Happy St Piran's day!

 Pure Cornish Fishing Gold

Gool Peran Lowen dhe bubonan yn Kernow hag a-dro dhe’n bys!

Chart the future course of your industry - Residential Event

 

This F-REP will be a 2-day event designed to help people from the fishing industry, science and fisheries management to understand each other’s expertise and work together effectively. We support learning, sharing knowledge, building connections & developing skills so they can work together to develop well-managed fisheries.

This event is for people who are fishing or working with the fishing industry in the Southwest. The agenda will be tailored for those working handlines, rod and line, fixed nets, and/or mobile gear, catching Pollock and Bass, and also relevant for those catching tuna and small eye ray.

There will be a mix of informal learning and sharing knowledge, pub quiz, practical exercises, eating and drinking together, & guest speakers.

Get in touch with Emma if you want to register or find out more: 

emma@fitf.co.uk / 07311 812 105



What is F-REP all about

The development of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) is overhauling the way we do fisheries management in the UK – creating the opportunity for fishermen, scientists and policymakers to work together to develop fisheries research and policy.

With this in mind, we are inviting you to apply for the Fisheries Resource Education Programme (F-REP), focused on sharing key knowledge and building the skills and connections for everyone to work together effectively. Take a look at an example of our South Coast agenda and event sessions.

How can I get involved?

We are looking for people working in the fishing industry, research, and policy to join us on a three-day residential event.

Register your interest by filling out this form or contact Emma at Fishing into the Future to tell us about yourself and why you would like to participate.

This is a collaborative event, and financial support is available for participation and to cover time and associated costs.

Why should I take part?

We believe that co-management – an approach where key groups work together in decision-making – is the best approach to build sustainable fisheries and a prosperous fishing industry.

But the success of co-management depends on having the right conditions for everyone to work together. This workshop will equip you with the skills, connections and confidence to further (or to jumpstart) your participation in fisheries research and management.


What do past workshop attendees have to say?

“I came with my 18-year-old son, as a fisherman, I really feared for his and my future as no one seemed to care nor did we know how to engage with anyone who would care, now after attending this event, we know how to do just that. I feel we now have a future in fishing.” F-REP south coast participant, 2023

“I had a very jaded view of policymakers and scientists built up over the years. But coming here and socialising with everyone has been a wonderful learning experience” F-REP east coast participant, 2024

“As a relatively new entrant to the commercial fishing industry, much of the legislation I have to adhere to has been a mystery, not to mention the fisheries management terms and acronyms. This course was superb in explaining the science and management structure of the fishing industry.” Participant from FITF residential event, London, 2020

“In the 34 years I’ve been a fisherman, we’ve never been taught how fisheries are managed, and how science interacts with the fishing. I’ve been waiting a long time for a course like this to come along, and it’ll make a real difference to the next generation of fishermen.” Mark Robertson, Fisherman FITF residential event in Aberdeen, 2017

FUNDING PROVIDED BY Cornwall Good Seafood Guide

Safety flyer to the fishing industry - Lexi Rose

Fishing Vessel Lexi Rose Tragedy: Key Safety Lessons for Inshore Operations

A fatal accident occurred on September 21, 2023, when the single-handed creel fishing vessel Lexi Rose grounded and capsized near Melrose Point in north-east Scotland. The skipper, who was operating alone, struck a rock promontory with his outboard engine while navigating between creels in small coastal coves. This caused immediate loss of propulsion when the engine's lower assembly unit detached. Within just four minutes, waves pushed the vessel onto rocks. Though the skipper made two radio distress calls on a local working channel, he was later found unconscious in shallow water. Despite helicopter recovery, he was declared deceased en route to hospital. The investigation revealed he had suffered a significant head wound, likely rendering him unconscious before or immediately after entering the water. Critically, although normally available onboard, the skipper wasn't wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) nor carrying a personal locator beacon.

The MAIB investigation highlights several important safety lessons which can be seen in this safety flyer:

Spring is sprung, the sky is blue!

Flat calm and a cloudless sky beckons the day...

but belies the fact that it is 0˚ down the harbour this morning...

so probably colder outside than in and keeping these whole monk as fresh as the moment they popped out of the Acionna's cod end...

this is a concept Acionna, not the seiner above...

some lovely ling...

and hake from the seiner...

and the netter Britannia V...

kept plenty of inshore fish like these ray wings...

and pollack...

and cracking turbot from the Guardian

along with plenty of haddock...

and some superb red mullet in top condition from the Twilight...

along with Dover sole...

and more reds from the other beamer to land...

including these tasty turbot...

also in action overnight were the sardine boats...

more Dovers...

megs...

and mink heads now landed for bait...

that's a lot of ling...

good to see the back of that leaky tap...

the mackerel men found some marks to fill a box or two with...

so good to see the youngest member of the fleet filling his boots...

the strong morning sun spread its rays across the harbour...

and confirmed the fact that today heralds the meteorological first day of Spring...

at this time of year many skuppers begin the process of drying out to take off any weed growth and slap on a neew coat of anti-fouling and replace any worn out anodes...

has this little chap just returned from over-wintering on Canadian shore or did he stay here all winter?..

news of the pope from Richard on the Still Waters?...

more pots being rigged ready to get wet...

perfect light for a visiting photographer this morning...

those orange hues contrasting nicely with the blue tubs of sardines...

 ready to be picked up...

it might look like some sort of Indian rope trick...

but Cito and the boys are taking a fleet of nets off the Karen of Ladram - seems long gone are the days of hand-balling nets on and off the boat...

not a cloud in the sky and the Old Quay is looking resplendent in the morning sun...

as the harbour plays host to yet another big passing yacht.

Don't forget, volunteers are always welcome to join in the work to bring the Old Harbour back into daily use - see the website for more details!

Volunteers needed Saturday - let the re-pointing begin!

This (and every) Saturday, you are welcome to come and help with the work to bring back the Old Quay into regular use. Over the last few weeks, the bulk of the work to remove weeds and overgrowth, is all but complete.

Now, it is time to turn attention to the parapet stonework which, as can be seen in the image above, requires work on the lime pointing. Most of the centuries old pointing has been eroded away and now needs replacing. The first step is to thoroughly clean out any loose mortar from between the stones.

Everything you need to know about supporting the work to maintain this incredibly historic part of Newlyn can be found on the Old Harbour restoration project website.

Work begins 10am to 2pm - hot drinks available!

EUROPÊCHE WELCOMES THE OMNIBUS SIMPLIFICATION PACKAGE

 

Europêche welcomes the omnibus simplification package

Europêche, the leading representative body for the fishing industry in Europe, welcomes the European Commission’s upcoming Omnibus Simplification Package presented today by President Von der Leyen. This marks a significant first step towards addressing longstanding concerns about regulatory complexity and administrative burdens. The fishing sector urges the Commission to go further and conduct a comprehensive review of fisheries and environmental policies to improve competitiveness while maintaining sustainability goals.

The Omnibus Simplification Package aims to streamline existing EU sustainability regulations, including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the EU Taxonomy Regulation and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). By consolidating these frameworks, the proposal seeks to eliminate redundancies, lower compliance costs, and provide much-needed clarity, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

This is part of the new Commission’s Competitiveness Compass[1], which aims to reduce the administrative burden on firms by at least 25% and on SMEs by at least 35%. The sector emphasizes that simplification should go beyond reporting obligations. Additional regulatory challenges—such as compliance costs, fishing ground closures, taxation and bureaucratic inefficiencies—continue to threaten the fishing sector’s economic viability. Since 2000, the EU fishing fleet has decreased by 28%, and full-time employment in the sector has dropped by 33%. Europêche urges a practical revision that balances environmental sustainability with food security, economic viability and reduced red tape. The Commission must also conduct a thorough review of all policies affecting fisheries, including the news ones such as the Control Regulation and the Nature Restoration Law, similar to the review of the Common Agricultural Policy adopted in 2023.

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche, stated: ‘We welcome this initiative as a first step, but the Commission must go deeper. A broader analysis of sectoral and environmental policies is essential to identify and eliminate unnecessary administrative burdens. Reducing red tape, where necessary, will improve competitiveness and ensure a more practical and sustainable regulatory framework for the European fishing industry.’

Europêche welcomes the ongoing screening exercise by DG MARE to identify and reduce red tape. However, the sector calls on the Commission to establish a structured consultation with fisheries stakeholders to pinpoint specific regulatory challenges and propose practical solutions. A comprehensive strategy is essential to ensure that fisheries legislation is proportionate, coherent, and effective, enabling the sector to thrive while supporting the EU’s sustainability objectives.

For more details, read Europêche’s position paper on reducing regulatory burdens in the EU fishing sector.

Stay updated wherever you are, with the new Kingfisher Bulletin app.

 

Available for iOS and Android, the Kingfisher Bulletin app keeps you updated directly through your phone or tablet. Set up personalised alerts, save hazard and notice information for offline use, and easily share content with others at the touch of a button.

With the latest hazards, activity notices and offshore news, the Bulletin App keeps you up-to-date with things happening in the waters around the UK and Northern Europe. Provided for you, in one place.

To download the Bulletin app from the App Store or Google Play for Android or iOS devices by searching for “Kingfisher Bulletin”, or click the images below.

Features

News available and updated as they happen, with alerts delivered within seconds

Interactive map for all offshore news

Create your own hazard alerts for the sea areas you’re interested in most

A personalised feed – so you get the news that matters most to you

Share content and export important notices for reading offline

Depending on the contract you have, data charges may apply for accessing the internet on your mobile device. If you are not sure about the potential charges, please ask your mobile network provider. You may find some costs are included in your existing price plan or that you can opt for a data package that gives reduced charges for accessing the internet.

Seafish does not charge you to access mobile content.

Chris Ranford, Chief Executive of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, explained why he believes the app is important for fishermen.

“The newly designed Kingfisher Bulletin app is an essential tool for fishermen across the UK. There is a huge amount of offshore development either planned or taking place and it’s essential fishermen stay up to date – it’s likely you will be affected.”