With two boats backed by Defra, the project is not a one-off, say the skippers, and has brought positive results to the South West fishing industry, with merchants and Seafood Cornwall now exploring ways to generate more up-market outlets.

The skippers are already encouraged to look toward a longer spell of pole fishing during next summer's season. Two boats spread their landings between fish markets at Plymouth and Newlyn to allow a greater number of merchants to try selling line-caught tuna.

Reluctant retail customers were soon swayed by the freshness and firmness of the meat and at the recent Newlyn Fish Festival, many bought whole fish weighing six to eight kilos at £25.

Not new to tuna pole fishing, two of the Newlyn netters have over previous years "given it a go, perhaps with less efficient gear but it did spur the latest development" said Nathan de Rozarieux, leader of Seafood Cornwall, a body promoting the fishery. Its successful tagging scheme now includes tuna.

The Nova Spero and Charisma - with Ben Loyal operating independently - have each seen impressive catches and 1,100 tuna were taken in ten days aboard the Charisma, skippered by John Walsh. Equally impressive hauls were taken by skipper Sean Edwards and his crewmen aboard the Nova Spero, one being Quentin Knights who before the project spent a considerable time in northern Spain studying pole fishing techniques and equipment.

He has produced a daily blog of the each boat's antics on Seafood Cornwall's new website - www.cornishtuna.com - and the trials have not only conserved each boat's white fish quotas, but promoted valuable links with the Spanish pole fishermen, "who couldn't have been more helpful," said Quentin Knights.

Strongly supported by the Cornish FPO, chief executive Paul Trebilcock told how the pilot scheme had been possible with Defra's help and more vessels might take part in years to come.

Nathan de Rozarieux agreed: "The men have certainly proved they can master the technique and have often caught similar levels of fish as have the Spanish, French and Irish boats. The quality level is unsurpassed. There is definitely a future for Cornish line-caught tuna."

article copyright WESTERN MORNING NEWS 

Comments (0)