Mountains of fish on Monday morning's market!

A 3˚ Dawn breaks over the harbour...

and for some...

this much fish is just too much to bear,...

there'stons of hake from the Stelissa...

Ocean Pride...

Britannia V

Ygriane

and Kerry M

and plenty of dogs...

the Silver Dawn...

 may well have just put ashore one or two...

despite the official data, there's no shortage of pollack being landed...

it was down to the big netters to land monk tails this morning...

teamwork...

good shots of tub gurnards...

and a handful of good looking bream...

all contributed to a busy auction to start the week...

with all hands hard at work...

overnight supplies of sardines...

and its been a while since tallies from the good ship Keriolet were spotted on the market...

there will be more of these on the market come the summer months...

great black-back gulls lording it over the pickings to be had from a trawl on the quay - "The great black-backed gull is the largest member of the gull family. It is a very aggressive hunter, pirate, and scavenger which breeds on the coasts and islands of the North Atlantic"...

with two sets of gear heaved aloft to be worked on, there's a day's work ahead for the boys on the Lauren Anne.

 

Opportunity - Become a Newlyn Harbour Commissioner!

Three new Board Members needed for Newlyn Pier and Harbour Commissioners

Newlyn Harbour has been the heart of the Cornish fishing industry for over 140 years. As one of the largest fishing ports in England, our harbour continues to thrive, welcoming mariners, supporting our fishing fleet, and embracing the community’s rich maritime heritage.

We are now entering an ambitious phase of growth to ensure the harbour not only meets the needs of future generations but also plays a transformational role in the economy of West Cornwall. This growth is driven by the changing needs of our users, changes in technology, and changes to our climate and environment. Our vision includes upgrading infrastructure, supporting the blue economy, and advancing sustainability initiatives to preserve Newlyn’s unique heritage.

To guide this exciting journey, the Newlyn Pier and Harbour Commissioners (NPHC) are looking to recruit up to three exceptional individuals to join our Board.


About The Role

As a Commissioner, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic future of Newlyn Harbour. You will oversee key organisational and executive activities, including:

• Ensuring safe operations and compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code.
• Driving improvements in environmental sustainability and operational efficiency.
• Supporting the delivery of infrastructure and development projects.
• Building relationships with stakeholders, including MPs, local authorities, and the maritime community.
• Contributing to effective governance, strategic planning, and financial oversight.

What we’re looking for

We seek motivated and forward-thinking individuals with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Environmental matters
• Financial expertise, including funding and investment
• Commercial licensed fishing or wholesale fish selling
• Water-related leisure interests

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Strong leadership and analytical skills
• A proactive and collaborative approach to decision-making
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities
• A commitment to the principles of trust port governance
• We are committed to increasing the diversity of our Board and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Commissioners are expected to:

• Attend Board meetings every two months, typically held on a Friday morning.
• Participate in working groups, sub-committees, or regional/national meetings as needed.
• Devote time to email communications and ad hoc tasks.

Terms available:

One Commissioner for an initial 3-year term (renewable up to 3 terms).

One Commissioner to complete an existing term ending 30th May 2026 (renewable for up to 3 terms).

One Commissioner for a 1-year fixed term (renewable as needed).

How to Apply

If you are interested in this opportunity, we encourage you to contact our recruitment partner, Anna Jay, Managing Director of Public Leaders Appointments, for a confidential discussion:

Email: anna@publicleadersappointments.com reference ‘Newlyn’

Phone: 07904 236 348

To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter (no more than 3 sides of A4 each), explaining your motivation and how your skills align with the role.

Closing Date

Applications must be submitted by 12 noon, 13th March, 2025.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interviews on 2nd April 2025.

Chilly #FishyFriday fish market in Newlyn

Early hours of Friday morning and the sardines are coming ashore...

from skipper Dan, the Golden Harvest was the only boat to catch...

and land any late season fish...

with all three tanks full to the brim...

wind the clock forward a few hours and the sky begins to clear with the temperature, as forecast, just above freezing

just in time for the weekend fish from two beam trawlers will have kept the buyers happy with fish like megrim sole...

red mullet...

beautiful 'butts...

and a handful of mackerel...

the odd lobster...

and a few dozen witches...

to go with the gurnards...

there's wo sides to every brill...

it's that man Ian at it again...

el congero...

flatfish, what beamers do best...

though it seems there are still dogs everywhere...

and the odd JD...

how times change, even scad are making enough money to be landed by a beam trawler...

just a handful of these fish from a handful of inshore boats that braved yesterday's fresh weather...

next week will see the return of the gillnetters, all of whom are at sea today...

and judging by the stark looking sky and wheeling gulls it's not going to be so nice out there...

as the direction of the flag above the harbour offices indicates the reason why the wind is a tad on the cilly side...

there's a whole lot of gear under construction...

and on the heavy side it is too, hundreds of strops ready for the pots...

plus a new set of trawls and footropes for the Steph of Ladram...

the new one, champing at the bit...

enough big rope to provide ebery boat with new shorelines...

more signs that the Old Quay is being brought back into use, scaffolding on the end of the quay, full details of the project including how to join the growing group of volunteers who have already made a huge difference to the look of the stonework are on the website devoted to its new lease of life...

Barnabas, just one of the boats that will soon be able to enjoy all the benefits of the hard work by the Cornish Maritime Trust and others.

 

AIS data to inform small scale fisheries management and marine spatial planning - paper.

 

Example of basic AIS data from VesselTracker.

The paper investigates the potential of using Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) data to inform small-scale fisheries management and marine spatial planning, specifically along the Scottish coast. AIS, originally designed for collision avoidance, broadcasts a vessel's position, track, and speed. By modeling AIS data reception and utilizing open-source Geographic Information System software, the study analyzes three months of AIS data from 274 small-scale fishing vessels. The research provides valuable insights into trip durations, distances traveled, and dependency on fishing grounds, while also addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by the uneven coverage of AIS receivers, especially in complex coastal topographies. The aim is to enhance understanding of fishing activities, inform management practices, and support the sustainable use of marine resources.

Paper by Tania Mendo  Publisher: Elsevier BV Publication

What are the main benefits of using AIS data for small-scale fisheries management? 

AIS data provides several benefits for small-scale fisheries management, including:

• Characterization of Fishing Trips: AIS data can help identify and analyze individual fishing trips by filtering out non-fishing movements, thus giving insights into actual fishing activities.

• Spatial Planning Support: The data's ability to illustrate the spatio-temporal distribution of fishing activities can inform marine spatial planning, aiding in the efficient allocation of marine resources and compliance with conservation policies.

• Integration with Other Data: The study suggests that integrating AIS data with other relevant metrics can improve fisheries management and enhance understanding of fisheries interactions with the environment.

What limitations of AIS data are highlighted in the study for regulatory purposes? 

The study identifies several limitations when using AIS data for regulatory purposes:

• Coverage Limitations: The distribution of AIS receivers is not uniform, and local topography can obstruct line-of-sight communication, compromising data reception in certain areas.

• Quality of Data: There may be issues with the quality of AIS transmissions that need careful consideration, including error rates in identifying actual fishing activities versus non-fishing movements.

• Need for Tailored Filtering Criteria: The effectiveness of identifying fishing trips depends on region-specific filtering criteria, which may need continuous refinement to accommodate variations in fishing practices and vessel operations.

How was the AIS data collected and analyzed for the research? 

The AIS data was collected from 274 small-scale fishing vessels operating within Scottish Territorial waters over three months. The researchers used open-source Geographic Information System and relational database software to model AIS data reception and conduct analyses. Computationally efficient methods were explored to process the large data volumes, focusing on spatio-temporal analyses of fishing trips, including duration, distance traveled, and fishing ground dependency. The methodology involved applying specific filtering criteria to discern fishing trips from other vessel movements, allowing for a detailed understanding of fishing activities in the area.