, Sorren Maclean and Lomond Campbell. It was directed and edited by Alasdair Satchel.

The film has three sections, the first being a look at the practice of Salmon bag netting, the second a series of conversations with creel fishermen and the third an exploration of how the catch is being used locally in the Ross of Mull and Iona today.

Creel of Stories – Cliabh an t-Seanachais was produced by SWMID, South West Mull and Iona Development and Struthach Films through funding from Year of Stories 2022.

If you want to join in a zoom conversation about fishing and our island communities directly after the online premiere on the 25th of November, you can sign up to it on Eventbrite on the link below or finding it on What We Do in the Winter's social media accounts.

Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creel-...

This film has been made possible thanks to the Year of Stories 2022 Community Stories Fund. This fund is being delivered in partnership between VisitScotland and Museums Galleries Scotland with support from National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players.

Boost for UK fishing industry with funding for new infrastructure projects

Boost for UK fishing industry with funding for new infrastructure projects £20 million awarded to modernise and improve infrastructure across the seafood sector, with a further £30 million available from today.

Funding to expand processing facilities for popular British fish like Scottish salmon, mackerel and herring are some of the projects which will modernise infrastructure across the UK seafood sector following a £20 million Government investment.

Part of the £100 million UK Seafood Fund, the announcement comes as a further £30 million is being made available today (25 November 2022) for infrastructure projects as the latest round of funding opens for bidding.

The UK Seafood Fund is a landmark government investment supporting the long-term future and sustainability of the UK fishing and seafood industry, with the infrastructure strand of the Fund helping to pay for upgrades to ports, processing and aquaculture facilities so they can meet future demand whilst also boosting jobs and economic growth.

The infrastructure scheme also supports businesses to become more environmentally sustainable, with successful bidders in Round 1 investing in greener technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to more reusable materials.

Successful bidders from the first round of infrastructure funding include:

Denholm Seafoods who with almost £3 million funding will install new equipment to increase production of mackerel and herring landed at Peterhead.

In the West Highlands, Mowi Scotland - an aquaculture processing facility for salmon - has been awarded £2 million funding to invest in new, modern equipment that will vastly speed up both the processing and despatch of their products.

Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said:

"Fishing communities are an important part of the UK’s heritage and they make a valuable contribution to our economy so we are backing them with funds to boost growth and opportunities across the industry.

This funding will ensure seafood businesses throughout the supply chain are well-equipped to keep pace with increasing demand at home and abroad, boosting production and sustainability and building a resilient sector for the future."

UK Government Minister for Scotland John Lamont said:

"It’s fantastic to see Scottish expertise securing a share of this multi-million pound UK Government funding. From substantially increasing the production of mackerel and herring in Peterhead, to speeding up the processing and sale of salmon from the West Highlands, the investment will boost innovation and sustainability.

Scotland’s seafood, aquaculture and science sectors are world renowned. I look forward to continuing to work closely with them to ensure that this funding – and future allocations – helps deliver a sustainable and profitable future."

Allan Stephen, Director at Denholm Seafoods, said:

"We are delighted with the support we have received from Defra, which from the outset has been highly productive. Securing the Defra grant will enable Denholm Seafoods to invest in our new freezing and production facilities which will maintain our high quality product."

Scott Nolan, Mowi Scotland Operations Director Processing & Sales (UK and Ireland), said:

"The upgrade to our salmon processing plant in Fort William, Scotland, is vital to ensuring the UK remains competitive in a very global seafood market. The UK Seafood Fund Infrastructure Scheme comes at an important time, helping to safeguard and grow our domestic food supply as well as securing local jobs in rural communities."

The UK has a thriving seafood sector with exports of salmon – one of the UK’s most important exports – worth around £600 million annually and other abundant fish stocks such as Cornish sardines in demand on the continent for their quality.

For the second round of the UK Seafood Fund infrastructure scheme, which is worth £30 million and opens today, businesses will have until March 2025 to deliver their transformational projects meaning a wider range of organisations will be able to apply.

Defra will also shortly announce successful applicants from the Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships (FISP) scheme, part of the UK Seafood Fund, which funds data collection and research to support sustainable fisheries management. The final FISP round will launch in December 2022.

More information on the UK Seafood Fund can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-seafood-fund

The list of successful Round 1 projects will be available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-seafood-fund-infrastructure-scheme-projects

You can find more information on the FISP scheme here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-seafood-fund-fisheries-industry-science-partnerships-scheme

Cornish Crawfish Investigations - MAFF leaflet published 1971.

Cornish Crawfish Investigations - MAFF leaflet published 1971.

 

Fascinating leaflet published in 1971 by the, 'Min of Ag and Fish' as it was then known (Defra today).  Bu 1977 the crawfish fishery was all but over. What the netters didn't catch the divers - who only picked up the best - did. The last few years have seen crawfish landing in ever-increasing numbers from all round the Cornish coast - including fish originally tagged off Brittany. Currently, discussions are underway to regulate the fishery.

Prins Bernhard - Day 7 - Herring with mustard.

 

"By dint of fishing herring, we said to ourselves that we had to eat it. The chef prepared some for us in his own way.

On board, the herring is not only cooked in the ovens of the factory floor: tasting the catch of the day is one of the privileges of the crew. Especially when it is Louis, the cook of Prins Bernhard, who is in the kitchen, and simmers in the oven a dish of herring with old-fashioned mustard.

Embark. 

Discover the images of the herring season in the English Channel on our LinkedIn page and on the dedicated page of our website (https://lnkd.in/e8cBt_pS).

#FishyFriday and it is sardine time!

 

Ian Richards, crew on the the netter Govenek of Ladram posted this video just to show what the guys have been working in over the last few days, a tad uncomfortable...

Meanwhile, spotting a lull in the weather, the sardine boats all sailed early this morning...

both the Mayflower...

and the Vesta filled their tanks...

with over 20 tons of fish each...

the tanks were full...

on both boats...

once the fish are unloaded into the insulated tubs...

ice is added...

the sun soon disappeared...

as the boats were lading...

as a heavy shower passed overhead...

work has started placing the artificial reef concrete blocks where the Combe river enters the sea - there are some interesting patterns on the blocks...

the landing process begins again.

Newlyn fish of the Week 3 - the Brill.

 

Brill don't come much bigger than this example from the inshore trawler Guardian, skipper Tom McClure...

like most flatfish they have a top and bottom side, with both eyes on the upper, dark side.  The minimum landing size, which all commercial vessels adhere to vigorously, is 30cm - overall length. Brill produce great meaty pure white fillets, a little more refined than turbot - many years ago British Airways sourced brill for their Concorde transatlantic flights from Heathrow to the USA from fish merchant Nick Howell. The fillets were considered the perfect portion for an in-flight meal aboard their fleet of 747s. For those special occasions, whole brill look superb when cooked on the bone and served at the table.

Today's recipe comes courtesy of Mitch Tonks...

from his Fish Easy book - loads of quick and easy recipes using every ind of fish and shellfish.