Tag Archives: Britain
NFFO Challenges Crown Estate: Food Security or Energy Production
This week, The Crown Estate unveiled an ambitious new vision for Britain’s seas, prioritising the development of offshore wind farms. The new Marine Delivery Routemap outlines plans for significant offshore wind capacity, with the potential for up to 140GW of wind power to be installed or planned by 2040. However, this massive shift towards industrialising the marine environment has sparked concerns within the fishing industry, which fears the impact on traditional fishing grounds and coastal communities. The proposed expansion will see tens of thousands of square kilometres of the UK’s waters leased for offshore wind development, raising concerns about the overlap with areas vital to food production through fishing. Fishermen, who have been working Britain’s seas for generations, worry that the scale of these developments could disrupt the industry on an unprecedented scale. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:07
F/V Argos Georgia Tragedy: Falklands looking after community’s emotional wellbeing following traumatic event
Following the incident involving the Argos Georgia this week, the Falkland Islands government Emotional Wellbeing Service (EWS) would like to reach out to members of the community who may be feeling distressed about what has happened. We have spoken to a number of people from across our community who are feeling very high levels of distress due to the incident. We would like to reassure anyone who is feeling this way that this is a very natural reaction to such a disaster, especially in such a small, close-knit community. If you have been directly or indirectly affected by this incident, please know that you are not alone. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:53
Tragedy strikes fishing operation
Nine crew members had been confirmed dead and four were still missing as of Wednesday, according to reports in both Norwegian and British media. News bureau Reuters reported that four persons remained missing while 14 were found alive, 13 of them on board one of the Fishing Vessel Argos Georgia‘s lifeboats and one on another. Argos Froyanes is described on its own website as a privately owned British-Norwegian partnership between Argos, based in the Falkland Islands, and Ervik Havfiske, based at Stadlandet in Western Norway. Eleven Ervik Havfiske vessels have been operating from the Barents Sea off Norway to as far south as Antarctica, areas known for rough weather and sea conditions but also for being home to high-quality fish in deep waters. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:59
URGENT WARNING: If Labour give fish stocks to EU – UK fishing fleet will die
I don’t want to state the bleeding’ obvious, but Britain is an Island and our coastal communities have been fishing for millennia. Indeed, the sea and fishing is in our DNA. It was natural therefore, that of the causes front and centre of the Brexit campaign was fisheries. Leaving the Block, we and, more importantly, our fishing industry were told, would mean taking back our fishing stocks from the European Union. Today though, our fishermen have every right to feel disappointed and deceived, because, when we did leave the EU, we didn’t take our fishing stocks back or reinvigorate our fishing industry as had been promised. Instead, we agreed to EU boats being allowed to continue fishing our waters and, instead of reasserting our rights over our own waters, we agreed to a phased reduction in EU catches, until 2026. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:09
How Brixham fishermen rescued 70 after U-boat attack
This feature is dedicated to William Pillar – Captain of a fishing smack out of Brixham who, with three crew and two boys, saved seventy Naval personnel from a watery grave in the First World War after their Battleship sank. It was on New Year’s Day 1915 at 2am that the battleship HMS Formidable was patrolling in Start Bay on the Devon coast when a German U-boat spotted her and, having fired two torpedoes, ensured the Formidable then sank. With the watertight doors closed, most of the crew luckily assembled on deck while scrambling for the lifeboats. There had been 790 sailors aboard the Battleship but only 201 would survive and of these 71 would be rescued by Provident, a fishing smack out of Brixham under the command of Pillar and a small crew. The lucky sailors had been adrift for 12 hours when the “smack”, returning to Brixham, spotted their small Navy cutter. Captain Pillar knew of the dangers he now faced, yet on his fourth attempt he successfully had a line aboard the cutter despite huge seas and the dangers to all men. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:27
Fisherman remembers lives lost at sea with new day
A fisherman and RNLI crewman will be among those marking a new day of remembrance for workers killed at sea. Peter Clark, from Cullercoats RNLI in North Tyneside, is taking part in the first National Fishing Remembrance Day on Sunday to honour his missing colleagues. He said he has searched for and lost friends in the water and witnessed people’s anguish when family members do not return home from work. “A National Day of Remembrance can highlight the sacrifice these families ultimately made,” Mr Clark said. The fisherman joined the RNLI almost 30 years ago and is helm on Cullercoats lifeboat. As part of the Remembrance Day, a gathering will take place at the fisherman statue at North Shields’ Fiddler’s Green on Sunday. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:12
Jersey fishing community’s fight for revival after storm
Members of a Jersey fishing community have told of their path to recovery after the “worst weather conditions in 25 years” wreaked havoc on their bay. A storm in late February caused extensive damage to boats and boatowners’ huts at Bonne Nuit Bay. Nigel Carré said two of his boats on the breakwater were damaged by gusts of up to 60mph (96km/h) and high seas. Neil Cotillard, from the Bonne Nuit Boat Owners’ Association, said at the time that the “worst weather conditions in the bay in 25 years” had caused “utter carnage”, with five fishermen’s huts ripped off their foundations. Among the floating casualties was Mr. Carré’s boat Helen of Lee. Photos, more, >>click to read<< 16:34
New Crabber for Bridlington Family
Genesis has been built by Parkol Marine Engineering to an Ian Paton design for Neil Robson and his sons, who between them run Genesis Fishing. The new boat will work from Bridlington, skippered by elder son George, while younger son John skippers the company’s other crabber, Genesis Enigma. An older crabber, Genesis Rose, is about to be sold now that the new boat is fishing. ‘We’ve been fishing all January, and obviously we are made up with her, few bits of teething troubles but nothing major, the new deck layout works great, we have had a mixed bag of weather 45/50 knot winds on one trip, which was good to see and get a good feel of how she performs,’ George Robson said. Photos, more, >>click to read<< 08:18
European fishermen furious as Britain ‘breaks Brexit deal’ to block them
The EU is facing pressure from Denmark and Sweden to take action against the UK in the latest dispute over fishing post-Brexit. The UK has banned catching sand eels on Dogger Bank in the North Sea – a move which could lead Denmark’s fishing industry facing a potential annual loss of €18million (£15.4million). The sand eel is crucial for the economies of both Denmark and Sweden for their uses in pig feed and fish oil. Discussions over how the EU should respond have even included imposing tariffs on UK exports if the dispute escalates to a breach of the on Dogger Bank. Other coastal states are also understood to have backed the demand by Copenhagen for the EU to stand up to London. More, >>click to read<< 16:37
Bomb found on Looe trawler moved and blown up safely
The alarm was raised in a Cornish harbour on Thursday after a suspected bomb was found on a fishing trawler, the Coastguard said. The Coastguard, police and the Royal Navy’s explosive ordnance disposal team were all called to Looe Harbour at about 12:45 GMT. It was taken out to sea to a location south of the Plymouth Breakwater. The navy said it was then made safe in a controlled underwater explosion. A team of Royal Navy divers from HMNB Devonport carried out the explosion on Friday afternoon. more, >>click to read<< 12:38
Campaign to save historic Hastings fishing boat from being demolished
The clinker built boat Dorothy Melinda has been on display on an island outside Hastings railway station for the past 15 years. It is the first thing visitors to Hastings see when they arrive in the town by rail. But now the Council has said its is planning or removing the boat later this month as vandalism and its deteriorating condition have caused it to become a safety hazard. A campaign has been launched to save the boat, which is part of the town’s fishing history, and restore it to its former glory. more, >>click to read<< 07:02
Huge fishing boom heralded on coast of Britain in ‘brilliant Brexit bonus’
Britain is poised to reap the benefits of a “brilliant Brexit bonus” after the discovery of large shellfish beds in the Thames Estuary, offering the nation’s fishermen a massive shot in the arm, an MP has revealed. And Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Southend West MP Anna Firth he shared her delight at the “fantastic discovery” – and pledged to come and see it for himself. Speaking in the Commons during Prime Minister’s Question Time, Ms Firth said: “New very large shellfish beds have been discovered in the Thames Estuary, including razor clams and manila clams, both highly prized around the world. more, >>click to read<< 10:25
Fishermen fear for future of industry in Cromer crab row
The Cromer Shoal Chalk Bed is the world’s longest chalk reef, stretching more than 20 miles along the coast from Weybourne to Happisburgh, and has provided a living for generations of fishermen. But there are now fears for the future of this centuries-old industry. This is because three sections of the reef have now become ‘no fishing zones’ as part of a study to compare the damage being caused to the chalk bed by natural causes and potting – the traditional method of using pots to catch crabs and lobsters. The ‘natural disturbance study’ is being carried out by the Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (EIFCA) and comes after a report by Natural England found fishermen dropping pots on the seabed was damaging the chalk. photos, more, >>click to read<< 10:21
Brexit Britain takes ‘full advantage’ of EU exit to deliver yet another major fishing win
Britain is taking advantage of post-Brexit freedoms to deliver more support for UK sustainable fishing. New plans have been published today to help protect and recover key fishing stocks. The first five Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) set out how the Government will work with the fishing industry and other stakeholders to support the sustainable management of species such as crab, lobster, king scallop and bass. more, >>click to read<< 10:40
Post Brexit freedoms to deliver more support for UK sustainable fishing – New plans to help protect and recover key fishing stocks have been published today (Thursday 14 December), seizing on the opportunities of the UK’s post-Brexit freedoms to support coastal jobs and protect the marine environment. more, >>click to read<< 10:40
Celebrating fish and seafood with British fishing community
Next time you fancy a fish dish, forget the familiar standbys and try something different and local, suggests the author of a new cookbook For the Love of the Sea II has been hailed as ‘a seafood odyssey’ in the book’s foreword by Rockfish founder Mitch Tonks. He says: ‘This delightful book not only inspires you with wonderful pictures of our coastline and of fishermen and their communities, but also with recipes from real people, like me and you, that do love British fish and seafood.’ The book reveals stories and recipes from the individuals and businesses that work within the country’s diverse coastal communities, from fishmongers to foragers and basket weavers to marine scientists. Lots of photos, >>click to read<< 10:19
Tributes to Cromer fisherman and council leader John Lee
He was an eighth-generation fisherman known for his down-to-earth style and speaking his mind. Helping others, socialising and having a laugh were all part of his daily routine, and he was dedicated to his family. Tributes have been paid to John Lee, from Cromer, who has died following a short illness, aged 60. His widow, Donna Lee, said his death had come as a shock. “It has left a big hole in our lives and our hearts – we weren’t expecting it this quickly,” she said. “He called a spade a spade, he was straight-talking and honest. He was a family man, very sociable, and very committed to Cromer, the community and to youth football.” Photos, >>click to read<< 09:07
Free dental care offered to fisherman and their families
Between 14 September and 14 December 2023, Smiles at Sea – now in its seventh year – will open its doors to fishermen suffering from dental problems in Cornwall and Devon. Along with their dependent families, they will have access to free dental checks, emergency treatment and oral cancer screenings from a mobile dental unit in eight fishing ports. The treatment will relieve any urgent dental problems including simple tooth extraction, permanent fillings and scale and polish. There will also be referrals through NHS routes where more complex oral surgery is required. >>click to read<< 09:37
Hull tower blocks named in honour of trawler campaigner women
Three tower blocks in Hull have been renamed in honour of women who fought for new safety laws after a slew of fishing tragedies in the 1960s. Dubbed the Headscarf Revolutionaries, Yvonne Blenkinsop, Lillian Bilocca, Christine Jensen and Mary Denness changed the fishing industry for good. They took action after a triple trawler tragedy in 1968 which saw the loss of three Hull trawlers and 58 crew. Name plaques on the Porter Street flats were unveiled on Friday. The women’s campaign started when 58 fishermen lost their lives in three separate trawler sinkings in the space of less than a month in 1968. The trawlers – St Romanus, Kingston Peridot and Ross Cleveland – all sank in quick succession, and only one man survived. Photos, >click to read< 08:50
Brexiteer highlights four things Rishi can do to save Britain’s battered fishing industry
Britain’s long-suffering fishermen still need to be shown the benefits to quitting the European Union, Tory MP Sir John Redwood has said, seven years after the nation voted for Brexit. And the long-term Eurosceptic has pinpointed four things Rishi Sunak’s Government can do to demonstrate the decision was the right one. Many fishermen backed Brexit from the beginning, spearheaded by the Fishing for Leave campaign, which saw it as an integral way to seize back control of the seas around Britain. However, many were left bitterly disappointed by the end result, believing the deal signed by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson have given too much away to Brussels. Video, >click to read< 13:34
Brexit revives historic herring fishing after 25-year hiatus
The Isle of Man’s historic herring industry is being revived after a quarter of a century thanks to a post-Brexit deal with the UK over fishing quotas. The island’s fishermen will be able to land four times as many herring as before and will also be allowed to catch 235 tonnes of langoustines, worth a total of more than £2 million per year to the island’s economy. The Manx fishing industry was brought to its knees by the European Union Common Fisheries Policy, which placed strict limits on the size of catches in the 1980s. >click to read< 16:49
MP says East fishing industry ‘still struggling’ after Brexit
Peter Aldous, the MP for Waveney in Suffolk, told a parliamentary debate on the state of fishing that there had been “no significant improvement” since Britain left the EU. He blamed high fuel costs and labour shortages as well as “the poor terms for fishing that were negotiated”. “In many respects the situation has got worse,” he told the debate. “Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have some of the richest fishing grounds in northern Europe but I’m afraid catch opportunities for local fishermen remain poor because we do not have full control over our waters.” >click to read< 08:50
Offshore Windfarms Threaten to Pull Out of Uneconomical Contracts
A string of offshore wind projects meant to power Britain are in jeopardy after the global race to net zero sent costs soaring, casting doubt over the industry’s future as a cheap source of energy. A surge in supply chain costs has pushed up the price of wind turbines, while increases in global interest rates have raised refinancing costs substantially. It has made several projects unviable just a year after they won government subsidy contracts – leading to fears from industry insiders that Britain’s future is in jeopardy as the “Saudi Arabia of wind”. Schemes developed by Danish company Ørsted and Swedish player Vattenfall are among other projects understood to be at risk, as the industry seeks more government help to ensure projects remain viable. >click to read< 09:30
Devon man forced to drive 1,000 miles a week to deliver fish
A Devon fisherman is calling on the King to resolve his predicament as he launches a petition against bylaws that prevent him from selling fish directly from his boat at Brixham harbour. Tristan Northway used to be able to do this from his boat ADELA MB79 due to a relaxation in these bylaws during the pandemic where he sold fish caught just half an hour from the harbour. Now the pandemic allowances are over and he is not allowed to sell at the harbour he has to drive 1,000 miles a week, he said, in order to deliver his fish nationwide. He said he goes as far as Stoke-On-Trent and Birmingham meaning sometimes he only just covers his costs. Photos, >click to read< 13:23
Will American fish save our chippies? Massive rise in the cost of cod and haddock is forcing firms to look for cheaper alternatives
A huge rise in the cost of cod and haddock, alongside a tariff on Russian white fish, is forcing firms to look for cheaper alternatives, including rockfish, also known as Pacific perch, and hake, which the US west coast has in abundance. They both taste similar to cod. Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, visited Oregon last month as part of a delegation from the UK seafood industry. He said the huge surplus of fish in the US could ‘take the pressure off’ needing to find expensive supplies closer to home. >click to read< 12:01
A Crab’s Eye View of Brexit
Of all the vexing regulations that Brexit has thrust upon Paul Knight’s shellfish exporting business, the one he finds most absurd is this: Before he can deliver his crabs and lobsters to France and Spain, they must be certified by a veterinarian. Before Brexit that was relatively simple. But now, because of all the extra paperwork required, Alastair Mackie, the Dignity Jay’s skipper, must deliver his shellfish earlier. So he will finish fishing by 11.30 a.m., rather than 5 p.m., to get his catch on a ferry from the Isle of Mull to Oban on the Scottish mainland. Each week, the early finish cuts one day’s catch in half. When it took full effect, in January 2021, Brexit ended an era of easy trade with his markets in continental Europe. >click to read< 12:34
British fishermen face £199 fee to export catch to EU in post-Brexit blow
Fishermen in Pembrokeshire are facing a £199 fee to export their products to the EU. The fee is being introduced by the County Council’s Cabinet to allow the Port Health Team to issue ECHs. The certificates are mandatory for all companies in the UK exporting or moving live animal products to the EU post-Brexit. A spokesperson from Pembrokeshire Cabinet said: “As a result of Brexit, fishery products exported to the European Union from the United Kingdom now require an EHC, as laid out in the Official Control Regulations 2017/625.” Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had promised UK fishermen they would be fully protected in the event of any post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union, which was signed on December 30, 2020. >click to read< 07:59
State Papers: Royal Navy submarine dragged Irish fishing trawler backwards for 1.6km before breaking free
Britain attempted to claim State immunity in an attempt to recover a valuable towed sonar array from a Royal Navy attack submarine which detached after snagging in the nets of an Irish fishing trawler. The fishing boat was subsequently dragged backwards for 1.6km before breaking free. Confidential Department of Foreign Affairs documents revealed that civil servants felt an agreed settlement between the British Embassy and the trawler skipper involved was preferable to the matters coming before the Irish courts. The incident occurred 40km east of Skerries, Co Dublin at 7.20pm on September 12, 1989 when an Irish trawler, MV Contestor, alerted the Shannon-based Marine Rescue Centre. >click to read< 08:05
Your favourite takeaway could set you back following green-energy expansion
Fish and chip fans fear the future of their favourite takeaway, as widening offshore wind farms will soon be constructed in precious fishing territory. Fishermen across the country have criticised the Prime Minister’s plans to increase the number of wind turbines in the sea, meaning over half of their legal fishing territory could be lost by 2050. A damning report outlined in the Spatial Squeeze in Fisheries report indicated how 56 percent of Scottish waters could become prohibited for fishing boats. The Prime Minister’s plans would see fish go uncaught, leaving restaurants no choice but to rely on importing. One chip shop in Kent recently shut down as its owner refused to charge £14 per person for a portion of Britain’s most famous dish. >click to read< 15:27
‘Boris, where’s your Russian sanctions?’ asks F/V Altaire’s First Mate
The first mate of local pelagic trawler F/V Altaire has written to prime minister Boris Johnson urging the UK Government to act over Russian factory ships fishing for blue whiting in UK waters around 100 miles to the west of Shetland. Colin Leask said there were 11 Russian vessels presently in the UK’s shared zone with the Faroe Islands fishing for a “ridiculously inflated” quota of 75,000 tonnes of blue whiting. The crewman’s appeal is the latest attempt by the industry to get the government to close a loophole that enables Russian vessels to fish inside UK waters at a time of “supposedly strict sanctions” against the country in response to the invasion of Ukraine. >click to read< 16:50
Rising fuel costs: British fishermen are being forced to tie up their boats
The rise has left fishermen struggling to cover their costs, with some reportedly resorting to leaving their boats in port. June Mummery, ex-MEP and founder of the Renaissance of the East Anglian Fisheries, tweeted: “Fisherman tying up, fuel so expensive, not worth going to sea.” Britain’s fishing industry has issued a number of warnings in recent months that the spike in fuel costs could force them to tie up their boats and have a devastating impact on the UK’s food supply. The Shetland Fishermen’s Association issued a plea for help in March warning that the war in Ukraine had seen the cost of marine diesel in the islands more than double compared to the previous year. >click to read< 08:05
