Tag Archives: United Kingdom
Catches, quotas and communities: the key fisheries issues at stake
Only a few hours after accession talks had begun on 30 June 1970, the UK government was told that a common fisheries policy had been agreed by the original six members of the community. It was a fait accompli. The UK had to hand over equal access to its waters and the catch quotas for each country were fixed on the basis of the recorded catches of the various national fleets between 1973 and 1978. It led to some very unpalatable outcomes, including those in the Channel, where the UK’s share of the cod quota stands at 9%, whereas France’s share is 84%. Today, EU fishing fleets catch 675,000 tonnes of fish in UK waters – 60% of the total caught in the UK sector. British fishermen catch just 88,000 tonnes, or 16% of the fish taken in EU waters. >click to read< 13:39
Brexit: Thank-you note from 1666 could save Flemish fisheries
The United Kingdom is due to leave the EU at the end of this year, and unless a deal can be agreed before then, all of the existing rules governing trade relations between the two sides fall away. Among the issues forming a barrier to agreement is fisheries. The UK is unwilling to give way on fisheries policy, and wants to exclude all foreign boats from British waters. That would be the death-blow for the Belgian fishing industry,,, But help could be at hand, in the form of a document signed and sealed by Charles II in 1666. >click to read< 15:18
Brexit: Could a fight over British fish put a Brexit deal at risk? – Why the Brexit Talks Could Still Fail
For generations, boats have left this port to fish in the waters between France and England. Look across the water from Boulogne on a clear day and you can see Dover. It is just two and a half months until the end of the year, and the close of Britain’s transition period. If a Brexit trade deal has not been agreed by that point, Boulogne’s fishermen may face a truly profound change to their lives. Even if there is a deal, access to British coastal waters may be curtailed. If the UK leaves without an agreement, then the impact would probably be felt much more severely. >click to read< , Why the Brexit Talks Could Still Fail – >click to read<, Brexit: Fishing in Troubled Waters – >click to read< 10:30
Fishermen prepare for the choppy waters of a no deal Brexit
“The French will always be the ones to cause the biggest amount of trouble,” says ‘Crystal Sea’ skipper David Stevens. His family have been trawling for generations and he’s prepared for any wave that hits on January 1st. So will it be a new post Brexit dawn at sea for fishing? Seemingly relaxed about the future he accepts there is trouble on the horizon but predicts a passing storm. We are five hours out of Newlyn in Cornwall, the nets are cast and conversation turns to the weeks ahead. “It was said that fishing would be the litmus test of how far we’ve come out of the EU. I think that is true,” says David. >click to read< 16:49
Weymouth Lifeboat crew pay emotional tribute to their friend and colleague
A spokesman for the lifeboat station said: It is with deep sadness that Weymouth RNLI lifeboat station and the family of the station’s Deputy Second Coxswain Trevor Brooker pay tribute to Trevor who passed away suddenly on Sunday, September 13, in tragic circumstances for the crews at the lifeboat station. “Trevor was a professional local fisherman who owned and skippered a Weymouth fishing trawler. “He was a quiet man whose calming influence under the most challenging of conditions at sea could always be relied on. >click to read< 08:57
Investigation underway: French vessel boarded, inspected, and brought to Plymouth Harbour
Britain’s fishing watchdog has confirmed its staff boarded a French fishing vessel a few miles off the Devon and Cornwall coast before bringing it into Plymouth’s harbour for an investigation. As tension rises over the forthcoming Fisheries Bill, the first major fisheries legislation in nearly 40 years which aims to “end current automatic rights for EU vessels to fish in British waters”, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has confirmed it confronted a French fishing vessel a few miles south of the Eddystone lighthouse. >click to read< 11:16
EU humiliation: Brutal reality of Canada deal without UK exposed by Brexiteers
The EU’s celebrated trade deal with Canada has been laid bare after a pro-Brexit organization exposed Ottawa has faced a worsened situation since the UK historically voted to leave the bloc. Facts4EU claims Canada’s trade deficit since signing its joint pact in 2016 with Brussels has worsened by 27 percent, to around -€17.5billion (-£16bn), while the deal will be severely hampered when the UK is finally removed from the bloc. When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the trade deficit was at -€13billion (-£11.6bn), Facts4EU say. The organization say the deal with the EU will become “a whole lot less” as Canada sold 43 percent of its goods to the UK, and that when Brexit is concluded it will not enjoy such high levels of trade. >click to read< 12:35
Seafish inviting Bridlington’s fishermen, vessel owners across UK to take to share impacts of Covid-19 in Fleet Survey
The UK fleet survey is asking questions about the financial and operational performance of fishing businesses. Questions on the impact of Covid-19 are also a major part of the survey this year. There will also be an opportunity for vessel owners to say how effective Government support measures have been for their businesses. Seafish is hoping vessel owners in Bridlington will fill in the form so it gets a better idea of the current situation. >click to read< , Fishing vessel owners asked to share impacts of Covid-19 in annual fleet survey – The fleet survey is usually undertaken by a team of researchers visiting hundreds of ports and harbours across the UK. Due to Covid-19 and challenges with travel and physical distancing, a different approach is being taken this year. >click to read< from Seafish, 15:43
Brexit fishing victory: UK sector to explode after leaving EU as thousands of jobs created
THE UK Government should ignore the current small percentage of GDP that Britain’s fishing industry accounts for due to the fact it will soar after Brexit according to the Chairman of Lowestoft Fish Market Alliance. The UK’s fishing industry has the potential to grow from around 0.5 percent of Britain’s GDP to 3.5 if zonal attachment is reintroduced after the post-Brexit transition period. Mr Lines added that Britain’s coastal communities will thrive off having a fishery and it may result in thousands of jobs created within the fishing sector. >click to read< 14:00
Fighting for Fish – The Cod Wars and Today: Lessons from an Almost War
Not once, but three times in the 20th Century, cod was almost the causus belli between Iceland and the United Kingdom in a string of events referred to collectively as the “Cod Wars.”1 The Cod Wars, taken together, make clear that issues of maritime governance and access to maritime resources can spark inter-state conflict even among allied nations. Fishing rights can be core issues that maritime states will vigorously defend. The First Cod War started on September 1st, 1958. Icelandic coastguardsmen sought to arrest and impound any British trawlers within their new 12-mile limit. >click to read< 09:59
Stop treating fishing like a second class industry
It is true that fishing represents only a small part of our total economy, but the Government should not undervalue the thousands of jobs fishing creates not just on boats large and small, but in processing, logistics and food service. They are also at risk of ignoring the cultural and historical importance of fishing as part of our maritime heritage and our communities. The creation of this Trade and Agriculture Commission is to be welcomed and the NFU and its supporters congratulated for their successful campaign. >click to read< 10:53
Spanish F/V Pesorsa Dos detained in Irish waters and escorted to Killybegs
The F/V Pesorsa Dos was detained by the Irish Naval Service for alleged breaches to fishing regulations in Irish waters around 25 miles off Malin Head on Friday. She arrived at Killybegs on Tuesday morning after it had taken a few days to recover all of her gear. The Spanish owned gill-netter stands accused of attempting to foul the propeller of the local trawler F/V Alison Kay at the end of June during a confrontation 30 miles to the west of Shetland. At the time fishermen shared a number of video clips showing the incident,,, >click to read< 15:50
With demands for an investigation, Skipper describes how local boats are pushed out of fishing grounds – >click to read<
New fishing vessel certifying authority sails into post with familiar face at the helm
The Maritime Coastguard Agency has appointed a new fishing vessel certifying authority. The Society of Consulting Marine Engineers and Ship Surveyors, presided over by Grimsby-based Allan Larsen, has taken over the role from Seafish. The new service launches this month. Larsen, managing director and principal surveyor in his eponymous business, Larsen’s Marine Surveyors and Consultants Ltd, said it was an exciting expansion of the portfolio of technical marine services held by the 100 year old non-profit organisation. Under UK law, it is a legal requirement that every fishing vessel has a coding certificate. >click to read< 12:43
‘Home and Dry’: Fishing crews urged to turn the tide on industry’s safety record
The campaign comes as many fishing crews across the UK are returning to sea following weeks of lockdown and challenging market conditions to sell their catch. Created with support from the fishing industry, it focuses on the importance of community and home for those who make a living from catching fish. It shines a light on the pride and professionalism of the industry as a way to get vital out messages about good safety at sea. Dave Driver, a skipper featured in the campaign, says: “I’ve been a fisherman for most of my life, and as a vessel owner I am constantly thinking about my safety and the safety of my crew. >click to read< 07:30
Inspector of marine accidents and ex-commercial fisherman Sean Friday shares his views on the challenges facing commercial fishing and his journey to the MAIB.
To mark this year’s Maritime Safety Week and the launch of the Home and Dry Campaign by the Fishing Industry Safety Group, Sean Friday, an inspector of marine accidents for 8 years, talks candidly about his journey to the MAIB and what can be done to make commercial fishing safer. Tell us about your career to date and your journey to the MAIB? Although I had always wanted to go to sea, on my father’s insistence my career began with an engineering apprenticeship as a civilian in the British Army. With this providing a good grounding I went to sea as a deckhand in the fishing industry and progressed to the role of skipper of one the UK’s largest fishing vessels. >click to read< 09:39
The Fisheries Bill has passed the House of Lords.
The legislation, which creates the powers for the UK to operate as an independent coastal state and manage its fish stocks sustainably outside the EU, has been introduced to the House of Commons for its First Reading.The Bill ends current automatic rights for EU vessels to fish in British waters. If access to UK waters for foreign vessels is negotiated, the Bill will also enable the Fisheries Administrations to ensure that foreign vessels follow the same rules as UK vessels. >click to read< 12:50
Yorkshire looks to Canada to boost fortunes of ‘Europe’s lobster capital’
Landings of lobsters into Bridlington are the largest in the UK and Europe The 310 tonnes caught last year represents 17.5 per cent of the European lobsters landed into England and 9.5 per cent of the global landings for the species.. But with the vast majority of its catch exported to France and Spain and visitors to the town eating imported Canadian lobster, its significance goes by largely unremarked. In January a group of fishing industry representatives and academics visited Shediac in New Brunswick. >click to read< 11:04
With seven decades of working at sea under his belt, Rolly Rollisson has “done every job in fishing that you can mention”
The port’s oldest fisherman, and former chairman of Bridlington and Flamborough Fishermen’s Society has seen the harbour adapt from the days when cod and haddock was King, to today when shellfishing reigns supreme. When Mr Rollisson, 91, started out there was little in the way of navigational aids – now as son Rolo, 58, puts it “you can now see the seabed in 3D, every nook and cranny.,, “We had four seasons, end of September to March for cod and haddock with long lines. “There was crab and lobster fishing with lobster pots until July and August, then we used to go herring fishing from August 10 to the end of October, then back to line-fishing.” >click to read< 08:00
Displacement of fishermen? Offshore Wind Could Have Major Adverse Impact on Commercial Fisheries
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) draft supplemental environmental review for Vineyard Wind off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts indicates that offshore wind farms could have a major “adverse” impact on commercial fisheries.,, The study also notes concern that offshore wind turbines and transmission cables could entangle with fishing vessels and gear, and that wind farms could result in the temporary or permanent displacement of fishermen in certain areas. >click to read< 13:02
N E looks to Europe to assess environmental impacts of offshore energy facilities – “In the next 20 years there will be more than 2,000 wind turbines off the coastline,” “We think there’s lots of potential for environmental benefit of putting offshore aquaculture together with offshore renewable — from an environmental point of view, but also from an economic point of view,” she said. “Sharing space is going to be the only way I think we can move forward in this industry,,, >click to read<
It’s four years since the Brexit vote. Now what?
On the 4th anniversary of Britain’s historic vote, Megan Revell explains where things stand with Brexit. At the time, Boris Johnson stressed there was no rush … Boris Johnson, 2016: “There is now no need for haste …” But now, as Britain’s Prime Minister, he’s under a time crunch. Boris Johnson, 2020: “Put a tiger in the tank (…) the faster we can do this, the better.” Britain officially left the bloc in January – but talks on a trade agreement – remember, one of the biggest issues of the Brexit debate – have made little progress. >click to read< 10:07
Fraserburgh nets host of honours at annual awards
Fishermen and businesses from Fraserburgh and Macduff were among those recognised in the 2020 Fishing News awards for the UK and Ireland. A presentation ceremony scheduled for May 14 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the winners were instead announced online. David Milne, skipper of the Fraserburgh-registered Faithlie, was the winner in the demersal fisherman category. The award for fish processor went to Fraserburgh-based Whitelink Seafoods. Established by James and Marie Sutherland in 1974 in the garage at the back of their house, the company has grown over the years into one of the leading processors in north-east Scotland, now employing 180 people. >click to read< 13:40
With demands for an investigation, Skipper describes how local boats are pushed out of fishing grounds
James Anderson said the 27 metre long German-registered fishing boat Pesorsa Dos could have caused serious damage to the Alison Kay had she been successful in her alleged attempts of running a line through the Alison Kay’s propeller during an incident off the west coast of Shetland last week. Video footage of the confrontation was widely shared by fishermen on social media and picked up by a number of news organisations. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has been informed. Politicians and fishermen’s organisations have called for an investigation to be conducted. >click to read< 08:12
“Trainee Fisherman of the Year” – Scalloway fisherman and NAFC student scoops top award
Campbell Hunter, who is a crewman on the local whitefish boat Guiding Light (LK 84), received the award in a virtual ceremony last night (Monday). The Fishing News Awards shine a spotlight on the achievements, innovations, and successes of the commercial fishing industries of the UK and Ireland over the last year. Mr Hunter was brought up in Scalloway where his family was mainly involved in the fish buying and processing industry. He decided his future lay in fish catching and while still at school enrolled on the NAFC’s “Maritime Skills for Work” programme, successfully gaining five SQA units relating to maritime activities. On leaving school, Mr Hunter enrolled on the centre’s Seafish “Introduction to Commercial Fishing” programme, >click to read< 15:16
Fishermen post shocking video footage of ‘intolerable’ behaviour
Fishermen have described the conduct of Spanish gill-netters to the northwest of Shetland as “intolerable” after video footage was posted on social media showing a Spanish gill-netter allegedly attempting to run a rope through the propeller of a local whitefish trawler. This latest video evidence takes the ongoing skirmishes over access to fishing grounds to a new level and highlights why the local fishing industry is so keen to leave the European Union, and with it the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The battle between Spanish gill-netters and local trawler men has been ongoing for a long time with most local whitefish boats reporting over the years that they have been at the receiving end of attempts to drive them out of their traditional fishing grounds. >Video, click to read< 14:46
“We’ve caught some big ones before but nothing close to that.”
A Whalsay fisherman has told of his surprise at catching a massive monkfish – the biggest his crew has ever encountered. Skipper Arthur Polson’s five man crew were out in Resilient on Wednesday when they netted the 57kg (125lb.) beast. Mr Polson said he was “very surprised” to catch such a huge fish. “We spent 10 years in our old boat targeting monkfish and never saw one this size,” he said,,, The crew, which is made up of John Montgomery, Ian Reid, Stephen Anderson and Theo Polson, was trawling 90 miles east of Lerwick when they caught the monkfish in their seine net. >click to read< 08:43
Cornwall fisherman rescues baby deer being chased by seal a mile out at sea
A Cornish fisherman has been called a hero after rescuing a baby deer from a hungry seal off Cornwall. The roe deer – which is thought to have fallen off the cliffs near Porthleven – was rescued from a mile out to sea where fishermen Jeremy Richards spotted the unusual sighting from his boat as he sailed around the coast from Gunwalloe. Jeremy, who is a member of Porthleven Fishermen and Boat Owners’ Association, then pulled the scared dear – which was being chased by a seal – into his boat and took it back to shore. photo’s, video, >click to read< 19:41
‘Leave the diplomats out’ and put fishermen in charge of Brexit talks
As the UK and EU teams begin their final round of negotiations this week, Pascal Lamy called for “the politics and legal complexities” to be taken out of the fisheries talks, which are at an impasse. The UK team has accused the EU of not “accepting the reality” that Britain will be an independent coastal state at the end of the year, while the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has rejected UK proposals for annual negotiations on quotas, saying EU fishermen needed “predictability” in the form of continued “status quo” access to UK fishing grounds after Brexit. >click to read< 10:27
Irish fishermen warn of violent clashes with UK boats ‘Give us an agreement! – Irish fishing chiefs have warned of violent clashes with British boats if the European Union fails to reach an agreement for continued access to UK’s fishing waters. Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation has claimed the industry would be plagued by thousands of job loses if Irish boats are locked out of the UK’s fishing grounds. >click to read< 10:35
Fishermen get a £10m lifeline to stay afloat: Government will hand 1,000 businesses cash grants amid coronavirus crisis
Ministers have announced a £10 million bailout for England’s fishing industry to keep firms afloat during the coronavirus crisis. The industry has been hammered by the current outbreak with demand from restaurants having collapsed because they have been forced to close during lockdown. Meanwhile, the international fish market has also taken a massive hit with UK trawlers struggling to export what they catch. The government’s bailout will see direct cash grants awarded to more than 1,000 fishing and aquaculture businesses with a total of £9 million available. >click to read< 08:56
Fish Local: Leigh fisherman backs industry campaign
Following the closure of export markets in France and Belgium, the campaign, called Fish Local, asks residents to cook more locally caught fish and seafood. A website has been set up, called www.fishlocal.org, which states on its home page: “During normal times, 80% of a catch for fishermen in Kent and Essex goes to foreign markets. Due to the current covid-19 crisis, all major international and national markets for fish and shellfish have closed or are limited. “By connecting you, the local community with the local fish supply, we hope we can keep the Kent and Essex fishing industry afloat and the shops full. We are working hard with the local fishing community to bring you closer to quality, fresh fish in and around your area.” >click to read< 11:48
Coronavirus: Shellfish industry calls for government support – Fishermen face bleak year as pandemic bites
The East Yorkshire coast is home to the UK’s largest crab and lobster fishing industry, with about 80% of the catch exported. Fishing has been suspended and exports to China and Europe have become a “zero marketplace”, according to Bridlington fisherman John White. The industry is calling for more support from the government. >click to read< 11:03
Fishermen face bleak year as pandemic bites – The UK fishing sector has been badly hit by the coronavirus crisis, with the collapse of export markets and the shutdown of the hospitality industry leading to most boats being tied up. British fishermen export about 70% of their catch, mainly to continental Europe and Asia. The sharp fall in demand has been a “severe shock”, said Barrie Deas, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations. >click to read< 11:05
