There's never a quiet moment in Newlyn

Out with the old, in with the new, another big fender takes shape...

the morning's catch bound to a plate near you...

always a smile with these guys aboard the netter Ajax...

two more visitors...

lucky young James with his new punt, imagine having the benefit of over 150 years of fishing experience on hand to best advise you just when you need it!..

gear time aboard the two biggest Stevenson beamers...

paint up time on the slip...

watched by some of the local shag population airing their wings...

time to paint in the waterline...

on the Karen N, one of the Nowell's fleet...

restoration work is making the Old Quay look very spruce these days...

even the streets of Newlyn have a strong connection with artists...

won't be long before SCT move into their siny new home further down the Strand...

where the fishermen of the future will learn new skills like net making and setting...

while you are in Newlyn, a table at the Tolcarne Inn enjoying Michelin Star quality fish dishes...

while watching the boats come in, is a must! Catch Happy Hour from 5-6pm every evening!

Counting the Invisible: The Science of the Nephrops Burrow Survey

Every year, Underwater Television surveys are carried out to monitor the seabed in several different locations

For those who make a living on the water, the Nephrops norvegicus—better known as the Dublin Bay prawn, langoustine, or scampi—is a cornerstone of the UK fishing economy. However, managing these stocks requires more than just monitoring landings. It requires a specialized form of underwater detective work.

Recently, an international group of scientists gathered at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Belfast to refine the "art" of the Underwater Television (UWTV) survey. This annual training ensures that both veteran researchers and new analysts are calibrated to the same high standard before the summer survey season begins.

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The Proxy Method: Counting Burrows, Not Prawns

The primary challenge in assessing Nephrops populations is their behavior. Unlike many commercial species that swim in the water column, prawns are seabed dwellers that spend the vast majority of their lives inside complex burrow systems.

Because the animals are often hidden, scientists cannot rely on counting individual prawns. Instead, they use the burrow as a proxy for the inhabitant.

• The Technique: Researchers deploy cameras on sleds that are towed across the seabed in various locations.

• The Identification: Analysts must distinguish a Nephrops burrow from those created by other marine life or natural depressions in the silt.

• The Markers: A true prawn burrow typically features a "driveway"—a signature mound of excavated sand—and usually consists of two or more entrances to allow the animal to transit through.

A Collaborative Effort Across the Irish Sea

Monitoring the Irish Sea is a cross-border endeavor. Scientists from AFBI, the Marine Institute in Galway, and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) in Lowestoft work in tandem to cover both the western and eastern sectors.

Dr. Pia Schuchert (AFBI) and Jennifer Doyle (Marine Institute) have spent years studying these habitats. Their work, alongside colleagues like shellfish scientist Chris Firmin, ensures that the data used to set fishing quotas is based on precise, non-invasive observation. This method allows for a comprehensive look at the habitat without the need to catch the animals during the assessment phase.

Economic and Environmental Stakes

The precision of these counts has significant real-world implications:

• Economic Value: Prawn fishing is worth approximately £114 million annually to the UK and €61 million to Ireland.

• Ecological Role: Beyond their market value, prawns act as a vital link in the marine food web, consuming algae and decaying matter while serving as a primary food source for larger predators.

• Seabed Mapping: The data also feeds into broader projects, such as Northern Ireland’s initiative to become the first part of the UK to have its entire seabed recorded.

As the industry prepares for the upcoming season, the work conducted in Belfast ensures that the "peek-a-boo" nature of the Nephrops doesn't stand in the way of sustainable fishery management.

This story thanks to Louise Cullen, Louise is BBC News NI's agriculture and environment correspondent.

Another busy Monday morning market for Newlyn.

Get a head start...

another new quay fender is about to get dropped into the harbour...

inshore lobsterman Andrew is bound in...

Monday morning and the Silver Dawn arrives to land her trip of hake for tomorrow's market......

filling much of Monday's auction spreadsheet is hake and other whitefish from the Stelissa...

with just over 300 boxes including over 200 of hake...

the Ocean Pride...

and Britannia V also landed hake trips...

prime red mullet...

a few inshore boats managed to get in a few hauls to provide the market with more quality like these plaice

along with some bonus fish from the big netter...

two beam trawlers completed their week-long trips to make a Monday morning market...

the odd smoothhound found its way ashore...

along with a some big crab paws...

good hauls of ray came aboard some inshore boats like the Morning Star...

there's two sides to every turbot...

landing at the market...

as Ryan swings the first of the Silver Dawn's fish ashore...

Annie May comes in with the goods...

some bloom, there's still no let up in octopus landings...

a brace of fine pollack...

and one big conger...

this guy is hoping someone will toss him a scrap...

according to the Farmer's forecast for the week, things will become more Spring-like in a few day's time.

 

More Than a Catch: Why ‘A Taste of the Salt’ is the Film Every Seafood Lover Needs to See

 For centuries, the rhythmic pulse of Plymouth has been defined by the sea. It’s in the air, the history, and—most importantly—the hard-earned livelihoods of the men and women who call the Fish Quay home. But as our modern food systems become increasingly "murky" and disconnected, the stories of those who actually harvest our waters are often lost to the tide.

Enter A Taste of the Salt, a powerful new documentary film from the Plymouth Fishing & Seafood Association (PFSA).

Created in collaboration with Meor Studio and RNLI Helmsman/Director J.P. Williams, this isn’t just a film about fishing; it’s a cinematic "call to reconnection." Following the lives of three local fishermen, the documentary goes beyond the horizon to capture the grit, the passion, and the precariousness of life on the water.

The film arrives at a critical turning point for the city. Following the closure of the Plymouth fish auction in 2024, our local fleet has faced unprecedented challenges in getting their catch onto local plates. A Taste of the Salt pulls back the curtain on this hidden industry, asking us to look past the supermarket shelf and see the faces—like Tony Heinemann, who famously says the salt is "in his blood"—behind the seafood we love.

Whether you're a local resident, a sustainable food advocate, or someone who simply appreciates the raw beauty of life at sea, this film is a moving tribute to the resilience of a community fighting to stay afloat.

In today’s post, we’re diving into the heart of the "A Taste of the Salt" campaign and exploring how we can all help keep Plymouth’s historic fleet fishing for generations to come...

Fish auction news for the week.

 

Overview of the week in Newlyn.

Significant Landings

• Mediterranean Octopus (Pot Caught): This was the most consistent high-volume species from March 9th to 12th, peaking on the 11th with 8,581 kg, representing over 80% of that day's total market volume.

• MSC Hake: A massive influx occurred on March 13th, with 12,704 kg landed. This single-species landing was the largest volume event of the five-day period and significantly lowered the overall market average price for that day.

• Dover Sole & Cuttlefish: These species maintained steady secondary volumes throughout the week, typically ranging between 500kg and 2,300kg.

Price Extremes 

• High Prices: Turbot (specifically Size 2, 4-6kg) consistently fetched the highest prices, reaching a peak of £45.17/kg on March 11th. Lobsters also saw high demand, ranging between £28.00 and £37.00/kg.

• Low Prices: Industrial and smaller fish like Red Bream (Size 5), Haddock (Size 5), and Pout Whiting frequently sold at the bottom of the market, with prices as low as £0.11 to £0.18/kg.

Trends

• Supply vs. Demand: There was a clear inverse relationship between volume and price. On March 12th, when landings were at their lowest (5.8 tons), the average price reached a weekly high of £8.16/kg. Conversely, when the Hake "glut" arrived on the 13th, the market average dropped to £4.65/kg.

• Species Volatility: Turbot showed significant price volatility, dropping from nearly £39/kg on the 11th to roughly £17.75/kg by the 13th. In contrast, Dover Sole remained highly resilient, with prices staying within the £15.80 – £18.30/kg range regardless of volume fluctuations.

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The five-day period was characterised by a mid-week slump in volume followed by a significant surge on Friday. The first half of the week was dominated by Mediterranean Octopus, which provided stable weight but moderate value. The supply tightening on Thursday (March 12th) drove prices for premium whitefish to their weekly peak. The week ended with a "high-volume, lower-value" Friday, driven predominantly by a large landing of MSC Hake, which provided nearly 70% of that day's total weight but pushed the daily average price to its lowest point (£4.65/kg). Premium species like Turbot, Lobster, and Dover Sole remained the primary value drivers for the auction throughout the period.