Tag Archives: UK
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
Top ten RNLI record breakers
The RNLI has amassed a treasure trove of extraordinary stories and fascinating facts during its 200 years of lifesaving. So it’s no wonder our charity and people have notched up a raft of remarkable achievements along the way too. Here are just ten of our favourite record-breaking facts … The rescue of Suevic in 1907 holds the record for the largest number of people saved in a single RNLI operation. On 17 March, the 12-tonne steamship ran aground on a rocky reef off Lizard Point in Cornwall. Sixty RNLI volunteers from Cadgwith, Coverack, The Lizard and Porthleven rowed back and forth in a violent gale for 16 hours to rescue the 456 passengers and crew. Not a single life was lost. Six of the rescuers, including two Suevic crew members, were awarded RNLI Silver Medals for their heroic actions. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:37
Scallop war reignites as British fishing trawler is seized by France
A British fishing boat has been seized by France after a French captain accused UK trawlers of plundering their resources in the latest ‘Scallop War’ flare-up. The Scottish fishing boat, named the Star of Jura, was seized off the coast of Calvados, in the Normandy region of northwestern France on Monday, after the vessel was ordered into the Channel port of Le Havre on suspicion of catching undersized scallops. The skipper, who has not been named, took his 19-metre scallop dredger into the port on Saturday while being escorted by a maritime police boat after an inspection uncovered an illegal catch, French authorities revealed. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:45
Fishermen say future of boatyard under threat
A fishing community say its future is being threatened by new rules. Cullercoats Fishermens Association fears its members are being prevented from carrying out maintenance of their vessels at the boat park in the village. North Tyneside Council said it has responded to local complaints about the yard’s appearance and has updated its regulations, meaning boat repairs must be completed off site. But the fishermen say there is nowhere else for the work to be done. Paul Robinson, from the association, said: “The earliest record of fishing here is 1279 but this could end it. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:37
A day in the life of 18-year-old fisherman Mat Price
When it comes to a typical day’s crabbing, it’s the buzz of the alarm clock that quickens Mat’s pulse. “I wake up at around 6am, ready to get to John’s house for 6.30am. He lives about a minute and a half away from the boat, so I’ll jump in his van, and we’ll head down to the cove.” Cadgwith’s small New Holland tractor is in high demand by the beach-launched fleet. “The first job is to get the tractor – if it’s not already in use. We’ll then go to the cold room and load the rays and gurnards which we use for crab bait. Sometimes, if the boats are close together, we get the tractor right up to the side of the boat and can load all the bait and the other equipment up.” With everything loaded, it’s then a case of getting launched. “If someone at the cove hasn’t gone yet, they’ll push us out with the tractor. The tractor has a rubber roller on the front of it which is pushed up to the bow. The tractor then drives forward, pushing the vessel backwards out into the water until you’re floating. However, if nobody is there to push the boat out, then I’ll have to put my waders on…”Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:32
New phone mast life-changing for Skye fisherman
Skye fisherman Iain MacAskill catches up on his emailing and other digital admin tasks during his long journeys out at sea. The Rural 4G Connectivity report says: “Fishing is a vitally important industry for Scotland’s rural and coastal communities. It feeds into the wider economy and provides employment opportunities for local people. Iain knows this all too well. “As a lifelong commercial fisherman on the Isle of Skye, Iain has lived experience of the struggle to stay connected when out working. Thanks to EE’s 4G upgrades, he – alongside his brother who is also his business partner – can run and grow his business from his smartphone, with fast and reliable mobile connectivity. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:42
Fire on a fishing boat in Newlyn Harbour last night.
A crewman collapsed and needed medical treatment after escaping a fire on a fishing boat in Newlyn Harbour last night. Emergency services, including the Penlee Lifeboat Ivan Ellen, were called to a 25m fishing boat on fire at 11.12pm last night (September 10). One crewman had escaped the boat which was well alight but there were concerns that there may be more crew inside. The Penlee Lifeboat was the first to arrive at the scene and moored alongside the fishing vessel tackling the fire coming from the galley area with two sea water hoses. photos, more, >>LICK TO READ<< 10:36
Falmouth RNLI to be allocated the RNLI’s newest, state of the art lifeboat
The Shannon is the latest class of all-weather lifeboat to join the RNLI fleet. Designed entirely in house by a team of RNLI engineers and built at the RNLI’s all weather lifeboat centre in Poole, Dorset, the charity harnessed cutting-edge technology to ensure this new lifeboat meets the demands of a 21st century rescue service. Nick Lewis, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager at Falmouth said: ‘This is really exciting news for the station and the crew are looking forward to welcoming the new Shannon class lifeboat into Falmouth, where we will have a period of training and familiarization before the lifeboat goes officially on service in 2025.’ more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:30
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
Labour needs to fix British fishing – will it stand by its principles now it is in power?
The question now is whether Labour will use its landslide majority to fix the extraordinary neglect of our marine environment that it previously lacked the votes for. Back in 2020, when the fisheries bill was making its way through parliament, Labour’s fisheries spokesperson, Luke Pollard, made the case that the prime objective of the bill should be sustainability: there should be a duty on ministers to take the advice of scientists when allocating fishing opportunities so as to avoid overfishing. He also argued that as the right to fish was a public asset, which ministers conceded during the course of the bill, preference should be given to the part of the fleet which had the highest levels of employment and the lowest environmental impact: the smaller boats, whose activities are limited naturally by the weather. more, >>CLICK TO READ 08:24
Gen Z fishing and farming communities form alliance
Gen Z food producers in Cornwall have formed an alliance to encourage people to buy local. The young producers are encouraging people to support the fishing and farming industries by choosing Cornish-caught and grown food. Cornwall’s Young Farmers and the Young Fishermen Network said they had come together in August to host an event teaching people how to butcher and fillet produce. The Gen Z producers, born between 1997 and 2012, hoped the partnership would “foster a stronger connection between the two sectors”. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:12
Positive signs for fishing industry
New figures have revealed around 40 million protein portions are landed into Cornwall’s fishing ports every year. It’s been calculated by the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation (CFPO) based on the most recently complete landings data captured by Seafish. It follows the publication of research earlier this year, which discovered Cornwall’s seafood sector brings in £174 million pounds to the county’s economy and employs around 8,000 people. A number of signs aimed at educating visitors on the value of Cornwall’s seafood sector are going to be placed in harbours across the county. The first has been unveiled in Mevagissey by the new MP for St Austell and Newquay. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:33
Humber Ports Showing Significant Growth in UK Fish Imports
The Humber ports, operated by Associated British Ports (ABP), have solidified their position as the UK’s premier hub for seafood imports, according to newly released statistics. In the past year, the ports of Immingham, Grimsby, and Hull handled a remarkable 41.6% of the fish imported into the UK, marking a 10.5% increase from the previous year. This growth underscores the Humber ports’ vital role as a key gateway for the UK’s seafood trade. The strategic location of ABP’s Humber ports, coupled with their proximity to major seafood processing centers, has created a highly efficient and industry-leading hub. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:02
Workers ‘treated like slaves’ on Scottish fishing boats
Thirty-five men from the Philippines, Ghana, India and Sri Lanka were recognised as victims of modern slavery by the Home Office after being referred to it between 2012 and 2020. The workers were employed by TN Trawlers and its sister companies, owned by the Nicholson family, based in the small town of Annan on the southern coast of Scotland. The TN Group denied any allegation of modern slavery or human trafficking and said its workers were well treated and well paid. The company was the focus of two long-running criminal investigations but no cases of human trafficking or modern slavery have come to trial, although some of the men waited years to give evidence. While TN Trawlers’ lead director, Thomas Nicholson, was under active investigation, TN Group companies continued recruiting new employees from across the world. Video, Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:37
Fishermen’s dismay as funds diverted to port upgrade
Fishermen in Thanet say they have been “pushed to one side, forgotten about and ignored” after money for new facilities was redirected to a plan to reopen a Kent port. Thanet District Council (TDC) said it had no choice but to reallocate £3.5m slated for fishing upgrades to reopening Ramsgate’s port due to government rules. Some £3.5m from the fishing facilities upgrade programme was proposed to instead be redirected to the port and for a £4.5m grant to be given to any prospective operator of the port. John Nichols, a committee member and a former chairman of the Thanet Fishermen’s Association, said the loss of funding was “extremely disappointing”. “We need these very basic facilities, we don’t need to be pushed to one side, forgotten about and ignored,” he said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:39
Will Labour betray Scotland’s fisherman in order to win concessions from the EU?
On July 18, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, after only a fortnight in the job, hosted a summit meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. The meeting, involving more than 40 of the continent’s leaders, was billed as a way for the UK prime minister to re-boot Brexit and negotiate a more favourable trade deal for Britain. The summit concluded with a private dinner between Sir Keir and the French President Emmanuel Macron at Chequers. Scottish fishermen are deeply suspicious that Labour may be planning a major betrayal of their industry. Sir Keir has a long list of concessions that he wants from the EU, including progress on cross-channel migration, increased freedom of movement for UK citizens, a major revision to Boris Johnson’s “botched” Brexit trade deal and a new security and intelligence-sharing agreement. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16: 19
Fisherman rescues mysterious ‘ghost boat’ drifting off Pembrokeshire coast
A fisherman rescued a mysterious ghost boat drifting eight miles off the Pembrokeshire coast this morning (July 27). Milford Coastguard were contacted about an adrift vessel which prompted a Fishguard lifeboat to locate the boat and confirm no-one was on board. This was before Matt Lewis and his crew proceeded to the last known position of the vessel and the boat was towed in eight miles northwest of Strumble Head back to Fishguard Harbour where the ship was safely moored. In a Facebook post, Matt said: “Not the usual morning fishing. Myself, Vince Gyseman, Iwan Davies and Jack Wallace located and towed in a ghost boat drifting. “The ten metre steel fishing boat was initially reported by Stena Nordica some eight miles northwest of Strumble Head. It had parted ways with its tow vessel twice between Plymouth and St David’s Head. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:17
Hartlepool fishermen reveal how they are still feeling impact of mass crustacean die-offs with fears for entire future
Hartlepool fishermen have spoken of their heartbreak as they say hundreds of years of heritage face being wiped out. Inshore fishers say stocks of crab, lobster and other marine life have not recovered since the sudden and huge crustacean die-offs witnessed from Seaham to Whitby in 2021. Several recent smaller die-offs have been reported in Hartlepool Bay and Teesmouth including a large number of razor clams and cockles on the beach at Seaton Carew. Dead and twitching crabs, similar to those seen in 2021, have also been picked up at sea. Fishermen, together with scientists and supporters, are continuing to fight for answers and are investigating to establish the cause of the ‘ecocide’ that has destroyed livelihoods. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09″25
Sleeping skipper caused vessel collision in Sussex – ‘Could have had disastrous consequences’
The skipper of a fishing trawler has been ordered to pay £10,000 after falling asleep during his watch, causing the vessel to collide with another in Sussex, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has said. On January 15, 2022, Maurice Reid, aged 44, of Fraserburgh, was in charge of the fishing vessel Margaret Anne’s journey when he ‘started to fall asleep’, the government agency said. A spokesperson added: “Moments later the vessel collided with anchored fishing vessel Blackbird in the Shoreham area, off the south coast of Sussex, causing minor injuries to the two men onboard. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:38
SFF Looks Forward to Engagement with New UK Government
Scottish fishermen are ready to engage with the newly elected UK Government and new MPs on pressing issues, industry leaders indicated today. SFF chief executive Elspeth Macdonald said: “We will continue to work with both governments north and south of the border. While most domestic fisheries management is devolved to Holyrood, there are other matters within reserved UK competence, and we look forward to working with the new UK Government on these. “We also look forward to building relationships with Scotland’s new MPs as well as working with those who will continue to represent Scottish interests at Westminster.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:05
Gloomy in Looe as fishermen reflect on Labour coup
Richard Chapman mends his nets in a gloomy Looe harbour and considers whether his new MP will bring Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s promised “sunlight of hope”. South East Cornwall’s long-standing Conservative MP Sheryll Murray has been ousted by Labour’s Anna Gelderd – a constituency first. The clouds break but Mr Chapman barely glances up from his task as he reflects on an industry he believes has been overlooked. “I voted Conservative, it seemed the lesser of two evils. I’ve no clue what Labour’s policy is on fishing but every government so far has been a letdown,” he says. “You look around the port, it’s dying,” Mr Chapman adds. “When I started from school there were 50 boats – crabbing netters, handline mackerel boats, trawlers. “There are just six trawlers left. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:38
UK elects new government
NFFO chief executive Mike Cohen had already made a series of key points ahead of the election, when the polls were clear that the UK was already heading for change. ‘Above all else, policy makers need to remember that fishing is about food. It is not a conservation problem. It is not a heritage activity, or a hobby. It is a modern industry that produces food,’ he said. ‘People are finally waking up to the fragility of a food supply system that is over-reliant on time-sensitive imports and the rapid, affordable international transport links that make them possible. The British fishing industry provides healthy, affordable, free-range food, with a carbon footprint that compares favourably to any other source of dietary protein.’ more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:49
Folkestone Trawler Race cancelled for 2024 after attracting 10,000 people to town’s harbour
An annual water festival celebrating a town’s fishing industry has been cancelled following “safety” fears caused by a lack of funding. Organizers have confirmed Folkestone’s Trawler Race will not go ahead this summer which sees the town’s fishermen take to the sea and race around the harbour. However, organiser Cath Mison has announced this year’s gala will not feature as planned. “We have made the decision to save what funds we have already and apply to other funding avenues so we can put on a spectacular event for the Trawler Race’s 50th Anniversary in 2025. “It has been a difficult decision, but we can not deliver this year’s event effectively and safely. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:32
‘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
In a proud and troubled UK town, voters wonder whether their election choice will make a difference
“At the last election, I voted Conservative because Johnson promised our waters back, and lied through his teeth,” said Stan Rennie, a fisherman who has caught lobster off Hartlepool for five decades but says he can scarcely scrape a living anymore. “Because we’re the northeast, I don’t think the government even knows we exist,” he said. “We’re the forgotten land.” A proud, rugged town jutting into the North Sea 250 miles (400 kilometers) north of London, Hartlepool is scarred by industrial decline. The shipyards and steelworks that once employed thousands are long gone. The fishing fleet has been shrinking for years. In a 2016 referendum, Hartlepool voted heavily to leave the European Union, persuaded by Johnson and other Brexit-backers that quitting the bloc would let the U.K. control immigration and free up billions in cash for struggling communities. photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:56
Why do fishermen feel disillusioned after Brexit?
“I don’t think it matters who I vote for, they’re all lying,” said fisherman Dave Toy. He said it was not what he voted for and as a result he did not see any point in voting in the general election. Fishermen said they had wanted Brexit to deliver an increase in fish stock, but instead had got more paperwork. They cited the introduction of a mandatory catch app to record catches before they are landed, new vehicle monitoring systems, inspections and the requirement of medical certificates, which was later removed for existing fishermen. The government said the measures had improved both safety and fish stock management. Fisherman Graham Nicholas said life post-Brexit had been difficult. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:41
Newly released data reveals record number of cetacean deaths in UK waters
Tragically, more than 1000 whales, dolphins and porpoises were stranded around the UK in 2018 – and it was a similar number the following year with 980 cetaceans reported to the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) in 2019. What is causing the huge upturn in cetacean deaths around the UK? There could be a number of factors of course, there are many theories out there, but at least in the case of the Sperm whales in Yorkshire, we can largely rule out ship strike and entanglement, often casually blamed for the deaths of marine mammals. Whatever your hypothesis, whether you choose to blame climate change, naval sonar, fishing, pollution or plastics, don’t ignore the elephant in the room – industrial offshore wind farms. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:37
OPINION: The desk-bound green groups that dictate fishing policy
Shetland skippers have worked in harmony with the sea for thousands of years; the maritime world in general and fishing in particular are vital to the very existence of our community and way of life. In contrast, the corporately funded, desk-bound staff of environmental campaign groups operate in a fluorescently lit, urban world of computer screens and utterly misplaced conceptions about our industry. Yet so warped has our political system become that, despite their having no stake whatsoever in our future, they are the ones being allowed to dictate fisheries policy and regulations. It would be ridiculous if it wasn’t so dangerous. It jeopardises the jobs of hundreds of people and poses a genuine threat to our community. Why? more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:46
