As week draws to a close it's the first FishyFriday in October.

Time Tom took ice aboard the Guardian...

on a sunny Thursday...

the local gull population making the most of the solar panels on the market...

late Thursday evening and the sardine fleet find fish...

 off Mullion on the Lizard...

so it is the early hours of Friday morning before they are back in Newlyn to land...

alongside the fish market...

though for the first time we see the huge fish pump in action on the quay that...

the Pelagic marksman is now using...

all the boats land at the same time...

 to get their fish ashore and aboard the waiting transport...

now, inside the fish market the landings from many of the inshore fleet are all set for the online auction...

which starts at 6am, there are early sign of the cuttle season starting in some landings...

as ever, the inshore boats land top quality fish...

like this racking bream, but which bream species is it?..

one of three big bluefin landed that evening...

though it remains a mystery to many why they are so named as their fins are most definitely not blue...

one of the top handline men from the other Bay had a good day...

as did Cap'n Cod aboard the Butts- with Newlyn's youngest fisherman to join the handline fleet aboard Chris Morley's old boat Rachel & Paul, doing his best to out-fish the master...

yet more inshore fish, beautifully presented for auction.

Anger and frustration from fishermen as the South-west crawfish consultation results have been announced!

And the response from one crawfish fishermen. 

Concern for crawfish management back in 2022.

Behind the anger and frustration of fishermen is a growing sense that whatever they contribute by way of information and suggestions as to how best manage the fishery - the MMO does not appear to have heeded anything or be capable of acting on said advice. This and other recent fishery management decisions (eg brown crab, pollack) now cause fishermen to doubt the ability of the MMO to do nothing other then be re-active rather than proactive and to take the easy way out by appeasing a few in implementing species identified in the Fisheries Management Plans.

"On current evidence all the meetings, consultations, FMPs and workshops are frankly a waste of time unless there is political will from UK 🇬🇧 Govt to manage fisheries properly. Central to that must be steps to ensure stocks are maintained or can increase over time."

The anger and frustration are real - as are the consequences for a fishery that could be disastrous.

The MMO have said:

"Having considered the consultation responses, scientific and environmental evidence, socio-economic impacts and relevant legislation and policy, MMO will introduce a closure of the crawfish fishery for all UK and EU vessels in: 

English waters of ICES area 7 from 16 December 2024 to 31 May 2025 (inclusive). 

This closure length will protect berried and juvenile crawfish whilst balancing socio-economic considerations and allowing the shellfish industry time to adapt business processes."

Further information on a summary of responses received and reasoning behind the decision is available in the decision document.

Do you did you catch pollack in the South West?

Pollack fishing using boards

Pollack is an economically and socially important species for communities along the Devon and Cornwall coast, and has experienced a 72% decline in commercial landings over the last 20 years. A lack of evidence hampers fisheries management, so the Pollack FISP will collect vital data about pollack movement, habitat choice, populations and life history. This Marine Conservation Research Group project is to collect vital data about pollack movement, habitat choice, populations and life history using fishermen.

Run by University of Plymouth staff: Dr Emma Sheehan, Dr Thomas Stamp, Dr Rebecca Nesbit and Dr Bryce Stewart (MBA)

Data collection

Pollack will be fitted with acoustic tags, allowing their movements to be tracked using a network of receivers around the UK and Europe. Each tag continuously emits a uniquely coded ‘ping’ which can be detected by receivers on the seabed. This tracking data will reveal when and where pollack migrate, and identify habitats that are important for the fish, particularly at sensitive times such as spawning. It will also provide mortality estimates by identifying uncharacteristic absences of tagged fish. Pollack FISP

Working together

Fisheries data will also be collected by project partners. Anecdotal reports from commercial and recreational fishers have reported declining catch rates, with boats having to increase effort to capture fewer and smaller fish. To provide empirical evidence and inform future sustainable management, the project will analyse historic trends in pollack populations using catch logbooks from charter boats and records of trophy catches held at angling clubs. For the duration of the project, a consortium of charter vessels will collect Catch Per Unit Effort data.

In addition, a subsample of fish will be retained to provide biological data for stock assessment. Stomach contents will be analysed to identify prey species, and gonads will be used to calculate spawning activity. Each fish will be measured and aged, providing information on their size at different ages and at maturity.

Aims

Overall, the project will provide a strong evidence-base to inform sustainable management of pollack fisheries in the Channel. To help translate the data into policy, fishers will be interviewed to identify common concerns and ideas for fisheries-management recommendations. The project is led by Dr Emma Sheehan and post-doctoral researcher Dr Thomas Stamp from the University of Plymouth. It is supported by funding from the Defra Fisheries in Science Partnership (FISP) scheme, and delivered in partnership with the Professional Boatman’s Association, the University of York, the Marine Biological Association, the Angling Trust and Cefas. Research vessel

Professional Boatmans AssociationProfessional Boatmans Association Angling TrustAngling Trust University of YorkUniversity of York Cefas logoCefas Marine Biological Association logoMarine Biological Association University of Plymouth logoUniversity of Plymouth

Get involved with the Pollack FISP

The Pollack FISP is a true collaboration between scientists and the fishing community, so we are keen to hear from anyone who would like to get involved. We will be speaking with recreational anglers, charter skippers and commercial pollack fishers to learn more about their experiences of pollack fishing, their opinions on the current status of the stock and their views on future stock management. If you are a pollack fisher and are happy to be interviewed, please email Simon Thomas: simon.f.thomas@york.ac.uk

We are also collecting data from logbooks and trophy catch records to look for historic trends. If you have access to information that you’d be happy to share, please email Simon Thomas: simon.f.thomas@york.ac.uk Some of the fish we’ve tagged have been fitted with a yellow 'floy' tag at the base of the dorsal fin. On this tag you will see an email address (fishtagging@plymouth.ac.uk) and a tag ID number. If you catch a tagged fish, please email us with as much information as possible about when and where the fish was caught. If you’re fishing on secret marks, even just knowing this fish has been recaptured is extremely valuable to us.

There are spaces available on the RYA Yachtmaster course in October

 

Seafood Cornwall Training have spaces available on thier RYA Yachtmaster course in October. 

This is a 6 day course held in Newlyn at our training hub. The face-to-face tutored RYA course is intended for anyone wishing to safely skipper a sailing or powered craft commercially or for leisure. This is an advanced navigation course and you will need knowledge of navigation theory to Day Skipper level, or experience of navigating and managing your own vessel. You should expect to spend around 40 hours covering theory of navigation, meteorology, practical techniques for navigation, pilotage and planning for safe passages. Including fixing position, magnetic compass, tides, buoyage, lights, and pilotage. 

The course includes all the theory to progress to the practical examination for the RYA Coastal Skipper or RYA Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore Certificates of Competency. 

☎️ 01736 364 324 📧 info@seafoodcornwalltraining.co.uk

Much fish on the market this Monday morning!

Somewhat calmer than yesterday...

with the market end-to-end with fish after a week of fine weather...

and the netting fleet all at sea making hake landings from Silver Dawn snapped up by legendary Newlyn fish merchants, James'...

while the Ygraine...

Ocean Pride...

and Stelissa...

some Smart buying here...

line caught bass...

and plenty of flats...

and monk tails  from the Enterprise...

can't imagine the guys were too happy on the Ocean pride seeing this many dogs coming over the hauler...

but they sold anyway...

even the Guardian had just about every shark going in her trip...

top quality tubs...

and more dogs...

a good box of bonito...

a some mixed inshore landings...

including some good sized blondes...

those jigging machines are beginning to come into their own..

the Nichola making a landing

 after hauling all the way through yesterday's weather south of Scilly...

heavy weather scours the shallow waters in the bay as can be seen from the seaweed all around the harbour...

reminds me of a certain film...

bro's and sisters...

fuel time...

well this wind-farm cat is never going to be at sea in the weather we saw yesterday with bay windows like that in the wheelhouse and down below!

The deadline has been extended until tomorrow for the Developing Cornwall’s Fisheries – Engagement Pilot in St ives.

 

The deadline has been extended until tomorrow for the Developing Cornwall’s Fisheries – Engagement Pilot in St ives. Please see below for more details:

We’ve had a lot of interest in this event but there are still places available, so we’ve extended the deadline.

If you’re a commercial fisher in Cornwall then jump onboard - get involved and face to face with fisheries managers to share ideas, challenges and opportunities.

You can register interest for one or more of the three days and what we’re covering each day is below.

Please register your interest by 17:00 (5pm) on Tuesday 1 October.

Following the deadline, we will issue formal invites to attendees with further details including location and timings.

Agenda:

Wednesday 16 October

• The implementation of published Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) - such as crab and lobster, and bass.

Thursday 17 October

• The development of draft FMPs such as skates and rays and the Celtic Sea mixed demersal which includes pollack and sole. 

• The annual negotiations process and links with future fisheries management and opportunities. 

• Opportunities for potential future funding

Friday 18 October

Discussion on challenges and solutions for creating a more balanced approach to marine planning for future food security, energy security and marine environment recovery.

Watch this CFPO video to hear more about the event- https://www.facebook.com/reel/1176724110095794

Stormy sou'easterly weather for the beam trawler Enterprise as she heads in through the gaps.

The first gale of wind for  some time sees the Enterprise dodging in the bay waiting for enough water to allow her to enter Newlyn at the end of her trip timing her arrival shortly before high water...

before safely navigating the gaps with seas overtopping the south pier every few minutes...

 the heavy spray making filming difficult!..

she had been working east of the Lizard...

meanwhile, top hake netter Ygraine lands her trip of hake to the market.