Newlyn Auction Strength Sustained by Heavy Hake Volume and Premium Prime

 

The February market at Newlyn continues to show resilience despite the seasonal volatility of the Western Approaches. This week’s trading (Feb 9–12) saw a steady flow of tonnage across the quay, with the auction floor bolstered by consistent Hake landings and high demand for top-tier prime whitefish.

Hake Dominates Market Throughput

The week was defined by the sheer volume of Hake, which accounted for approximately 60% of the total market volume. Totaling 22,238kg, the species realized a total value of £75,502. While volume remained high, prices held firm with an average of £3.40/kg, providing a solid foundation for the week’s turnover.

Prime Market and Luxury Species

Demand for high-end "table" fish remains sharp, as evidenced by the premium prices paid for Turbot. Despite lower landing weights, Turbot commanded the week’s top average price of £18.43/kg, generating nearly £19,000 from just over a tonne of fish.

Monkfish also saw a strong showing, securing its position as the second most valuable species of the week. With 3,744kg landed, it brought in £31,014, averaging £8.28/kg. Other high-performing prime species included:

Megrim: 2,130kg landed, realizing £14,643 (£6.87/kg avg).

Dover Sole: Sustained high demand for larger grades, contributing to the overall strength of the prime auction.

Non-Quota and Cephalopod Trends

The trend for Cuttlefish continues, with 1,848kg crossing the scales this week for a total value of £8,555. Combined with consistent landings of Pollack and Plaice, the diversity of the catch ensured that buyers from both the domestic and export sectors remained active on the market.

Meteorological & Tidal Outlook for the Coming Week

The fleet should prepare for a tightening window of operation as we move into the weekend of February 14th.

Weather: A shift from light wintry showers to a more traditional Atlantic "wet and windy" pattern is forecast. Expect consistent rain from Sunday through Tuesday, with westerly winds gusting to 21 mph (Force 5), which may restrict the smaller inshore fleet.

Tides: We are entering a Spring Tide cycle. Port operations should note significant increases in tidal range at Newlyn, with high waters building toward a peak of 5.67m (18.6 ft) by next Friday.

Top Species (by Value)Weight (kg)Total ValueAvg Price (£/kg)

Misty morn!

A spring tide means the ports 450 ton Enterprise can come up and land directly to the fish market despite her draft of nearly 5 metres...

it's all hands to the pallet truck...

and team effort from the Stevensons shore crew...

while the ship's crew get on with repairing the starboard beam trawl...

and take on fresh supplies...

meanwhile, the sardine boat Lyonesse tries to squeeze into a berth to land while work gets underway to add a protective rubbing strip along the full length of the market.

Octopus bloom - Latest landings data Infographic

As part of the ongoing monitoring of the octopus bloom and it’s effects on other species, the MMO's south west RFG regularly updates infographics based on MMO’s landings data. These are also on the SW RFG webpage, which as a reminder, is the place to find all the Octopus Bloom updates.

 

Poor weather denies Newlyn of fish this Monday mornimg as another gale sweeps acroos the bay

No more thn a couple of dozen boxes of fish were auctioned on this morning's market. In the meantime the Crystal Sea took advantage the big tide which provided enough water for her to come alongside the market to land her trip. She was followed by the recently arrived Cornishman who put ashore over 200 boxes of prime beam trawl fish for Tuesday's market. 

There was plenty going on in the bay with the workboat Tean leaving Newlyn and rolling her way to Penzance dock while the Danmark stood by the tug Christine which was valiantly holding the barge being used to transport stone from Newyn to the Scillys on the end of a tow line.

Quiet end to the week in Newlyn

 

The St Georges, brings home the fish again...

as one of the bigger tides of the year fills the harbour...

watched over by this year's resident flock of turnstones and a hungry looking gull still on the lookout for an easy breakfast from the now quiet market.

Bream, Bass, and Blooms: Fish auction news from Newlyn

It has been a chilly, brisk start to February 2026 down on the quayside, but the atmosphere inside the Newlyn Fish Market remains as white-hot as ever. As Ocean Fish continues to source the very best of the Cornish catch, this week’s auctions have provided a fascinating snapshot of a fleet in full swing, navigating both traditional seasonal patterns and some surprising modern "blooms."

Here are the standout features from the market floor this week:

1. The Bass Bonanza

If there was a theme to Monday’s opening bell, it was undoubtedly net and line caught bass. The market was awash with silver this week; as the saying goes on the harbour, there was "bass everywhere you look." The quality has been superlative, with the local inshore fleet bringing in stunning, firm-fleshed specimens that are currently the crown jewel of the auction. For chefs and retailers looking for that iconic Cornish plate, the supply has rarely looked better.

2. The Mediterranean "Octopus Bloom" Continues

In a fascinating shift that has become a recurring headline for 2026, the Mediterranean Octopus ( Octopus vulgaris ) continues to show up in significant numbers. What was once a rare visitor to the Southwest is now a consistent staple of the Newlyn auctions. These "blooms" are providing a welcome boost for the mixed-fishery boats, with high-quality octopi being diverted straight to the vivier tanks and processors to meet growing continental and domestic demand.

3. Prime Flats and Big Blue Arrivals

While the netters have been busy with bass and pollack, the beamers—led by the likes of the St. Georges—have been landing a steady supply of prime flatfish and Monkfish. Of particular note was a magnificent 150kg Bluefin Tuna that graced the market earlier in the week, reminding everyone of Newlyn’s status as a premier port for high-value, sustainable Atlantic species.

4. Modernisation in Action

Beyond the species, the "feel" of the market is evolving. Under the stewardship of W Stevenson & Sons, the transition toward a more digitally integrated auction is paying dividends. We are seeing more robust grading and quality control, which gives remote buyers the confidence to bid alongside those of us physically on the tiles. This synergy is ensuring that the hard work of vessels like the Silver Dawn, Britannia V, and Ajax is reflected in the premium prices their catches deserve.

Mapping the Deep: Insights from the SIFIDS Work Package 8B Report

Mapping the Deep: Insights from the SIFIDS Work Package 8B Report

Of great relvance to Newlyn, a beacon of data-driven insight has emerged from the north. The Scottish Inshore Fisheries Integrated Data System (SIFIDS) has released its final report —a document that attempts to bridge the gap between the unseen movements of the inshore fleet and the regulatory frameworks that govern them.

The report, titled "Identifying fishing activities and their associated drivers," marks a significant step forward in how the industry might navigate the "spatial squeeze" of the 21st century. For a region likethe Suth West, which has long relied on the intuition and hard-won knowledge of its skippers, the findings offer a glimpse into a future where technology and tradition are increasingly intertwined.

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Mapping the Unseen
"Fishing activity isn't just a matter of where the fish are; it is a complex dance driven by a multitude of factors."
Breaking the Disconnect
Looking Ahead

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The report focuses on a perennial challenge for the inshore sector: the lack of high-resolution data. While larger offshore vessels are tracked with precision, the activities of smaller inshore craft have often remained in the shadows of official datasets. The SIFIDS team utilized Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to track vessel movements, but they went a step further—investigating whether these digital footprints could be used to accurately infer specific fishing patterns.

The report identifies that the "drivers" behind every haul are manifold, ranging from weather patterns and seasonal biological cycles to the economic pressures of market prices and fuel costs. By analysing these drivers, the study provides a more granular understanding of how the fleet operates within the marine environment.

A central theme of Through the Gaps! is breaking the disconnect between the work performed at sea and the policy decisions made on land. The SIFIDS report serves this mission by providing a robust, objective evidence base. In an era where offshore renewable energy projects and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are competing for the same stretches of water, having "digital proof" of fishing grounds is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity for the industry's defense.

The study emphasises that involving the industry in data collection is paramount. Over 130 vessel skippers participated in the wider SIFIDS project, proving that when fishermen are treated as partners in research, the results are both more accurate and more respected. This collaborative approach mirrors the spirit of the Newlyn community, where the digital lighthouse and physical labor must work in tandem.

As the industry moves toward a "Digitalisation Roadmap," reports like this one from the SIFIDS project provide the coordinates. They remind us that while the sea remains a volatile and four-dimensional workplace, the tools we use to understand it are becoming sharper.

For the readers of Through the Gaps!, the SIFIDS report is a reminder that the future of fishing lies in the data. Whether it’s documenting the arrival of the morning market or mapping the high-value grounds of the inshore fleet, the goal remains the same: ensuring that the vital work of the fishing community is recognized, respected, and protected for the generations to come.

Watch: Introduction to the SIFIDS Project