Tag Archives: Peterhead
Trawlerman Jimmy Buchan: I earned £12 fishing 6 days a week at 14
Jimmy Buchan appeared in the Bafta-winning BBC series Trawlermen (2006-10) and published his memoir, Trawlerman: Life at the Helm of the Toughest Job in Britain, in 2011. The former skipper of Amity II has 40 years’ experience of North Sea fishing and has been running his own seafood supply company, Amity Fish, since 2019. Now 64, he is the chief executive of the Scottish Seafood Association and still lives in his home town of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, with his wife, Irene. They have two grown-up daughters, Jenna and Amy. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:29
Scots fishing tragedy widow in tribute to ‘miracle worker’ Alex Salmond
A widow of one of the fishermen who perished in the Sapphire fishing tragedy told how Alex Salmond performed a miracle to bring the bodies of her husband and four other crew member’s home. Shirley Henderson said she remains grateful to the former MP after her husband Robert Stephen, 24, Adam Stephen, 29, Bruce Cameron, 32, and Victor Podlesny, 45, died when their vessel sank 12 miles off the Aberdeenshire coast on October 1, 1997. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:35
The Fight to Raise the Sapphire – ‘We proved everybody wrong and we got our boys home’ – >>CLICK TO READ<<
New £3.5 Million Ice Factory Revolutionises Peterhead Harbour Operations
Peterhead Port Authority has unveiled its new £3.5 million ice factory, a significant upgrade designed to enhance the efficiency and safety of operations at the port. This modern facility replaces the two ageing ice factories that were taken over by the Port Authority in 2022, marking a major investment in the future of the harbour. The new ice plant, constructed by German supplier KTI PLERSCH, was completed within a year, thanks to a well-coordinated effort involving local contractors and support from the Marine Fund Scotland, which provided a 25% grant towards the project. Ian Downie, Senior Port Engineer at Peterhead Port Authority, spoke about the project’s smooth execution and the benefits it brings to the port. “When we took over the Peterhead ice company, we recognised that the two existing factories were nearing the end of their operational life. We needed to replace them with a more efficient and reliable facility,” Downie explained. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:18
How an old Peterhead trawler was turned into a luxury Airbnb in Inverness
In 1972, when much of Britain’s fishing fleet became locked in “cod wars” with Iceland, a new wooden-hulled trawler was launched in Peterhead. Made in the shipyard of Richard Irvine, the Achieve FR100, under the watchful eye of Andra Buchan, was about to take to the seas. “White fish fishing” was its one purpose. And for 28 years that’s exactly what she was used for. Now, more than half a century since the launch, herring has been exchanged for hospitality, and choppy seas for the Caledonian Canal. We look back at one of the Blue Toon’s most iconic trawlers and its journey to becoming a luxury bed and breakfast today. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:21
‘I’m a fisherman and lifelong Tory who voted Brexit. I won’t vote for them again’
Fisherman James Stephen has been at sea for more than 40 years. Based in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, which is home to the largest fishing port in Europe, he voted for Brexit in 2016 in the hope it would give his community a greater share of fishing in UK waters. But eight years on, he feels he was sold a “pack of lies” and says it has cost the Conservatives his vote at the general election. “I would say that 99 per cent of the fishing industry would have voted for Brexit in the hope that we could get back control of our waters, rightfully get our share of [fishing] quota which was given away when we joined the EU,” says Mr Stephen. “I hoped, by voting for Brexit, we could undo some of the unjust that was done to the industry then. But for me, it’s been a total disaster. Nothing we were promised materialised.” Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:40
The fishing boat tragedy that rocked a community
Nine fishermen left Peterhead on the boat Quiet Waters in March 1954. None of them came home. The boat sank and their deaths devastated their families and shocked the north-east fishing community. Among those on board was my grandfather Billy Buchan, who was 29 when he died. My mum was just a baby when she lost him. On the 70th anniversary of the tragedy she was given flowers, evidence that our community still remembers an event which shook my town and left that little girl without her dad. Fishing trawler Quiet Waters was only a few months old when she left Peterhead, bound for North Sea herring grounds nearly 200 miles (322km) away. Photos, more, >>click to read<< 07:40
Peterhead landings hit new record
With £232 million worth of catches traded across its quaysides, Peterhead set a new record for fish landings in 2023. This smashes the 2022 figure of £220 million, which was also a modern era record, by a comfortable margin, and cements Peterhead’s position as the largest fisheries port in Europe. ‘It was a very successful year for landings, with a notable increase in pelagic landings due to the economic link which is more than compensating for a decline in shellfish landings,’ said Peter Duncan, Peterhead Port Authority’s Head of Fishing – Commercial. In recent years PPA has invested over £50 million in an ultra-modern fish market and quayside improvements that allow for vessels to land at all states of the tide. more, >>click to read<< 07:46
Peterhead firm given green light for fish processing factory expansion
Northbay Pelagic has been given the green light to expand its Peterhead fish processing site that will help the firm hit new national fishing targets. Operation manager Scott McKenzie said the additional space was needed to meet the Scottish Government’s new landings obligation. Speaking at the Buchan area committee, Mr. McKenzie explained: “Scottish pelagic fleets this current year must land 30% of their catch in Scotland. Next year it will increase to 45 per cent and the year after it will be up to 55 per cent. Northbay Pelagic is one of the largest pelagic fish processors in the country. It currently processes around 25,000 tonnes of fish per year including mackerel and herring. – >>click to read<< 07:07
How I restored an old arctic trawler to explore the Scottish islands
Amelia Dalton was at her father-in-law’s funeral when she got the phone call. And it wasn’t good news. The Arctic trawler she had bought, named Monaco, to establish her own cruising business had started to sink in the North Sea. “Off I went up to Peterhead with a background in cooking and antiques to get this boat pulled out of the water and on goes the story of how we converted this 85-foot trawler into a small expedition boat,” Dalton explains. Laughing as she recalls the memory, Dalton admits that “pretty well everything went wrong that you could imagine,” starting with the boat sinking in the North Sea. Photos, >>click to read<< 11:47
Scottish Port Feels Force Of UK Fishing Storm
In Peterhead, a major port in northeast Scotland and Europe’s largest wholesale market for white fish, Brexit was supposed to offer “a sea of opportunity” for locals. Instead they have suffered a wave of complications and added financial costs in recent years, even before the impact of surging inflation. “Careful what you wish for, it hasn’t turned out as they promised,” Mark Addison says in front of his trawler, the Benarkle II, which is moored just behind Peterhead’s fish market. “It’s been the hardest three years,” he tells AFP. “Brexit followed by the (Ukraine) war was just a double whammy.” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent prices soaring worldwide, with the fishing industry hit hard by rocketing fuel prices and large cost increases for key equipment such as nets. Photos. >>click to read<< 08:34
New Peterhead festival to champion north-east seafood
Europe’s top white-fish port will provide the backdrop for a new north-east food and drink festival this autumn. SeaFest Peterhead has been organised to champion the area’s valuable seafood sector. Organisers are already hailing the new addition to the Blue Toon’s social calendar as a “must see”. It is due to take place at the harbour on Saturday September 9 from 11am to 4pm. Billed as a “fin-tastic” extravaganza to “shell-ebrate” the bounty of the sea, it will showcase the rich fishing heritage of Peterhead and the wider north-east region. >click to read< 09:15
Strong fish landings at Peterhead Port
Figures compiled by Peterhead Port Authority show that 89,256 tonnes of fish with a gross value of almost £96 million came over the quaysides prior to the end of May. This compares with 66,928 tonnes worth just over £82 million to May 2022. Whitefish tonnage reached 20,978 (18,270 in 2022) worth £41,964,120 (£39,791,454 in 2022), reflecting some quota increases for key species. Pelagic landings weighed in at 65,890 tonnes (46,332 in 2022) with a gross value of £47,226,145 (£36,953,131 in 2022). And shellfish landings topped the scales at 2,388 tonnes, marginally up on 2022’s figures (2,326 tonnes) but with better prices yielding £6,787,060 compared with £5,611,996. >click to read< 08:58
I rescued a bird at sea and now I’m getting called the Owl Whisperer
Michael Clark, 55, saved the struggling animal after he spotted it being terrorised by gulls. He took it onboard trawler Benarkle II, which is registered in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, where it was spoiled. After two days it was eating steak out of his hand but it caused an unexpected problem when it pooped all over the wheelhouse. Cook and deckhand MIchael, from Buckie, Moray, said: “Everyone is calling me the Owl Whisperer now. He was the best looked after member of the crew. 4 Photos, >click to read< 10:18
Grieving widow of Scots fisherman killed in North Sea tragedy says family left in ‘awful’ situation
The Thai family of a Scots fisherman who was tragically killed in a North Sea boating accident have been left in an “awful” financial situation since his death. Ronald Mackinnon, who split his time between Thailand and Peterhead, passed away after a fishing vessel capsized off the coast of Norway in March. Voriya Sonthipong, his partner of 16 years, first met the 56-year-old at a Pattaya hotel where she worked. They went on to have two daughters, now aged 13 and 12, and a seven-year-old son. On the day of the tragedy, Voriya was contacted by Ronald’s mother. Voriya said her “heart almost broke” when she heard the news. And the anguish of losing her beloved partner has been compounded by financial woes that have plagued the family ever since. >click to read< 14:17
Macduff Shipyards celebrate as newly built vessel is signed over to owners
The Celestial Dawn, BF 109 was designed between Macduff Shipyards and firm Macduff Ship Design and built at the yard’s fabrication hall in Buckie. The brand new fishing vessel is the first of three sister ships with a second boat now under construction and a third due to be built later this year. All three vessels will be built at the yard’s fabrication hall in Buckie, a significant milestone for both the yard and town. Photos, >click to read< 08:13
New Concept Design Provides Comfort And Economy
There’s nothing like a returning customer – and this isn’t the first time that George Hepburn and his partners have been to Macduff for a new trawler, as the previous Celestial Dawn BF-109 came from the same yard back in 2000. The new Celestial Dawn, which will be fishing from Peterhead primarily for prawns on North Sea grounds, is the first of three sister vessels being built to the same entirely new design developed by Macduff Ship Design and Macduff Shipyards. The second in the series is under construction already at the yard’s fabrication hall in Buckie, and work on the third is scheduled to begin later this year. photos, >click to read< 07:55
Brexit, an “ocean of possibilities”? British fishermen mixed
A heavy weather warning was announced this weekend in the North Sea. Rain and wind are already sweeping Peterhead and its pink granite dwellings. Located in the east of Scotland, the UK’s largest fishing port in terms of fish caught sees its boats returning for shelter. Except Peter Bruce, who will stay at sea until the last moment. ” We use so much gasoline to reach the whitefish fishing grounds that it is not financially worthwhile to come back for six to eight days.”,,, While Peter Bruce usually fills his holds with 50 tonnes of fish, he sometimes has to make do with 35 tonnes. Particularly since the 1is January. >click to read< 14:53
Video: RNLI Peterhead rescue of fishing boat just seconds away from crashing on to rocks
The alarm was raised at 4.30pm when one fishing vessel was towing another into Peterhead Harbour and the tow broke due to stormy conditions. The video, from RNLI Peterhead, shows the heroic effort by volunteers to rescue the vessel that was just seconds away from crashing. The vessel was dangerously close to crashing into the rocks at Peterhead South Breakwater and due to an easterly gale and significant swell combined with a backwash. photos, >click to read< 07:27
Monkfish Price Tumble in Scotland Shows Pain of French Shutdown
At the Peterhead fishing port in Scotland, prices for haddock and monkfish were inverted on Monday, skewed by a closed border with France and a ticking clock that threatened to render some of its catch worthless. The price gyrations mark the latest setback for the U.K. fishing industry, With French borders closed since Sunday, thousands of pounds of seafood could be left to rot in lorries that would normally speed through the Port of Dover to Europe. “This is the most important sales week of the year and it’s been caught up in a hurricane,” said Jimmy Buchan, chief executive officer of the Scottish Seafood Association. “We’ve got Brexit, we’ve got Covid and now on the back of Covid we’ve got this further restriction.” >click to read< 10:34
Scotland: North-east fishermen start selling direct to find new markets in lockdown
Fishermen across the north-east have resorted to selling catches directly off the boat instead of markets to try to make ends meet during the coronavirus lockdown. Orders from restaurants and hotels have plummeted,,,Instead, crews have turned to advertising catches on social media to drum up trade online among local residents to fill up the order book. Macduff-based Salt Water Seafood has been coordinating landings in the town’s harbour as well as from five vessels operating out of Peterhead and Fraserburgh. >click to read< 12:35
The Silent War on Fishing
The hustle and bustle of Peterhead’s harbour has quietened these last few weeks. Doors of businesses are locked and boats at berth have signs warning that no one will be permitted on board because of new safety measures. Its fish market continues to operate, however, in what is becoming a new normal. While it once welcomed tourists and eager locals alike, it now restricts access to only key workers in order to protect stakeholders. It’s a familiar story across all ports in Scotland. They are steps that have been introduced to help the country battle COVID-19, but it has had an inevitable impact on the market. >click to read< 08:07
An inspiration behind the Brexit campaign – Tributes paid to North-east fishing stalwart Tom Hay
Hundreds gathered in Peterhead on Saturday to pay tribute to ex-Fishermen’s Association Limited chair Tom Hay, who died on March 8. John Ashworth, leader of Save Britain’s Fish and FFL, said: “I knew Tom through business (although not that well) before we joined forces through the Save Britain’s Fish campaign. It all started 28 years ago when representatives of the Scottish Industry came down to York for a training meeting. “I met them at the railway station and took them to their Hotel. Later I spoke to them all about my concerns for our industry. “From that day Tom commenced a journey of outstanding leadership and courage against all odds. >click to read< 13:59
The sad passing of Tom Hay – An inspiration behind the Brexit campaign
Fishing For Leave has paid tribute to industry stalwart Tom Hay who has died followiong a year’s fight with dementia. Save Britain’s Fish and Fishermen’s Association Limited’s ex-chair Tom died on Sunday, March 8 with his funeral taking place in Peterhead on Saturday. >click to read< 15:32
£39 million of fish landed at Scrabster during 2016
Scrabster Harbour is the third most valuable landing port in Scotland, according to newly released figures. The 2016 Scottish Sea Fisheries statistics revealed £39.4 million worth of fish and shellfish was landed in the Scrabster fishing district during 2016. The results are based on 19,713 tonnes of fish which were landed at the harbour last year which makes it the fourth largest landing port in the country. Peterhead is once again the largest fishing district,,, click here to read the story 11:30
The Fight to Raise the Sapphire – ‘We proved everybody wrong and we got our boys home’
When four crewmen perished on the Peterhead fishing boat Sapphire 20 years ago, relatives began a campaign to have their bodies recovered from inside the sunken trawler. The 76-tonne boat sank in the North Sea, 12 miles off the Aberdeenshire coast, on 1 October 1997. The UK government refused to finance the recovery of the bodies, 270ft (90m) below the surface, saying it was policy not to bring back the bodies of those lost at sea. Shipping minister Glenda Jackson and Prime Minister Tony Blair were criticised for the decision at the time. The families of the dead men began an appeal to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to fund the operation. click here to read the story 10:28
Sapphire tragedy impact being felt 20 years later – “You’re thinking to yourself: ‘There but for the grace of God . . .” “But you never get used to these tragedies or the impact they have on so many different people. click here to read the story
Celebrity trawlerman enjoys new lease of life on dry land
While the fall in the pound since the Brexit vote has provided a boost for exporters a veteran of the fishing business sees opportunities to grow UK sales of a Scots product that does well in Europe. Name: Jimmy Buchan. Age: 56. What is your business called? Amity Fish Co Limited. Where is it based? Peterhead, in wonderful Aberdeenshire. What does it produce? We are a fish trading company focused on sourcing wild-caught Scottish seafood for distribution throughout the UK.,, Why did you take the plunge? Amity came about because of my passion for seafood. Being a fisherman all my life, I met a lot of people in the industry and I felt I had a platform to start a brand from sea to plate. I realised I wasn’t just catching fish but catching fish with a story of provenance and sustainability which gave me the inspiration to get into the seafood supply chain. click here to read the story 10:53
Peterhead is the undisputed king of UK fish landings
UK Government figures have confirmed Peterhead’s status as Britain’s top fishing port. A total of 127,000tonnes of fish and other seafood worth a total of £111million were landed in the Blue Toon during 2015, highlighting why the port is investing £50million in a major upgrade of the facilities. The figures eclipsed the top ports in England, where Plymouth led the way for volume after a 13,400-tonne haul of fish and other seafood worth a total of £15million. Brixham was the top English port by value after a 12,400-tonne catch worth £23million. The Scottish and Northern Irish fleets caught mainly pelagic fish. White-fish species accounted for the lion’s share of the English fleet’s catch, while Welsh boats mainly caught shellfish. Read the story here 08:10
Scottish fishermen fear they will lose out after voting for Brexit
James Stevens has spent 37 years fishing out of Peterhead. When he began, some 450 boats frequently filled the granite harbour on Scotland’s rugged northeast coast. Today only about 100 trawlers regularly leave Peterhead to ply their trade in the North Sea. Like almost everyone in Peterhead, Stevens blames the European Union – and particularly the unpopular common fisheries policy – for his industry’s decline. In June, the skipper of the Harvest Hope voted for Brexit “for my children and my grandchildren”. Stevens is “chuffed” that the UK will be leaving the EU, but his pleasure is tinged with a note of concern. He is worried that fishing could become a bargaining chip for both the UK and Scottish governments during the Brexit negotiations. “There is concern that we will be sold down the river again by government,” says fisherman Peter Bruce. He would like to see article 50 – the mechanism to trigger Britain’s formal exit talks with the EU – invoked quickly but that is unlikely. Read the story here 17:27
Northbay Pelagic fish factory blaze in Peterhead brought under control
The building involved was formerly the Fresh Catch fish factory. The firm was taken over in a “joint venture” by new company Northbay Pelagic Ltd in 2013. Photos, Read the rest here 19:13
