Full on fish landings this #FishyFriday in Newlyn.

Not the kind of breaking day we have been enjoying for most of the week but that did not deter some of the bigger boats from landing this morning...

like the largest in the fleet, the Enterprise...

with plenty of top-drawer fish like these brill...

bass...

and John Dory...

the inshore boats were also out in force so mackerel made up some of the morning's auction sales...

along with the usual flats like these plaice...

all three beam trawlers landed cuttlefish, though with the price dropping around 60p a kilo by the end of the week the boats lost a significant part from their grossings...

these days not all of the fleet land their ray whole...

many 'wing' their ray and sell the 'frame' to the crabbers for bait...

a few inshore boats like Cap'n Cod made mackerel their target fish for the day...

alongside the fish market the crew of the Trevessa IV...

are busy overhauling both sets of gear...

with skipper-to-be Danny donning a pair of greasy gloves to sort out the port warp...

which then needs more than a slight adjustment to get it to wind on the winch drum...

meanwhile tubs of cuttles are hauled outside... 

to be picked up by the forklift...

the Our Charlie Mia  is the latest addition to the growing inshore fleet with young skipper Brackan Pearce at the helm...

after landing last night at the market...

harbour tug boat Danmar assists the Stelissa coming down off the slip...

just a few of the Waterdance fleet between trips...

as the Jen T waits for the Stelissa to clear the gaps allowing her away to sea...

and the harbour goes quiet for a few minutes...

until the work starts again.

Fish of the Day - week 11 - Cuckoo ray

 

The waters around the South Western Approaches support almost every kind of ray and skate found in the North East Atlantic.

The fish were were once seen on every fish and chip shop board often sold as skate.

They landed mainly by beam trawlers and inshore trawlers.

Distributed across North Eastern Atlantic waters from western North Africa to the British Isles and throughout the Mediterranean, the cuckoo ray (Leucoraja naevus) is common in the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and northern North Sea. It is rarely encountered in the eastern English Channel and southern North Sea. The cuckoo ray inhabits gravel and coarse sand seabeds and is typically found further offshore than other species of skate, such as the thornback and spotted ray, at depths ranging from 30 to 200 m.

Juvenile cuckoo rays feed on small crustaceans and polychaete worms whilst adults target bony fish such as gobies and sand eels The cuckoo ray is able to feed on small crustaceans and worms, and sometimes fish using the crushing plates that replace teeth in its mouth. Young cuckoo rays are more commonly found further offshore, whereas adults are often found close to shore. The cuckoo ray lays between 70 to 150 eggs per year. These eggs are commonly called ‘mermaid’s purses’ and empty ones can be found washed up along the shore line. 

Although it is commonly called the cuckoo ray, it is actually a species of skate (sometimes known as the cuckoo skate). Skates and rays are closely related and look similar, but you can spot the difference by looking at the tail. Skates have a short tail with small fins and no stinging capabilities, whereas rays have a long whip-like tail.

The fish average around the £3.00 per kilo at auction - on a good market, the largest grade of cukoo ray can make over £7.00.

Fishing in a changing seascape.

 ALL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP ON FISHERIES POLICY BRIEF POLICY BRIEF NO. 19 - JANUARY 2023

WHY WAS THIS EVENT CONVENED?

Competition for space in UK waters is regarded by many fisheries stakeholders as the single greatest challenge now facing the fishing industry. On 30 November 2022, the APPG on Fisheries organised an event bringing together Parliamentarians, policymakers, fishing industry representatives, and other marine stakeholders to discuss challenges around marine spatial planning (MSP) and potential policy solutions.

This is not an official publication of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its committees. All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed in this report are those of the group. www.fisheriesappg.org | secretariat@fisheriesappg.org 

Various activities in UK waters contribute to marine spatial competition, including offshore wind farm development, Marine Protected Area designations, aquaculture, and pipelines and cables. However, attention at the APPG event focused mainly on offshore wind, which is viewed by the fishing industry as the most significant threat, especially as the expansion of offshore wind capacity accelerates to help meet the UK’s Net Zero by 2050 target (1, 2).

"There's always an assumption that fishing can move without harm. But it's like a piece of elastic - when it gets so far it runs out of stretch. And we're at that point now."

This briefing synthesises discussions from the APPG event. Where additional sources have been consulted in producing this briefing, citations are provided.

Plans to locate the wreck of cargo vessel MV Mark off Cornwall Published

There must be some skippers working from Newlyn who have an idea where the wreck of the Mark might be based on what they have seen on their sounders - unlike many wrecks from WWII she would be in almost perfect condition. It would be helpful to know where and when debris from the Mark was picked up.

A lifebelt from cargo vessel MV Mark was washed up after it sank

A boat skipper from Sweden plans to try to locate the wreck of a cargo vessel that sank on the same night as the Penlee Lifeboat Disaster. The MV Mark got into difficulty off Penzance, Cornwall, on the night of 19 December 1981, resulting in six crew losing their lives. The vessel has never been found and identified, although debris was found. Fredrik Lunde said he hoped to find the ship and get more information for the families of its crew. The bulk carrier, loaded with China clay, suffered engine failure and lost contact with the coastguard.

Skipper Frederik Lunde 

Fredrik Lunde became interested in the MV Mark after locals in Penzance told him about it Debris including a lifebelt was washed up, with the belt now hanging on the wall in a local pub, the Dock Inn in Penzance.

The sinking happened on the same night the Penlee lifeboat was dispatched to help the MV Union Star. Newspaper reports at the time pointed out that 22 lives were lost that night - 16 from the Solomon Browne lifeboat and the coaster it had attempted to reach.

The Jorgen Amundsen is being turned into a survey vessel Mr Lunde, who has been in Cornwall since April, said he became interested in the Mark after locals told him about it.

He said he planned to take out his converted Norwegian rescue ship, the Jorgen Amundsen, which he has been turning into a survey vessel, to examine a possible wreck site some 165ft (50m) deep, about seven nautical miles (13km) off Penzance.

Mr Lunde said reports about the sinking, weather data and a scan of the area in 2016 "fits very well" with the Mark possibly being there. He added he had been in contact with some of the families of Mark's crew. "It'll be very nice to give them some extra information," he said.

Dawn - another bit of Newlyn magic this morning.

No light in the sky but it is a spring tide so there is plenty of light from the boats in the harbour at high water...

sardines a-plenty landed overnight...

blood-red gills tells you all you need to know about how fresh these mackerel are...

and these jigged squid just as fresh...

Tom ma n aged to have the market almost all to himself for an inshore trawler landing...

as the most expensive fish on the market - around £27 per kilo - you would think whoever filleted this turbot was a little more careful - ex-Grimsby fish-filleter Vince, who was lost on the Margaretha Maria - would be spinning in his grave if he had one on seeing the cutout rate on this turbit carcass!..

crabs love their gurnards...

and there are three of them here waiting to go to see as the sun begins to crack the cloud cover...

and a few crew make their way down the quay at first light...

as the Kelly of Ladram takes on new nets...

the harbour is all set for a new day and more settled weather......

there is hardly a ripple in the water, apart from the old lugger herself...

dozens of tubs of nets are on the quay waiting to go aboard the netting fleet over the spring tide...

with cloud cover at almost 100% there is not much room for the sun to break through but when it does...

there is fire in the sky as the inshore boat Jen T heads out to sea.

From deck to wheelhouse: new grant scheme available to support next generation of skippers.

The Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation (CFPO) has announced a new grant support scheme in partnership with the Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB) that will enable a cohort of fishermen to develop higher-level skills and sought-after qualifications to progress their fishing careers. This is a welcomed grant and will serve as a catalyst for helping fishermen move up the ranks and meet the needs of the industry.

One of the biggest barriers fishermen face in obtaining higher level qualifications is taking time off from going to sea, but with the grant support from the MNWB, there are now funds available to cover loss of earnings, travel, accommodation and some basic living costs.

Joel Dunn, CFPO Youth Board member and skipper, explained:

“Working towards developing the necessary skills and knowledge to obtain a Class 2 qualification takes time and dedication - the course runs for 12 weeks. Given the current financial climate, three months in a classroom is a significant amount of time to not be at sea earning, so the financial support from the MNWB will be a major help and certainly encourage people to take on the challenge and upskill themselves.”

Setting out as a pilot project, the up-and-coming fishermen will enrol on higher-level courses throughout 2023 to work towards their Class 3 and Class 2 qualifications. To obtain the qualifications, trainees will need to develop skills in navigation, meteorology, stability, chart work, safety, and management, with the training taking a minimum of 12 weeks.

Chris Ranford, Chief Executive Officer of the CFPO, stated:

“The CFPO published a new fishing strategy in 2022 and developing people is a key theme within it. Cornwall has a long tradition of producing top-class fishermen and this project will ensure we continue to nurture the talent that already exists within the industry and really help build careers in fishing. It’s not just about qualifications, this project also aims to improve people’s confidence and ambition to carry on progressing.”

Sharon Coveney, Deputy Chief Executive of the MNWB, commented:

“We have so many talented and experienced fishermen who work tirelessly to land around 400,000 tonnes of fish each year in the UK. There’s no escaping that being a fisherman is a physically and mentally demanding job with long hours and can be unpredictable at times. Yet, it’s one of the most rewarding sectors to work in providing high quality fish for millions of people. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial we see more people coming into the industry as well as those making real progression. We are delighted to provide this grant that will play a major role in boosting careers in this industry at a vitally-important time.”

The MNWB grant funding is available throughout 2023 and initially focuses on supporting CFPO members and their crew. If you would like to know more about this project, then please get in contact with the CFPO office.

The Shore, Penzance - check out the exciting new menu!

Wizard asian fusion wonder chef Bruce Rennie at The Shore who wowed several hundred lucky fish fans in Penzance before Christmas with his truly magnificent blue-fin tuna dishes has completely re-invented his offering for 2023!

Last year saw a massive shift in the market so he decided to diversify from his flight menu to attract a broader range of guests. The new offering has become more flexible from a price point and dish perspective. 

The Shore now offers two different services so you can choose which suits you best. Informal Izakaya (Japanese style tapas) style Tuesday – Thursday afternoons and set Kaiseki style Friday and Saturday evenings.

However, at the heart of this new approach he is maintaining his widely acclaimed Japanese flavour profiles that have earned him the highest Trip Advisor rating for any eating establishment in the area!

Bruce has said it is early days so he will stay flexible and listen to what people want and adapt the product when he sees necessary. Dining at  the Shore is all about having a bit of fun but keeping the quality of the cooking and service.

PS...lots of local beer and a bit of Sake will be available because they match brilliantly!