JANUARY saw unseasonable weather for the time of year. The fleet at Newlyn took advantage of the conditions with the value of fish landed at the port being in excess of £1.5 million for the month.
The vast majority of landings were made by beam trawlers who were fortunate in locating heavy fishing of cuttlefish .
Landings were also made by Belgian-registered, Dutch-owned, vessels who were establishing their "days at sea" entitlement in this area and whose fish was taken back to their home ports for sale so as to maintain employment in their industry.
Other landings were made by local boats with their fish either going to Plymouth or Continental markets.
Owners of vessels need to sell their catches for the best price and some feel they can benefit from sending their fish to Plymouth. And many of the netting fleet send their fish for sale in France where they receive a better price for certain species, especially pollack.
However, all vessels landing at Newlyn have to pay dues, currently at the rate of 2.5 per cent ad valorem (meaning according to value).
This is the main source of income for the harbour commissioners and is used to maintain and improve the port and facilities.
February has seen changeable weather with the trawlers continuing to make reasonable returns and large quantities of cuttlefish still being landed.
Although not generally thought much of in England, the Europeans like cuttlefish and have many ways of cooking it. Indeed, the Spanish fishermen will place each one in a plastic bag so as to keep the black ink with it for cooking.
At times this month it has been most uncomfortable at sea. Boats working 70 to 80 miles south of Newlyn experienced swells of some 30 to 40 feet high and this not only makes it uncomfortable but causes great strain on the crew, vessel, gear and equipment, especially winches, which already have to cope with a large amount of warp from working in the deep water.
The weather experienced in the South West Approaches is one of the finest methods of conservation. Boats working further to the east do not have to contend with deep water, neither do they have such severe weather.
February also saw the start of the closure of the Trevose grounds off north Devon's coast with an area of approximately 3,500 square miles closed to all fishing activities for a period of two months in an effort to conserve fish stocks.
Consultations are also currently in progress on proposals to close further sea areas in an attempt to protect the flora and fauna of the sea bed.
These proposals could drastically and adversely affect the fishing industry, both inshore and offshore. Indeed, one nearby area proposed is approximately in a line from Mousehole Island to Cudden Point.
It may well be that the area shorewards of this line will not be available to any activities that may damage the sea bed.
This could mean that there would be no inshore trawling, no shellfish pots, no anchoring of vessels, nor would any maintenance dredgings from either Newlyn or Penzance harbours be permitted to be deposited.
Very little mackerel has been landed at Newlyn by the handliners although the ring netters are landing pilchards.
The larger offshore crabbers are still fishing, with the majority of their landings exported.
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN