Early on Friday, the 70ft fishing boat Charisma steamed into Newlyn with a catch of 267 line-caught tuna and a single swordfish. Not big compared to the tuna line fishermen of Spain - but an important turning point for a few Westcountry fishermen by offering a summer income in exchange for less pressure on quotas of fish nearer home like hake and monkfish.

On a ten-day exploratory voyage into the warm waters of Biscay (as reported last week), the high priced quarry of line-caught tuna, carefully handled and iced within seconds of coming aboard, was a real opportunity for skipper Barry "Manuel" Ball and his crew.

At Newlyn fish market, the big fish made £4/kg and slightly smaller fish (most of the catch) £3.60, with smaller fish not far behind. But the single lure-caught small swordfish made £11/kg!

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