ANNONCER
UK fisheries minister George Eustice has announced that from the 1st of January, British fishermen targeting demersal species including haddock, plaice and sole must land all their catches as the latest phase of the discard ban comes into force.
The Fisheries Council is over. The delegates have left Brussels for another year and the results are a mixed bag, much if which is surprisingly encouraging –not least with the spectre of the landing obligation about to be applied to demersal fisheries across Europe.
The recently formed NFFO East Anglia Committee elected Steve Wightman, Lowestoft long-lining skipper, as its Chairman at its latest meeting in Norwich on 12th November. Steve is supported by three Vice Chairman covering the coast, including Dave Chambers, Neil Lake and Billy Gaff, with the intention of rotating the Chairmanship on an annual basis.
Recom Ice Systems has secured new work in Stornoway, Scotland. The Stornoway Port Authority has awarded Recom the development work of an ice plant with storage and delivery systems.
There have been an increasing number of sporadic but significant hauls of spurdog (Squalus acanthias) encountered by Cornish fishermen in recent months. Just last week a Newlyn based trawler accidently caught over 10 tonnes of spurdog while fishing for John Dory around the Isles of Scilly. This meant damaged fishing gear, lost fishing time and a great deal of frustration for the skipper involved. To make it even worse under current EU fishing rules not one of the spurdog could be landed for human consumption or sold.
Over the last eight years, the Notus Trawlmaster net monitoring system has been installed on over 200 vessels across the UK and Ireland. One of the main reasons for its popularity is that the Trawlmaster system was specifically designed for twin-rigging.
UK Fishing Industry Risks Irreparable Damage From ‘Commercially Catastrophic’ EU Landing Reductions
The Northern Ireland Pelagic Sustainability Group (NIPSG) Irish Sea-Atlantic mackerel, west of Scotland herring and North Sea herring fisheries have entered into Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) full assessment. If successful, this will more than double the number of MSC certified fisheries in Northern Ireland.
With just over a week to go, Skipper Expo Int. Bournemouth 2014 will have plenty to interest fishermen, including six fishing vessels on display.
The 6th Fishstock Brixham Seafood and Music festival took place in perfect weather conditions on Saturday 13th September. Crowds had gathered before the festival even opened at 10am and there was a constant stream through the gates throughout the day, paying their £5 entry fee in support of the Fisherman’s Mission.