Getting back to normal after Storm Goretti

Storm Goretti did for this tree down Newlyn Coombe, though the owner of the garden and greenhouse must have been well happy with the way it fell!.

sunrise in the harbour saw a dramatic sky on the Friday morning...

and harbour staff found themselves busy retrieving all sorts of fishing gear and debris including this net tub that had been blown into the harbour...

over in the old harbour there's been an interesting development, recent work to prepare the access road down to the old quay has revealed what Historic England archaeologists now think is the extent of the original slip road before it was later widened, probably due to the increase in the size of the fleet in the mid 1800 hundreds...

the historic Star Inn's makeover is now complete with the new sign in place...

it's time to take the xmas decs down...

Admiral Blake heads out of the gaps, one of the first boats to get away after the storm...

the Barnabas did a great job of adding to the spectacle that was Newlyn Harbour Lights this Xmas...

sardine landings have been showing signs of definite improvement since the new year, four boats filling their nets within shouting distance of the gaps

Serene Dawn hauling with St Michael's Mount (post storm Goretti now minus 100 of its 125 trees) as a backdrop...

Danny bringing the Golden Harvest in to land with his tanks full and yet more fish to pump from the net which is made fast alongside her...

there's a cheery wave from the wheelhouse of the seine netter...

Acionna as she heads away to sea after taking ice...

Tuesday morning sees  the quay busy with the sardine fleet landing...

and young Mr Nowell heading away to sea...

that's just some of the iced up 350kg tubs lined up and ready for Danny's sardines to be pumped ashore...

scaffolding around the new Resource Centre is beginning to come down revealing the traditional granite design aesthetic...

Johnny is happy now all his new timber baulks have been delivered and he can get to work cutting them to length...

that's the new drainage being installed at the head of the Old Quay access road...

the mid-week market saw the first substantial landings of post-storm fish with some cracking haddock...

 and a smattering of black bream from the Acionna...

hake...

and dogs from the Britannia V...

ling from the Stelissa...

bass from the Ygraine...

some sardines from the Inter-Nos...

and a single near-perfect specimen streaked gurnard from the Ma Vie...

with the temperature in the harbour hovering around 0˚ the guys will be wanting to get the morning's landings away asap!

 

Newlyn Market Report

 

Newlyn Market Report

Monday The week began with a substantial volume of 26.2 tonnes landed by a single beamer alongside the inshore fleet. The floor saw a diverse range of species, led by a significant 8.5t of Mediterranean Octopus and 4.5t of MSC Hake. Other notable volumes included 1.6t of Monkfish, 1.5t of Megrim, 1.4t of Bass, and 1.4t of Cuttlefish. Smaller landings comprised 0.7t of Dover sole, 0.4t each of Sardines and Pollack, 0.2t each of Haddock and Lemon sole, and 0.1t each of John Dory and Squid. Of particular note, a local ring netter landed a single Bluefin Tuna.

Monday's prices were robust, with standout figures including N4 Bass reaching £14.90/kg, N2 Red Mullet at £25.97/kg, and N1 MSC Hake achieving £8.01/kg.

Tuesday Two beamers contributed to Tuesday’s total volume of 22.9 tonnes. The catch was dominated by 5.3t of Megrim and 3t of Monkfish. Other contributing species included 1.8t of Mediterranean Octopus, 0.6t of Squid, 0.3t each of Sardines and Red Mullet, and 0.2t each of Plaice and Whiting. Strong prices continued across most species auctioned.

Wednesday A part-trip beamer and the inshore fleet combined to provide 3.3 tonnes for the midweek auction. Mediterranean Octopus remained present with 0.9t landed, alongside 0.4t of Monkfish and 0.2t each of Bass and Pollack. Smaller quantities of Cuttlefish, Dover sole, and Lemon sole (0.1t each) rounded out the supply.

Wednesday’s market highlights included N1 Plaice selling for £11.27/kg, N2 Megrim at £8.74/kg, and N1 Pollack reaching £6.67/kg.

Thursday The inshore fleet supplied Thursday’s auction with a total of 3.3 tonnes. Mediterranean Octopus was again the primary volume species at 2.2t. The remainder of the catch included 0.3t of Sardines, 0.2t of Cuttlefish, and 0.1t each of Dover sole, Monkfish, and Pollack. Good prices were maintained for all species on the floor.

Monday morning, a busy start to 2026

 

Despit it being bitterly cold with icy showers, from inside the harbour all looks well...

but from Sandy Cove you get a glimpse of a single punt heading east from the gaps, no prizes for guessing its out man of steel, or more accurately, titanium

work on the Old Quay had reached the final stages with just the access road to be repaired...

now that the Red Lion slip was completed...

assessing the day's work to be done...

the A team from Symons are back in action...

the lights are on but there's no-one at home...

the rig is still on station in the bay...

busy enough in the lorry park...

thes, just some of over 100 tons of sardines waiting to go to the processors...

fuel time for the BM registered beamer...

on a very inclement morning...

always fun trying to deploy a big leg...

the last thing seen by an octopus before it heads for the vivier tank of the Michael Edward...

landing the big crabbers...

inside the market there's the first bluefin of the year at 150kg...

and still more octopi...

cracking big blue...

quality inshore fish...

fine turbot from the one beamer to land...

the boys spring into action once the auction is over...

and it's a wrap...

stacked boxes of fish everywhere...

including grey mullet...

sardines...

monk...

more sardines...

hands that don't do dishes...

hake from the Silver Dawn...

and Ajax...

barring the way, access to the North pier is now restricted to those with permission.

It's a sunshine and wintry showers start to Saturday.

Some seriously heavy showers passed over Porthleven and the Lizard this morning...

out in Mounts Bay, the Seafox 7 gas platform, is anchored up waiting to continue her journey from Poole to the Irish Sea...

or maybe she has been drilling for oil in the bay as there is not much water left in Newlyn Harbour this morning?!

A Year in the Gaps: Looking back at Newlyn in 2025

"Through the Gaps!" blog functions much like a digital lighthouse for the fishing community; it does not just signal the arrival of the fleet, but illuminates the complex layers of technology, policy, and environment that the industry must navigate to stay afloat.

The blog provided a granular, day-by-day account of harbour life in Newlyn, in 2025 it published close to 300 distinct entries over the course of the year. This archive acts as a critical dataset for understanding the modern intersection of traditional maritime labour and the digital economy. 

Here are some examples of the year's posts.

Market Diversification and Rebranding

A major theme in early 2025 was the strategic campaign to promote Cornish spurdog as a sustainable food source. By rebranding the species as "Cornish Rock Salmon," the blog documented a collaborative effort between fishermen, processors, and fish friers to reduce market reliance on pressured stocks like cod and haddock.

Documentation of Technological Innovation

The blog highlighted the fleet's rapid adoption of new technologies, such as the innovative fish pumps on the vessel Inter-Nos. These pumps represent a shift toward automation by allowing for gentler catch handling and reducing the heavy physical labour previously required to move fish from boat to quay.

Digital Mapping and Spatial Defense

Research into Automatic Identification System (AIS) data mapping was a recurring technical focus. The blog explored using this high-resolution data to define and defend high-value fishing grounds against the "spatial squeeze" caused by offshore renewable energy projects and new marine regulations.

Transition to Online Auctions

The blog recorded the ongoing evolution of the Newlyn Fish Market as it shifted from traditional "shout auctions" to online bidding platforms. This makes the blog’s photography and daily reports an even more vital visual record, as the physical spectacle of the auction has largely moved to digital screens.

Environmental Determinism and Weather Impact

The 2025 narrative was heavily shaped by meteorological volatility, frequently documenting periods where "the weather wins". Notable entries recorded the impact of extreme conditions, such as Storm Eowyn and waves exceeding 40 feet off Land’s End, which dictated fleet movements and market prices.

Ecological Shifts and Biological Cycles

The blog tracked significant changes in marine biology, such as the normalization of bluefin tuna as a regular feature of the morning market. It also detailed the seasonal biological cycles of species like sardines, noting how shifts in fat content after spawning fundamentally alter their market value.

Regulatory Advocacy and Policy Analysis

Many posts were used to disseminate critical information regarding post-Brexit legislation and the Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (TECA). The blog provided a space for industry leaders to address the "poison" of divisive external campaigns and the challenges of managing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Bridging the Producer-Consumer Disconnect

A central mission of the blog is to "break the disconnect" between the work performed at sea and the food on a consumer's plate. This was achieved through documenting culinary collaborations, such as the Cornish Sardine Festival, and featuring the work of sustainable seafood advocates like local chefs Bruce Rennie at The Shore, Ben Tunnicliffe at The Tolcarne Inn and Angus Powell at Argoe.

Cultural and Artistic Preservation

The blog frames modern fishing as a continuation of Newlyn’s historical and artistic heritage. By blending reports on industrial realities with photography and art reviews—referencing the Newlyn School of painters—it preserved the social history and "four-dimensional" nature of the community. Heritage England funded work to bring the Old Quay back into use also neared completion by the end of the year.

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