Tag Archives: UK
Macduff delivers North Sea twin-rigger
F/V Gracious has been built under cover from start to completion in the fabrication hall at the yard’s Macduff location. The steel hull and the aluminium wheelhouse and mast were all cut by Macduff Profilers using CNC plasma and gas cutting machines, working with a sa steel kit supplied by Macduff Ship Design. The main engine is a Caterpillar C32 rated 559kW. This is coupled to a Masson Marine W7400 gearbox, with a large reduction ratio of 9.077:1, driving a 2500mm diameter propeller, fitted within a high thrust nozzle. This is a tried and tested propulsion layout and Graciousis the eleventh newbuild fishing vessel delivered by Macduff with this propulsion package. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:53
Classic boat review: Superb-Us DH 99
Launched in 1964, and owned by the same family since 1968, this South West crabbing stalwart, the Superb-Us DH 99, belies her six decades. Built by Mashfords of Cremyll near Plymouth in 1964 for Browse Brothers of Paignton as the Superb DH 58, this 45ft vessel is the traditional larch on oak and has a Gardner 6LXB engine. There were four Browse brothers, the sons of Ernest Browse – Maurice, Arthur, Stanley and Dennis – but it was Maurice and Stanley who created the well- known Paignton company Browse Brothers in the late 1940s. Dennis had been killed in the war, and Arthur went off to Poole to start his own lobster business. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:28
Our fishermen cannot afford another disastrous deal
The promises made to fishermen in the Brexit campaign were bold. The delivery has been anything but. Many predicted that the Conservative government would sell out the fishing industry on leaving the EU, much like an earlier Conservative government had done when joining the EU and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) decades before. Despite this, our fishermen still showed up en-masse to support and campaign for Brexit – under the promise of exclusive use of our 12 nautical miles and a better share of fishing opportunities. In places like Cornwall, the CFP had given the lion’s share of all our catches to other EU states, leaving our local fleets to struggle on shares as low as eight to 10 per cent of the total allowable catch. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< By Anna Gelderd, Labour MP for South East Cornwall 10:45
Judge blocks Chilean sea bass imports from Antarctica in fishing feud
A federal judge in Florida has blocked the imports of a high-priced fish from protected waters near Antarctica, siding with U.S. regulators who argued they were required to block imports amid a diplomatic feud triggered by Russia’s obstruction of longstanding conservation efforts at the bottom of the world. Judge David Leibowitz, in a ruling Monday, dismissed a lawsuit filed in 2022 by Texas-based Southern Cross Seafoods that alleged it had suffered undue economic harm by what it argued was the U.S. government’s arbitrary decision to bar imports of Chilean sea bass. The case, closely watched by conservation groups and the fishing industry, stems from Russia’s rejection of catch limits for marine life near the South Pole. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:43
COMMENT: Dismiss the ‘let’s ban it’ mindset
Sadly, we live in censorious times, when tolerance for differing viewpoints, activities, words even, is sometimes non-existent. You can be ostracized, cancelled, or subject to a raid by several police officers at the crack of dawn, depending on what you’ve done or said. Now I’m not suggesting for a moment that the Scottish government ever thought of an early-morning swoop by Scotland’s finest on the offices of Shetland Fishermen’s Association. But the recent revelation that, prior to a meeting with us and our members, First Minister John Swinney was told by his minders to avoid using the phrase “spatial squeeze” demonstrates that the “let’s ban it” mindset swirls around the corridors of St Andrew’s House like a miasma on a cold, still Edinburgh night. Do they compare notes with the anti-fishing environmental lobbyists? By Daniel Lawson. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:01
Macduff Shipyards completes latest new build fishing vessel Gracious
Macduff Shipyards has completed its latest new build fishing vessel. Gracious (PD 103) is a new design of fishing boat arranged for twin rig trawling and is expected to fish in the North Sea region, primarily targeting prawns. Upon initial discussion of the new build, the decision was taken to develop a new hull form, with the aim of providing good sea keeping qualities, high propulsion efficiency, as well as improved living conditions for the crew onboard. Photos, specifications, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:36
UK rejects EU plan to tie defense pact tie defense pact
The British government has rejected an EU plan to tie talks on fishing rights to other topics in Keir Starmer’s EU reset — including a defense and security pact. Speaking on Tuesday U.K. Fishing Minister Daniel Zeichner told a parliamentary committee there would be “no linkage” between fishing negotiations and talks in other areas like security or reduced border checks for goods. EU governments have hinted that agreement on fishing is their price to give ground on Keir Starmer’s own priorities and say the issues should be dealt with as a package. But Zeichner told a hearing of the U.K. parliament’s Environment Committee: “The French will say what they will say, but we are absolutely determined to stand up for the interests of the U.K. fishing industry.” more. >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:27
Wash Cockle and Mussel Byelaw confirmed
The wash cockle and Mussel Byelaw 2021 has finally been confirmed by Defra. It replaces the 30- year Wash Fishery Order which expired in January 2023, the fishery having been under interim management arrangements since then. The byelaw, which will come into effect on 1 May, introduces a permit system, prefaced by an eligibility requirement, with a maximum of 63 vessels to work the fishery. Those eligible to hold a permit were notified back in 2023. An annual eligibility fee of £757.75 must be paid by 30 March each year, with permits to run from 1 April, although for this first year which starts a month later, the fee is reduced to £694.60. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:30
The ‘sustainable’ cod in your shopping basket may be no such thing – new study reveals mislabelling
Cod sold in some European supermarkets is being mislabeled and is actually fished far from its claimed origin, according to our new study. We sampled cod sold in Germany, Spain, France and the UK and found that about 30% of it originated in a different location. Seafood mislabeling, in which one species is sold as another, is a common problem. It may happen by mistake or by deliberate fraud, in which case, there is at least hope for improvement, as various DNA methods are now available for testing species. But our new research highlights another problem: the mislabeling of geographical origin. As with species mislabeling, this issue can affect the sustainable management of fisheries, the conservation of fish in the wild and consumer trust. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:53
PML Study Examines UK Wind Farm, Fishermen Conflicts
Researchers at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), alongside colleagues at the University of Aberdeen, found that the majority of UK fishermen feel their livelihoods are being threatened by the rapid expansion of offshore wind farms (OWFs), with impacts felt across all vessel sizes and fleet sectors. “Our survey revealed that fishermen across all fleet sectors are experiencing social, wellbeing, and economic impacts from offshore wind developments,” said Claire Szostek, lead author on the paper. “While a small minority identified potential benefits, most fishermen feel their fishing grounds and livelihoods are under threat. What’s particularly concerning is the lack of standardization in compensation payments made to those affected.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:20
Scottish fishing industry backing by PM welcomed by north-east MP Seamus Logan
Aberdeenshire North and Moray East MP Seamus Logan
A north-east MP has secured a firm commitment from the Prime Minister to support the Scottish fisheries sector. In a question to Keir Starmer MP at Prime Minister’s Questions, Aberdeenshire North and Moray East MP Seamus Logan raised the vital contribution of the Scottish fishing industry in terms of volume and value to the UK. Mr. Logan highlighted the importance of protecting its interests and future as the UK government pursue economic growth and a reset in relations with the European Union to which the Prime Minister responded positively in agreement. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:53
Penzance fishing company fined for illegal crab and lobster fishing
A fishing company has been fined for illegal crab and lobster fishing offences. Rowse Fishing Limited, represented by owner and director Mark Rowse, appeared before Truro Magistrates’ Court in connection with a series of offences relating to undersize fishing and logbook offences. His son Benjamin Rowse was also in the dock for fishing and landing ‘berried’ lobsters and scrubbing off their eggs, which is illegal to do as it damages future stocks by wiping out thousands of unborn shellfish. In court the company blamed its crews. The court was told that in April last year, the Emma Louise TO60 vivier potting vessel owned by Rowse Fishing Ltd, based at the Varfell Park industrial estate in Long Rock, Penzance, landed 750kg of edible crab, 100kg of spider crab and 20kg of lobster. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:15
Government went against scientific advice in setting fishing quotas, court told
The Government went against scientific advice when it set maximum fishing quotas for 2024, risking the sustainability of stocks and the livelihoods of fishers, the High Court has heard. Blue Marine Foundation is bringing legal action against the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), saying it acted contrary to its commitments to protect the UK’s marine environment and fishing industry. Known as the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS), the Government set eight objectives for managing the UK’s fish stocks, which include sustainability, reducing bycatch, protecting ecosystems and following scientific advice. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:03
Don’t use fishing as a bargaining chip, warns Scottish industry
In a message to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation warns that the UK government must not gamble away the future of Scottish fishing businesses by using the industry as a bargaining chip in negotiations to improve relations with the EU. ‘The Scottish fishing industry has twice in the past been regarded as expendable by British Prime Ministers when it comes to Europe,’ warned SFF chief executive Elspeth Macdonald. ‘We must not have a repeat of 1973 when the condition of entry to the EEC was that our richly endowed fishing waters be pooled with other members, or of 2020 when the Brexit agreement, while restoring the UK to the status of sovereign coastal state, granted continued access to our waters to EU vessels to catch far more fish in our waters than they catch in their own.’ more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:12
Starmer’s six key goals in Brexit ‘reset’ – and what the EU could demand in return
Sir Keir Starmer became the first British leader since Brexit to attend an EU summit in Brussels on Monday night, where he pressed the case for a “reset” in relations over a dinner of celeriac soup and fish. While the Prime Minister focused on what has been described as the “low hanging fruit” of greater defence co-operation, the UK has a series of key demands that it wants to extract from the EU. However, the European bloc will be seeking concessions too. So what is it that the UK wants from the EU, and what does the bloc want in return? more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:31
Norfolk businesses reflect on backing Brexit
It has been five years since the UK officially left the European Union and became an independent nation. Opinion polls suggest a majority of people now believe Brexit has been bad for the UK – and it is widely accepted it has, in the short term at least, adversely affected some of those who trade with the EU. Two Norfolk business owners, who both voted Leave, have shared their views on whether it was right to back Brexit. Steven Williamson is the director of Lynn Shellfish, based in King’s Lynn. His factory processes freshly caught whelks, shrimps, cockles, mussels and scallops, most of which are sold to the European and Asian markets. Rachael Waring is the co-owner of Warings Furniture, which makes products for the hospitality trade and employs about 60 people in Larling. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:42
Scottish fishermen netting benefits of leaving CFP, says north MSP
Fishermen continue to net the benefits of being out of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) after seeing sales incomes rise by 10 per cent over the last year, an MSP has claimed. New figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives in a written parliamentary answer show fleets made an average monthly income of £14,329 over the last recorded year, a rise of £1300 when earnings were £13,020 in 2022.The rise in income and sales contrasts with the number of fishers at sea, which has dropped from 4241 to 3793 over the last three years. It comes after Peterhead Port Authority (PPA) recorded its highest ever annual fish landings total last year. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:27
Offshore wind farms could cause significant ecosystem, economic and human health risks
The materials used to protect wind turbines from corrosion leach into the surrounding water, which could pose risks to ecosystems, seafood safety and human health, new research from the University of Portsmouth has found. Offshore wind farms release thousands of tonnes of metals such as aluminium, zinc and indium each year. This is expected to grow dramatically as wind farms are set to play a major role in reducing the world’s carbon emissions. To protect turbines from rusting, corrosion-protection systems are used, which can release metals into the ocean over time. The study, published in Nature’s npj Ocean Sustainability, estimated annual inputs of metals from current European wind farms to be: 3,219 tonnes of aluminum, 1,148 tonnes of zinc, 1.9 tonnes of indium. For zinc, this already exceeds the sum of all known direct inputs and river discharges into the North Atlantic from key European countries. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:33
Brexit fishing row heads for trade court showdown
The humble sandeel is set to take centre stage in the first courtroom trade battle between the UK and EU since Brexit. The UK has banned European vessels from catching the silvery fish species in its North Sea waters to protect marine wildlife that depend on it for food. But the EU is challenging the move, arguing it discriminates against Danish vessels that fish sandeel commercially, breaching the post-Brexit trade deal. The dispute is now heading for a three-day trade tribunal hearing, after formal talks to resolve the wrangle failed. Without a last-minute compromise, it will mark the first time the two sides have gone to arbitration under the 2021 trade agreement agreed by Boris Johnson. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:33
Tensions flare as Channel seiners clash
The crew of UK-flagged, Urk-owned seine netter F/V Henk Senior are accused of hostile actions towards Boulogne seiner F/V Rose de Cascia in an incident that Xavier Bertrand describes as being ‘of exceptional gravity’ and as crossing a ‘critical threshold.’ Reports are that the 30-metre Henk Senior’s crew grappled the 19-metre Rose de Cascia’s seine rope, hauling the French vessel backwards before the seine rope parted. Rose de Cascia was able to retrieve its gear. He states that this goes significantly further than the usual problems of co-operation between fishermen in the wake of Brexit, and that this incident is an example of ‘the tensions in the Pas-de-Calais region since Brexit and the reduction in fishing areas.’ more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:31
Memorial to be unveiled in Kirkcudbright to mark 40th anniversary of fishing boat tragedy
A memorial will be unveiled in Kirkcudbright next month to mark the 40th anniversary of a fishing boat tragedy. The trawler Mhari-L sank in the Irish Sea on February 20, 1985. All five men on board – William Maxwell, Stuart and Keith Campbell, George McKend and Mark Amos – lost their lives. Mark’s daughter, Donna McKnight, has been working with other family members on a ceremony and the unveiling of a memorial in Kirkcudbright next month. “I contacted someone from each of the other families and asked if they minded if I organised this and a ceremony for the anniversary and they were fine with that. The ceremony will take place at Kirkcudbright Harbour Square at 2pm on Saturday, February 22 and everyone is welcome to attend. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:30
Experienced Fisherman Dies of Hypothermia in English Channel Rescue
Last weekend, an experienced fisherman went over the side of a commercial trawler in the English Channel and died of hypothermia, according to local media. Glenn Vandewalle, 50, was a lifelong fisherman and a crewmember aboard the beam trawler Jerki Z-45. On Saturday, the vessel was operating about 12 nautical miles off Eastbourne, England in rough weather when Vandewalle fell over the side. His crewmates initiated a rescue and called the UK Coastguard for help. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station in Eastborne received the call just before midnight and quickly dispatched their volunteer-crewed response boat, the Esme Anderson, to join the search. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:45
UK REACHES DEAL FOR CONTINUED ACCESS TO FISH IN NORWEGIAN WATERS
The UK has struck a deal with Norway ensuring continued access to Norwegian North Sea waters for 2025 The agreement will also secure UK quota for Arctic cod, worth over £3 million based on historic landing prices. This follows the conclusion of the UK’s wider fishing negotiations in recent weeks, which secured 720,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities for the UK fleet in 2025. The UK fishing industry will benefit from continued access to Norwegian waters to catch up to 30,000 tonnes of their whitefish quota in stocks such as cod, haddock and hake, the UK Government has been announced. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:52
Tory MPs issue Brexit warning over EU attempts to tear apart fishing agreement
Tory MPs have warned the EU is attempting to undermine British sovereignty by trying to tear Brexit fishing agreements apart. Danish fishermen have successfully convinced the EU to launch an arbitration tribunal against the UK in a bid to gain access to fishing the species in English and Scottish waters. Sir Bernard Jenkin MP said: “The EU cannot accept British sovereignty over our waters, and Labour seems all too ready to concede this. While the EU talks tough on ocean conservation, it has a shocking record and shows no signs of improvement. So this is a challenge to the UK’s ability to protect the marine environment and to create sustainable fisheries. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:03
Looe RNLI volunteer recognised in the King’s New Year’s Honours
David Haines, former Lifeboat Operations Manager at Looe RNLI who has dedicated over 30 years to the RNLI, has been recognised in His Majesty The King’s New Year Honours for his role in helping the charity save lives at sea. David is awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to the RNLI. His citation reads: ‘a humble hero whose legacy transcends accolades, his selfless devotion is an inspiration to everyone in guaranteeing a path of service, courage, and kindness for generations to come.’ From the moment Looe Lifeboat Station reopened its doors in 1992, David has provided selfless service and steadfast commitment to saving lives at sea. Over the past three decades, he has held volunteer roles across all levels within the station, initially as lifeboat crew and then helm, before stepping into the pivotal role of Lifeboat Operations Manager at a time when the station needed strong leadership and stability. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:01
UHI Shetland pays tribute to ‘greatly missed’ Ian Napier
Dr Napier, who worked as a senior fisheries policy advisor, was found in the water at Scousburgh on Saturday morning after being reported missing. UHI Shetland said its staff were “devastated” by the loss of their colleague. It said Dr Napier was a “well-respected scientist in his field”, as well as a “valued member of the marine science team”. Shetland Fishermen’s Association chairman James Anderson also paid tribute to Dr Napier, calling him a stalwart supporter of the local fishing industry. “Ian was passionate in his support of fishing, and literally wrote the book on Shetland’s fishing history,” he said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:59
‘Hollow words won’t protect Scottish fishing, industry chief warns
Offshore wind farms in the North Sea and the prime minister’s ambitions to “reset” relations between the UK and European Union are major dangers for the sector, they say. And they want politicians in Edinburgh, London and further afield to “radically rethink” their approach to the sector. Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) chief executive Elspeth Macdonald outlined these concerns in her new year message to ministers and civil servants “across the UK and beyond”. She said a widespread sense of crisis had spawned a bout of “initiative-itis” by the Scottish and UK governments. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:49
RNLI can brave the ‘fiercest’ weather with new boat
The arrival of a new lifeboat would allow crews to brave “the fiercest weather conditions”, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) said. It was due to be unveiled at Clacton-on-Sea, in Essex, on Saturday afternoon after being built in Dorset. The lifeboat charity said its lifesaving capabilities across the Tendring coastline were strengthened thanks to the new vessel. Offering space for six crew members, it was built to reach a top speed of 25 knots (28mph) and has a range of 250 nautical miles (287 miles). more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:43
Call for fishermen to join farmers’ protest
Great Yarmouth skipper Paul Lines and Lowestoft fishmarket boss and former MEP June Mummery are calling on the fishing industry to back a farmers’ protest at Westminster next Tuesday, 19 November. The protest has been called following the announcement in the recent budget that farmland would no longer be exempt from inheritance tax but has rapidly moved to encompass wider concerns about food security. Paul Lines will be wearing wet-weather gear, including his sou’wester, to highlight the concerns of the fishing industry, and is calling on other fishermen to join him, if possible, similarly dressed. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:40
Southend clam fishery trial results ‘very encouraging’
Early results of a “game-changing” clam fishery trial in Southend have been hailed as “very encouraging” as bosses aim to help nurture the high-value seafood. The Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority has provided an update on the Manila clam fishery trial. Manila clam fishing trials took place between October 2 and October 25 in the Thames Estuary on two specified areas – one on the Foulness Sand within the Shoebury Firing Range and the other on the Buxey Sand. Eight vessels took part in the fishery with a range of different types of fishing gear, including suction dredges similar to those used by boats from Leigh in the Thames cockle fishery, alongside new dredge designs. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:37
