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Sunday, 30 November 2025

Bridge Watchkeeping Course Opens in Looe for Under-16.5m Skippers

News from the SCT team this week, and it’s welcome reading for anyone looking to take the next step in their wheelhouse career. The centre has opened bookings for its five-day Bridge Watchkeeping and Navigation course — the key rung on the ladder for commercial fishermen aiming for their Under 16.5m Skipper’s ticket.

Normally run out of Newlyn, the course is shifting east for this block, with Looe becoming the temporary training hub. That move puts the classroom within easy reach of crews working the coast between Rame and the Lizard, giving those further from Mount’s Bay a chance to train without the long drive west.

The programme runs over five intensive days, aimed squarely at anyone taking a navigational watch and for skippers running boats under 16.5m outside the 20-mile limit. Better still, it’s currently grant-funded — a rare chance to pick up a qualification that genuinely opens doors without the sting of full fees.

SCT are encouraging interested fishermen to get in touch with the office for details, dates and funding guidance. A good opportunity for working crews to sharpen their charts-and-compass skills before the winter weather truly sets in.

Saturday, 29 November 2025

Sardine Hunt in the Swell

Most of the Newlyn fleet braved the conditions in the early hours of this morning, setting sail after a day of gale-force winds. The heavy ground sea was still running high across Mounts Bay as boats searched for marks from first light.

It proved to be a tough night for some of the the fleet. The Lyonesse and Serene Dawn struck gold, sharing the catch between them. For the rest, it was a short steam back to port empty-handed.

Proof, if we needed it, that it's called fishing, not catching!

Thursday, 27 November 2025

Biggest news of the year! Falkland Islands-based Fortuna reels in acquisition of Cornwall’s oldest fishing and processing business.

Ocean Fish themselves bought a majority share in W Stevenson & Sons back in 2019.

Ocean Fish Group, Cornwall’s oldest fishing and processing import-export business, has been acquired by Falkland Islands-based Fortuna, a move which fuels its drive to hit £100m in revenue by 2030.

With the acquisition of the Ocean Fish Group, Fortuna, the largest fishing company in the British Overseas Territories, is taking its first steps into the UK fishing industry.

Fortuna, through its shareholdings and subsidiaries, is the largest quota or license holder in the Falklands for Loligo and Ilex squid, finfish and Patagonian Toothfish, It has recently secured exclusive rights to the concession to fish for lobster in the Tristan da Cunha archipelago from 2027.

The deal strengthens Ocean Fish’s UK operations and further extends its global sales opportunities through access to new products and working with Fortuna to promote their own UK quota species into new global markets.

Andrew Lakeman is seen here lending a helping hand to land sardines, a fishery which he helped grow with Ocean Fish's own fleet of purpose build boats.

Ocean Fish, which was previously majority owned by the Lakeman family who have been fishing in Cornwall for generations, has established itself as a leading supplier into wholesale, foodservice and retail customers in the UK and Europe in recent years through the core acquisitions of W Stevenson and Sons in Newlyn and a recent joint venture with Chapman’s of Sevenoaks.

James Wallace, managing director Fortuna Ltd, said: “This is a significant acquisition for Fortuna which builds on our strengths as a company, helps further diversify our business, and provides exciting opportunities to realise synergies between the two companies. Ocean Fish Group is unique in its vertical integration, and we are very excited to be involved in the future of the company and help to deliver its impressive plans for growth. I am delighted to welcome them into the Fortuna Group, and to build on the legacy of the Lakeman family.”

Leigh Genge, who remains invested as a minority shareholder as well as the continuing chief executive for the UK group, said: “This new partnership is the joining of two like-minded businesses with strong cultural and commercial alignment. The access to wider group support as we set about delivering turnover of £100m by 2030 was a compelling factor for me in this consolidation.

“Our unique and vertically integrated supply chain just became much stronger with access to new global markets, product synergies and a new species into the UK. I would like to thank James Wallace, the Fortuna Group managing director, and the wider Fortuna board who believed in and share my ambitions for the group.

“I would also like to thank Andrew and Edward Lakeman for their unwavering support and friendship over the past few decades. I think we can all be exceptionally proud of the success we have achieved with Ocean Fish and I know that The Lakeman family heritage is in safe hands.”

The acquisition was supported by Andrew Jacksons, Kreston Reeves, FRP Advisory, Michelmores and HSBC.

Newlyn Market Report Overview

It's been a varied week for the auction in Newlyn, with the fleet supplying a total volume of approximately 53 tonnes so far. The standout narrative for the week was the continued prevalence of Mediterranean Octopus, which appeared in significant quantities across almost every auction.

The Enterprise will top off the landings this week on Friday's market.

Breakdown of the landings and prices for the week:

📅 Monday: A Strong Start

One seiner, one netter, and one beamer combined to supply the Monday auction with a solid volume of 24.1t.

Key Landings: The floor was dominated by Mediterranean Octopus (8t) and Hake (5t). There were also notable landings of Megrim Sole (1.7t) and MSC Hake (1.3t).

Prices: Buyers paid top prices for quality, with N2 Red Mullet reaching £26.69/kg and Bluefin Tuna selling at £19.08/kg.

📅 Tuesday: Beamers & Trawlers

A total volume of 13.3t was displayed for Tuesday’s auction, landed by one beamer and one stern trawler.

Key Landings: Megrim Sole took the top spot with 2.2t, closely followed by Mediterranean Octopus (1.7t) and Cuttlefish (1.6t).

Market Sentiment: Good prices were achieved for most species auctioned throughout the morning.

📅 Wednesday: Inshore Fleet Activity

The mid-week auction saw a volume of 10.4t, provided by one beamer and the inshore fleet.

Key Landings: Mediterranean Octopus returned to the top of the volume list with 3.2t, alongside 1.8t of Megrim Sole and 1.1t of Monkfish.

Prices of note included N3 Dover Sole at £25.52/kg and Mackerel at £10.51/kg.

📅 Thursday: High Demand for Inshore fish

Thursday’s auction was supplied exclusively by the inshore fleet with a total of 5.1t.

Key Landings: Mediterranean Octopus accounted for more than half the daily volume at 2.7t.

Market Sentiment: Prices and demand remained reported as good for all species auctioned.

Summary: With over 50 tonnes landed in four days, the market remains active despite the variable weather. The consistent presence of Mediterranean Octopus continues to be a major feature of the current landings.

The big landing for Friday's market will be from the Enterprise with over 200 boxes of prime fish.

First Women in Fisheries F-REP Brings Together Women from Across the UK Fishing & Seafood Sector

Last week, 50 women working across the UK fishing and seafood sector came together in London for the latest F-REP event – a first-of-its-kind Women in Fisheries F-REP (WIF-REP), delivered by Fishing into the Future (FITF) in partnership with UK Women in Fisheries (UK WIF).

The three-day residential programme created space for women in roles ranging from vessel owners, crew and partners to processors, researchers, traders and educators to build knowledge, confidence and networks. Designed by a steering committee of women from across the industry, the event aimed to strengthen participation in fisheries science, management and co-management.

Speaking about the significance of the programme, FITF Executive Director Emma Plotnek said: “Lasting change in fisheries comes through working together. Despite the important roles women play across the sector, we often see fewer women participating in collaborative or decision-making spaces. WIF-REP was designed to help address this by building mutual understanding and connections.”

Stephanie Lucas, Network Coordinator for UK Women in Fisheries, added: “Diverse participation strengthens fisheries management. When women’s voices are supported and included, the discussions become more representative and the solutions more robust. This event demonstrated the value of creating time and space for women across the industry to learn from each other.”

Across the three days, participants took part in sessions covering fisheries science, co-management, representation, communications and the role of social science in decision-making. Practical and interactive elements, including hands-on stock assessment exercises, a simulated management planning activity and an early-morning visit to Billingsgate Market, gave attendees the opportunity to explore real-world challenges and share lived experiences.

Ashley Mullinger, Digital Comms Officer at UK Women in Fisheries and independent fisherman said: “The F-REP events do a wonderful job of connecting individuals from a diverse range of sectors and gives them the tools, confidence and contacts to engage in co-management through well-curated educational sessions from industry-leading experts. The WIF-REP was about taking this approach, and at the same time recognising the multiple roles women play right across the sector and the specific needs of that group.”

The programme also offered informal opportunities to connect, including an Industry-Science Mixer which brought together researchers and industry members for short, focused conversations about ongoing projects and opportunities for collaboration.

Participants described leaving the event feeling “more confident”, “better informed”, “encouraged to speak up” and “part of a wider community of women working across fisheries”. Many highlighted the value of having an event like this targeted at women working in the fishing industry, giving the opportunity for open discussion, shared experience and new professional relationships.

Highlighting the value of connection, Nicola Webster, Norfolk Fishermen’s Network expressed that: “If you’re unsure an F-REP is for you, and that’s putting you off applying, apply! Making connections with others in the industry as well as hearing from ‘the other side’ could be invaluable and reignite your fire!”

As the cohort returns to their roles across the seafood sector, FITF and UK WIF emphasise that broadening participation in fisheries management relies on opportunity, confidence and access to knowledge. Fishing into the Futures’ F-REPs are designed to support all three and will contribute to strengthening collaboration and representation across the sector in the years ahead.

FITF and UK WIF thank all attendees for their contributions to the programme, as well as The Fishmongers’ Company and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for supporting the event.

Tuesday, 25 November 2025

Serene Dawn lands 14 tons of Cornish sardines.

Good to see the sardine fleet finding fish in the Bay again after a challenging October month when landings were almost non-existent! Here, the Serene Dawn lands a full trip of fish caught...