The Francesca TO80, an English fishing boat inspected in French waters, is docked in Brest

 

The Francesca TO80, an Cornish fishing vessel, is being held at the quayside in the commercial port of Brest, while the authorities decide on its fate.

The Francesca a British fishing vessel based in Newlyn, docked at the commercial port of Brest this Sunday morning, May 18, 2025. It was inspected in French fishing waters the day before. 

The British fishing vessel inspected off the island of Batz on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in French fishing waters, was directed towards the commercial port of Brest this Sunday at around 4:30 a.m. It is located at Quai de la Douane, in the fifth dock, a secure area. It is the Francesca TO 80, is registered in the port of Truro, in Cornwall, England.

Photo courtesy of David Cormier

The prefecture in Quimper is now taking over the case, and if it deems it necessary to pursue the matter, the Brest prosecutor's office will also take over. The maritime gendarmerie is investigating. The crew, including sailors from the Baltic countries and Russia, is being held in port.

Full story courtesy of Le Télégramme.

The NFFO is very disappointed with today’s deal and its impact on fishermen and their communities.

 The NFFO gave its opinion on today's announcement on Fishing.

"Giving the EU twelve years of guaranteed access to UK waters up to the six-mile inshore limit gives away the best card that we still had in our hand in fisheries discussions with Europe. This surrenders the best prospect that the fishing industry and coastal communities had for growth over the coming decade. We had reason to believe that our government understood the economic, symbolic and conservation value of reclaiming exclusive access for UK boats to our territorial waters within 12 miles of the coast. Clearly, however, they did not value such things as much as their European counterparts.

The Prime Minister and EU have claimed that the SPS agreement will benefit the UK fishing industry, in the form of boosted exports. It is true that it may help producers of farmed shellfish and salmon, as well as the biggest retailers and exporters, but it is very unlikely that any savings from reduced export costs will be passed down to the men and women who go to sea. If the Government has a plan to ensure these cost savings go down the supply chain, we are eager to hear it and happy to work with them on it.

Moving forward, the Government must work hard to rebuild trust in the fishing industry and in coastal communities, where fishing remains integral to their economy and identity. Many people in these communities will now think the Government does not care about them.

The Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund announced today sounds significant, but the devil will be in the detail. We need the Government to work closely with us, to ensure the money is actually spent in ways that directly benefit fishermen. There must be a long term plan to help fishing business to grow and coastal communities to thrive. Having given away our best tool for achieving that, the task will be harder now, but it is no less important.

The NFFO wants to continue working closely with the Government, for the benefit of our industry and the communities we support. With significant existential threats, including the rush to expand offshore wind farms onto productive fishing grounds, we have had nothing but bad news for too long. The Government must show that it cares for our sector and for people on the coast. Close and constructive collaboration on the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund and a national strategy on fishing would be a good start."

Here's another view from across the Channel https://eutoday.net/starmer-brussels-fishing-betrayal/

Newlyn - Plenty of fish and not a cloud in the sky

Newlyn's got the blues this Monday morning., not a cloud in the sky..

and there's plenty of fish on the market with another landing from the big fly-seiner with hake...

and red mullet a big feature...

along with a few monk...

signs of summer with JD landings increasing...

while seemingly every boat is landing Mediterranean octopus......

 unheard of in previous years...

they are so voracious they will eat one another when caught in pots...

a few plaice have huge orange spots...

Butts has been hard at work on the mackerel again, at this time of year his favourite fish to target, bass are feeding on very small sandeels and very hard to entice to take a lure...

a few zarts this morning...

which is how the skipper of the Crystal Sea would refer to what others call sea urchins, but then he's a St Ives boy.

 

Navigating the Waters: UK Bluefin Tuna Quotas and Fisheries for 2025

Good news for some!

Bluefin Tuna continues to be a keenly sought-after species in UK waters. For 2025, the UK has been allocated a total of 66.15 tonnes of quota. This allowance will be carefully managed across both commercial and recreational fishing sectors, with a strong emphasis on sustainable practices and regulatory compliance.

Commercial Fishery: A Controlled Opportunity

The UK will dedicate 45 tonnes of its BFT quota to continue the commercial fishery, specifically for vessels employing low-impact rod and reel gears. This commitment underscores a move towards environmentally conscious fishing methods.

Key details for the 2025 commercial BFT fishery include:

• Limited Access: Licence authorisations will be available for up to 15 vessels. This controlled number aims to ensure the fishery remains sustainable.
• Application Process: Access to these coveted spots was determined through an application process. We can confirm that this process is now complete, and 15 vessels have been notified of their success.
• Equal Share: The 45 tonnes of quota will be distributed equally among the successful applicants, resulting in each vessel receiving a 3-tonne quota.
• UK-Wide Eligibility, With Location Restrictions: Commercial fishing vessels from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland were eligible to apply. However, it's crucial to note that fishing for and landing BFT will not be permitted in Welsh or Northern Irish waters in 2025.
• Fishing Season: The fishery is anticipated to operate from 1 July to 31 December 2025. This is subject to each vessel's International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) registry.
• MMO Management: The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) will oversee the quota. They reserve the right to redistribute quota during the year if necessary.
• Licence Specifics: It's important for successful applicants to remember that these licence authorisations are non-transferable and are valid for the 2025 fishing season only. Furthermore, these authorisations will not establish a track record for future quota considerations and offer no guarantee of access to bluefin tuna quota in subsequent years.
• Reporting is Key: The authorisation allows the landing and sale of BFT, strictly provided that all reporting conditions are met. Failure to comply can lead to the suspension or removal of an authorisation.
• Mandatory Training: All skippers who were successful in the application process are required to attend a mandatory training meeting. This session will cover the essential processes and protocols of the fishery, ensuring everyone is up-to-speed on best practices and regulatory requirements.

Recreational Fishery: Catch and Release in English Waters

For recreational anglers, the MMO will be opening a permitted BFT catch and release recreational fishery (CRRF) in 2025. This fishery will operate exclusively within English waters. The MMO plans to issue permits for approximately 140 vessels to participate in the BFT CRRF.

To be eligible for a recreational permit, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• No Commercial Permit: You must not have secured a permit for the UK commercial BFT 2025 fishery. (See Bluefin tuna (BFT) commercial fishery within UK waters - GOV.UK)
• No Other CRRF Permit: You must not hold a permit for another UK BFT CRRF for the 2025 season.
• Vessel Specifications: Your vessel must be no less than 5 metres in overall length and must be powered by an engine/motor.
• Vessel Identification: A recent photograph of your vessel displaying external registration markings must be submitted with your application.
• UK Vessel Registry: You must be the owner of a vessel registered in the United Kingdom under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. Evidence will be required.
• Charter Vessel Certification: If your vessel is used for charter fishing trips, you must hold a valid Small Commercial Vessel Certificate (SCV2). Evidence of this certificate will also be required.

A critical point for all interested parties: Applicants cannot hold both a commercial BFT authorisation and a recreational CRRF BFT permit for the same vessel.

The allocation of BFT quota and the structured approach to both commercial and recreational fisheries highlight the UK's commitment to managing this valuable resource responsibly. For those involved in the commercial sector, the 2025 season offers a regulated opportunity, while recreational anglers in England can look forward to a permitted catch and release fishery. Stay tuned to "Through the Gaps" for any further updates as the season progresses.

It's a busy May #FishyFriday market in Newlyn.

The kind of morning weather-wise one might expect for a mid-May #FishyFriday in Newlyn...

with fish like these cracking red mullet...

and turbot from the big beam trawler Enterprise...

head-on monk from the seiner...

and superb tub gurnard from the fishy Saxon Spirit...

cephalopods like these squid are becoming a thing these days, with climate change acknowledged as the main factor in the rise of landings

of Mediterranean octopus, now being landed by almost every type of fishing boat...

in addition to cuttlefish...

there are the the common eight-leggers that have been landed on Newlyn for years...

though landings of their much larger cousins like this haul of 45 boxes are a new phenomenon...

Ian is still perfecting his nunchuck moves...

big beam-trawl plaice from the St Georges...

plus an unusually large haul of congers, must have been scraping those wrecks again..

the inshore boys continue their work harvesting fish ;ike mackerel, bass, pollack, and anything else that swims handy to the shore...

the look that comes from having put ashore a nice little touch of mackerel from the Western shore in a single drift...

what goes up must come down, Inter-Nos comes off the slip...

and heads out across the Bay for a quick run to check all is well down below...

as the Elizabeth N makes her way to the gaps...

the harbour guys are busy installing tyre fenders in preparation for any larger visitors along the Stone quay...

signs of some quality granite sets hide below the tarmac...

not many punts work two-handed, maybe the lobster pots are so full of Mediterranean octopus or nets so full od spiders that an extra pair of hands is needed to get them aboard the Benediction or Ramjet just decided to go for a morning cruise and keep Andrew company!..

work on making good the neglected wrought iron railings is nearing completion as is...

the installation of three new ladders...

replacement mooring rings and capping stone staples.

UK/EU Fishing Talks: Here we go again…

 

Once again, an agreement is being negotiated between the EU and the UK on fisheries and the rumours are swirling.

The Trade and Co-operation Agreement that governs many aspects of our relationship with Europe is under review. The fisheries chapter – source of great dissatisfaction to UK fishermen for the past four and a half years – appears to be one of the major talking points.

The EU got almost everything that it wanted out of the original agreement, including continued access to fish in the UK’s waters. That access provision, however, was to last only 5 years, after which it would need to be agreed annually. EU fishermen, predictably, do not relish the uncertainty that would come with annual access negotiations. Many of them have been living beyond their national means and developing businesses that are entirely dependent on the freedom to take resources from British waters. The EU, therefore, has been asking to revise the terms of the TCA, to acquire a right of access that will last for multiple years, perhaps even permanently.

Even before the negotiations began in earnest, rumours started to spread. First, we heard that the UK was about to surrender access to our waters in return for an agreement by the EU to buy British-made weapons. Next came the suggestion that access was simply going to be given away for free, as a gesture of goodwill to smooth the process of negotiating a better deal for some other industry. Most recently, we hear that access will apparently be exchanged for an agreement to make it easier for the UK to export food and drink to the EU and vice versa.

Three mutually exclusive rumours, within the space of a fortnight.

Of course, we have to remember that the two parties are in the middle of a complex and rapidly developing negotiation: it is perfectly possible that each of those stories was in fact true at the time. Times change and so do negotiating positions and, in the absence of concrete information, rumour takes over.

All we know for certain is that no agreement has been announced yet. The government has told us that they continue to negotiate and are set on getting a good deal for fishermen. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister – echoing the sentiments of Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner in the House of Commons recently – told journalists: “we’re looking for an overall arrangement that’s beneficial to our fishers, and we’re determined to continue to support those communities.”

This is broadly positive, but the lack of specifics is a problem. The government has said that it will not provide a running commentary on the state of the negotiations, nor reveal its negotiating position. This makes sense as a tactic before talks begin, but now that they have started, what good purpose is served by our government continuing to keep its position hidden from us?

The EU’s negotiators have already spoken publicly about what they seek to get for their fishermen, so there are no secrets about what the EU wants. Furthermore, the British government must by now have revealed its negotiating position to the other side. Our government’s position on fishing is therefore only a secret from us and we cannot help but speculate about why they do not want us to know it.

The Labour Party in opposition was a strong supporter of the fishing industry on several crucial issues, but this has not yet translated into positive action now that they are in government. If they are indeed fighting to improve on the TCA deal for British fishermen, as they have promised, then everyone would benefit from them explaining exactly what it is that they intend to do. Admittedly, this could lead to embarrassment if they fail to get the deal that they hoped for, but I would submit that it would be easier to accept our negotiators losing if we knew that they had at least put up a good fight on our behalf. The outcome of these talks could be deeply consequential for the UK’s fishermen. It could secure what we have and create the conditions for sustainable growth; or it could constrain our fleets and our freedom to manage our own waters. We deserve an honest, adult dialogue with the people who are negotiating on our behalf.

The Conservative Party on Tuesday made its priorities for the fishing industry crystal clear and I am very pleased to see how closely they mirror the position that has already been articulated jointly by the NFFO and UKAFPO. Like us, they have said that they believe that any grant of permission to fish in UK waters should be used to gain benefits for the UK’s fishermen. Also like us, they want our territorial waters, within 12 miles of the coast, to be fished exclusively by UK vessels and they want to see a fairer distribution of quota. These are hardly extreme positions: they are no more than what any independent coastal state should have.

Maintaining our independence is the key reason why we do not want to see any deal on fishing to be tied to an unrelated agreement. Take, for example, the most recent suggestion, that the UK may swap access to our waters for an improved deal on agricultural and food exports. We are told that the EU wants the two to be entirely linked, so that if their access to our waters is ever restricted, the export deal will be terminated. In practical terms, the prospect of a sudden end to our ability to export food and drink products to the EU would be so disruptive and expensive that this would effectively give the EU permanent access.

The implications of this would be extremely wide-ranging. Our efforts to manage fishing in our waters would be severely constrained. Any new fisheries regulation could be claimed to be a restriction on the EU’s freedom to exploit our fish resources and threats to end our food export agreements could follow. Conservation measures could meet the same response, as could the government’s plans to licence more offshore wind farms. We only have to look at how the EU responded to the UK’s conservation measures on sand eels to see how readily they are willing to use trade disputes in an attempt to control the management of the UK’s waters. If we make this even easier for them to do, by tying fisheries access to export agreements, Britain’s maritime independence will be a fiction.

Some rumours imply that a deal is done; others say it’s all to play for. Either way, it seems likely that the decisions made in the next few days may have consequences – either positive or negative – that will be felt for years.

Full story courtesy of the NFFO website.

24 hours in British Fishing starts 5am tomorrow!

Fishing News is backing a new initiative to generate wider awareness of UK seafood and everything that is good about our industry, with Clyde-based Ian Wightman one of the many fishermen who have already registered their support. For a 24-hour period on 15 May, cookery writer Jenny Jefferies and SAGB chair Mike Warner are calling on people across the seafood sector to add the #Fish24 hashtag to their social media posts. “It costs nothing, will be fun, and can really raise awareness around the UK about the huge amount of dedication, work and skill that puts prime British seafood on our plates,” they said.

“I saw the success of previous campaigns that have used a 24-hour period to highlight UK farmed food, from the field to the plate, and thought that this was something ideally suited to British seafood,” Jenny Jefferies told FN.

“We are after all an island nation. With over 19,000 miles of bountiful coastline, 11,000 fishermen and around 950 independent fish shops, market traders and fishmongers, the British fishing industry brings in a value of over £1bn to the UK economy.

“But it is more than money and jobs. From trawlermen posting videos of hauling at night, many miles from shore, through to early-morning sales on our auctions, from small fishmongers through to some of the best restaurants in Britain, there are so many tales to tell about the journey of our seafood on its way to feeding the nation.”

Mike Warner, who regularly provides social media updates about his own small seafood business and writing, said: “UK fishing individuals and businesses work hard all year round to ensure that the seafood on our plates is environmentally, ethically and economically sustainable. This is now an opportunity for us all to come together, to give thanks, and to find out how so many different people help put British fish and seafood onto our tables.

“Adding the #Fish24 tag to social media posts should generate a real momentum in raising the profile of so much of our industry that still goes unnoticed by many consumers – we’re asking everyone across the seafood sector to post pictures of their activities over a 24-hour period with the hashtag attached, and drive the message home about our industry, and the food we deliver to people’s plates.

“The day should allow us to deliver messages not just about the cultural and economic value of our seafood industry, but the nutritional benefits, the huge variety of seafood that we produce, and our environmental credentials.”

A wide range of individuals and organisations have already signalled their support for the initiative, which will start at 5am on 15 May, when CJ Jackson, campaigner, author and CEO of the Seafood School in Billingsgate Market, will be opening the campaign from Billingsgate.

Clyde prawn fisherman Ian Wightman, no stranger to social media himself, told FN: “I am looking forward to getting involved in the upcoming Fish24 event and having an opportunity to share some of the behind-the- scenes parts of my job, from the steam out with – hopefully – a nice sunrise on a calm morning, to sharing some pictures of the catch, which will show how little bycatch we actually get in a targeted langoustine fishery.

“We might be entertained by the dolphins as we work. Watching them playing beside us in the crystal-clear waters is always a great way to forget about the stresses of life and something that we never take for granted – seeing some of nature’s wonders so close is really humbling.”

More details of the event can be found at the dedicated website here where the logo for the event can be downloaded to attach to your social media posts.