Fishing Study Study Final Report.pdf · The fishing methods in use are also diverse, as is the...

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Fishing Study Produced for the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership

Transcript of Fishing Study Study Final Report.pdf · The fishing methods in use are also diverse, as is the...

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Fishing Study

Produced for the

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

Local Enterprise Partnership

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Fishing Study

Produced for the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

Local Enterprise Partnership

by

Cornwall Food & Drink

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………......

Cornwall Food & Drink Ltd, Chapel View Farm, Coombe Lane, Bissoe, Truro TR4 8RE

T: 01872 865101 E: [email protected]

www.cornwallfoodanddrink.co.uk

Registered in England and Wales. Registered No:7124725 VAT No:99552707

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Contents

BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................................... 1

OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................ 3

PART ONE: AUDIT.................................................................................................................... 4

1.1. Vessels ............................................................................................................................ 4

1.2. Fish Landings ............................................................................................................... 10

1.3. Fish Sales ..................................................................................................................... 18

1.4. Facilities ........................................................................................................................ 21

1.5. Aquaculture .................................................................................................................. 35

1.6. Workforce ..................................................................................................................... 36

PART TWO: OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT ........................................................... 40

2.1. Modernisation and rationalisation of the fleet .......................................................... 41

2.2. Landing Infrastructure and Facilities .......................................................................... 42

2.3. Berthing Facilities ......................................................................................................... 42

2.4. Vessel Repair and Refit Facilities ............................................................................... 43

2.5. Facilities for Ice, Fuel and Supplies ............................................................................ 44

2.6. Chilled Storage ............................................................................................................. 44

2.7. Fish Markets ................................................................................................................. 45

2.8. Fish Packaging Capability ........................................................................................... 45

2.9. Fish Processing Capability .......................................................................................... 46

2.10. Aquaculture .............................................................................................................. 46

PART THREE: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................................... 47

3.1 Newlyn/Fish Markets ................................................................................................... 47

3.2 Vessels .......................................................................................................................... 50

3.3 Engineering ................................................................................................................... 50

3.4 Aquaculture .................................................................................................................. 51

3.5 Small Infrastructure Projects ...................................................................................... 51

3.6 Attracting New Entrants ............................................................................................. 51

3.7 Marketing ...................................................................................................................... 52

3.8 Industry cohesion and cross sector interdependence .............................................. 52

REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................... 53

APPENDIX A ............................................................................................................................ 54

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BACKGROUND

The fishing and seafood industry makes an important contribution to Cornwall’s economy.

According to the 2011 study of Cornwall’s Agri-food Industry, the annual value of fish and

shellfish landed in Cornwall was nearly £28m and, although fishing contributed just under

0.5% to the county’s GVA, the sector’s productivity per full time employee (£51,000) was not

only higher than the UK average for fishing (£49,000) but notably higher than the Cornwall

average for all industries (£32,000) and significantly higher than the figure for Cornwall’s

farming sector (£13,000). In 2014, the value of fish landed in Cornwall had risen to £36m and,

in addition, although no precise quantification is possible, a significant amount of seafood

processing takes place in the county, adding value to the Cornish catch before it leaves the

county, or for onward sale to other parts of the local supply chain, particularly the restaurant

trade. The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Fisheries Local Action Group estimate that the

combined value of fishing and fish processing is £50m; our findings suggest that this is in fact

likely to be a conservative figure and that fish processing alone is worth between £50m and

£100m.

Seafood also plays a part in Cornwall’s reputation for outstanding food and drink. In research

undertaken by Cornwall Food & Drink in 2014, over 75% of participants identified positively

with Cornish food and drink, and seafood is now the food product more people associate

with Cornwall than any other. This reputation for seafood has evolved during the period

since 2002, when a similar piece of work found that the county’s iconic pasties and clotted

cream were predictably the most popular.

Like agriculture, the fishing industry also has a wider impact on the Cornish community,

particularly in some of the coastal communities, where it can be responsible for most of the

economic activity and employment that takes place, both directly and indirectly. Also like

agriculture, the sector has a passive yet important role in tourism, from the small harbours

with one or two working boats, to the larger ports with ranks of fishing vessels of all sizes, it is

widely acknowledged that the fishing industry adds to the county’s tourist appeal.

Previous research and consultation has identified the need for investment in the Cornish

fishing industry and various potential investments have been put forward. The Cornwall and

Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (CIOSLEP) is keen to gain a better understanding of

the need and likely benefit of these investments. This study therefore presents an audit of the

industry’s assets and commercial activity, followed by an analysis of the strengths,

weaknesses and potential impacts of the suggested investments.

The research has been conducted by means of a detailed desk study of published statistics,

complemented by one-to-one discussions with a number of key industry players. All those on

Cornwall Food & Drink’s seafood industry database were also invited to take part in an

electronic survey, which was also promoted via local press and social media.

Cornwall Food & Drink has been asked to submit a concise report. Clearly a certain amount

of detailed commentary is essential but, as far as possible, a text-heavy approach has been

avoided, and findings have been presented diagrammatically or in tabulated format.

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OVERVIEW

The fishing industry in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is incredibly complex. A total of 32 ports

were recognised by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) as ‘Landing Ports’ in 2014;

this figure fluctuates year on year and there are another 14 sites where fish are known to be

landed. They are located around the entire 697 km of coastline and vary in size from Newlyn,

one of the largest fishing ports in the UK, to those used by fewer than a handful of dayboats.

The fishing methods in use are also diverse, as is the catch. As many as 40 species can be

landed at Newlyn on any one day – anecdotally, many in the fishing community believe this

variety to be greater than any other UK port. This seems to be confirmed by MMO statistics,

which record a higher number of species landed at Newlyn from January to October 2014

(the most recent recorded period) than any other UK port1. N.B. these landed species are not

‘all’ species; for example crabs are counted as one species but may include brown crab,

spider crab, velvet swimming crab etc. Similarly, a variety of different selling methods are

used, from the traditional early morning market to instant sales from the boat direct to

restaurants via social media.

The regulatory framework around fishing adds yet another layer of complexity, with licensing

requirements for vessels as well as buyers and sellers of the catch, in addition to the well

published tribulations of quota to consider. Furthermore, the regulations vary according to

fishing method, species, and location.

Finally, the industry is highly competitive and we have included both buyers and sellers and

other industry stakeholders from all over the area in our study, whose needs and viewpoints

may naturally be expected to differ and even conflict.

Within this complex and competitive scenario, we have aimed to produce a comprehensive

and meaningful audit of the industry’s assets and draw constructive conclusions. Everyone

who has been approached has been eager to take part in this study and has contributed

freely to the findings, greatly aiding clarity.

1 From analysis of MMO reports

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PART ONE: AUDIT

1.1. Vessels2

Figure 1 shows how significant the port of Newlyn is within the national picture, recording the

largest number of boats (608) of any of the Administrative Ports in the UK, by a very long way.

However, it must be recognised that Newlyn is the Administrative Port of nearly all of the

Cornish fleet (29 of Cornwall’s 32 ports) - these figures do not relate to the Home Port or

Landing Port of a vessel. By comparison, the combined fleet of Plymouth and Brixham is

larger than that recorded for Newlyn. However, the Administrative Port of Plymouth does

include the 35 vessels registered to Looe in Cornwall.

Figure 1: Number of Vessels in 2013 per Administrative Port (UK)3

2 All data in this section is taken from MMO statistics.

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Figure 2, on the other hand, shows what a large percentage of the Cornish fleet is made up

of small vessels. With the exception of the port of Newlyn, most other Cornish ports have a

fleet of mainly under 10m vessels, reflecting the very different style of fishing that

predominates in Cornwall compared with that seen in North Eastern England and the East

coast of Scotland.

N.B. where this report refers to Cornwall’s 32 ports, this includes the Isles of Scilly.

Figure 2: Gross tonnage of Vessels in 2013 per Administrative Port (UK)4

3 Taken from MMO Annual Statistics Report 2013 4 Taken from MMO Annual Statistics Report 2013

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Figure 3 illustrates how the number of vessels in the UK fleet declined steadily from around

8,700 in 1996 to just fewer than 6,500 in 2013. However, this decline slowed from 2008 and has

virtually halted over the 3 years up to 2013.

Looking at England in more detail, in the South West, vessel numbers at Newlyn have

declined slowly over the last 3 reported years, while Plymouth and Brixham show small

increases (See Figure 4).

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In terms of gross tonnage for the English fleet (Figure 5), figures have followed the trend for

vessel numbers at all ports except Grimsby and North Shields, were a decline in one port has

been reflected in an increase in the other.

Although Newlyn has the highest recorded number of smaller vessels, within England it also

has the third highest number of vessels over 10m (see Figures 6 and 7).

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Figure 8 shows that well over half of the fleet registered to Newlyn is between 25 and 45 years

old. The small number of pre 1970 vessels still in operation suggests many of those built during

the 1970s are likely to be approaching the end of their working life. This is confirmed by our

interviews. Regulations intended to reduce the overall capacity of the EU fleet do not permit

a new vessel to be licensed unless an existing vessel is decommissioned, while at the same

time removing 10% of the decommissioned vessel’s capacity from the fleet. Quota must also

be acquired by any new vessel. This has slowed the number of new vessels being introduced

and has led to owners accumulating over time the quota and capacity attached to a

number of smaller vessels as they are decommissioned in order to introduce a larger vessel to

the fleet.

In addition to these disincentives, the recession will have had an impact on the amount of

investment in vessels since 2008.

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Figure 9 indicates that, although the overall number of new vessels had been declining,

Plymouth has been investing in a larger number of over 10m vessels than Newlyn consistently

since 1990. During the current decade, a sharp reduction in the number of new under 10m

vessels being added to the Newlyn fleet has meant that the overall number of new vessels

being registered at the two ports is about the same for the first time. N.B. these figures again

relate to Administrative Port and not home port.

Data relating to the fishing methods of individual vessels is not publically available and a

request to the MMO for this information was declined on grounds of commercial

confidentiality. Therefore statistics relating to fishing methods are based on port rather than

vessel (see page 14).

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1.2. Fish Landings

The following charts show that the South West of England and the North East of Scotland are

responsible for the vast majority of the landings in the UK, and the concentrations of the

overall value of the catches. However, in terms of the value per tonne of the catch, the

South West achieves the highest returns.

Figure 10: Landings into Top 20 UK Ports in 2013 (‘000 tonnes)5

5 Taken from MMO Annual Statistics Report 2013

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Figure 11: 2013 Landing Volumes by ICES Rectangle67

Figure 12: 2013 Landing Values by ICES Rectangle

Figure 13: 2013 Landing Values per Tonne by ICES Rectangle

6 International Council for Exploration of the Sea 7 Charts on this page are taken from MMO Annual Statistics Report 2013

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Broadly, both the volume and value of the Cornish catch has been steadily increasing over

recent years, although the rate of growth has tailed off since 2012. While in some years prices

may increase at a higher rate than volume, and other years value might flatline while

volumes increase, the overall increase in both volume and value over the six years from 2009

to 2014 was very similar, at around 40%.

In 2014, £22.4m worth of fish was landed at Newlyn – almost ten times as much as Padstow,

the second ranked port in terms of landed value. The difference is so great that Newlyn

cannot be shown on the same chart as the other ports (Figure 16). The amount of activity at

the remaining ports also differs significantly from one to another. For example, some ports

recorded catches of less than £1,000 in 2014, while others that still look relatively insignificant

on the chart are landing catches worth between £0.25m and £0.5m.

However, there are some significant differences in the trends in the value of fish landed at

individual ports over recent years. Taking comparisons of the 2009 and 2014 landings, at

some ports, the value has remained relatively static, while at others there has been steady

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decline, e.g. Porthleven, where the value of the catch has fallen by around 75%. At Newlyn

the value of the catch has risen by 30% while some of the smaller ports have recorded much

stronger increases; for example, at Cadgwith the value of the catch has doubled. At Hayle it

has increased by over 75%, at Padstow the figure is 65% and on Scilly it is 75%. Notably, at all

these ports, the increase has been steady and sustained, indicating strategic growth rather

than random fluctuation. Comparing these figures to the audit of port assets suggests that

growth in many cases has been linked to investment.

Figure 17 shows the change in landed values at selected ports during the period between

2009 and 2014.

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Some ports showed an apparently massive increase in values, due to either unusually low

returns in 2009 or unusually high returns in 2014, or both. In other cases the figures fluctuate

much more wildly from year to year. Table 1 provides examples (rounded to nearest £100) of

the inconsistencies that can occur:

Table 1: A selection of ports displaying irregular patterns of trade activity

Year Coverack Charlestown Portscatho Sennen

2009 £63,200 £9,400 £2,300 £29,200

2010 £150,100 £27,000 £7,400 £72,300

2011 £216,300 £53,700 £25,800 £100,200

2012 £237,000 £64,500 £19,500 £91,800

2013 £150,000 £60,400 £11,700 £67,300

2014 £212,500 £120,500 £16,300 £108,700

Anomalies such as these may relate to the fact that the statutory requirement to note

landing weights and the subsequent requirement on sellers (at auction) or buyers (for non-

auction sales) extends only to boats of over 10m. Fishermen selling direct to local catering

establishments or to the public will almost certainly be seeing better prices than they would

through the markets but those sales are not recorded anywhere. Indeed, in St Mawes, for

example, the single fishing boat landing there has opened a harbourside fishmonger’s trailer

in the last couple of years. Previously all of the catch from this boat was sold direct to a buyer

from one of the local processors, now an amount of the annual catch is sold direct to the

public and, as far as we understand, these sales are not recorded in the official figures.

One-off events, such as the effect of the 2013/14 storms on specific ports, will also have had

an impact on the figures and may account for some of the decline in the catch recorded at

Porthleven, for example, where the damage was extensive.

Newlyn remains quite firmly the main beam trawler landing port in Cornwall, its size and

harbour facilities being suited to the larger vessels. Less than a combined 100 tonnes of

beam trawled fish was landed at the remaining 31 Cornish ports in 2014, compared with over

4,000 tonnes at Newlyn. Padstow is the only one of the remaining 31 ports where more than

just one or two beam trawlers land their catch.

The five ports of Looe, Mevagissey, Newquay, Padstow, and the River Fal/Falmouth land the

largest volumes after Newlyn. After beam trawling, gill netting, mechanised dredges (for

scallops) and potting account for the greatest volumes of fish landed. A wide range of

methods is used throughout the county, although some volumes are too small to be

displayed on charts 18 and 19 below. Gill netting and potting, in particular, are methods

suitable for the under 10m fleet, and the popularity of these methods reflects the large

numbers of under 10m vessels in the Cornish fleet.

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Of all the species landed at Cornish ports, six have each generated over £1million

consistently over each of the past six years (see Figure 20), confirming the findings that the

Cornish catch consists generally of higher value species compared to other regions.

Monkfish is the top value species bringing in an average of £5m per year over that period,

while crab values steadily increased from £3m to just under £5m in the same time span. Both

these species are suited to the fishing methods employed by the smaller vessels.

The high value per tonne of the Cornish catch is likely to be one of the reasons why the

productivity of fishing per FTE in Cornwall is higher than the national average, although if

volume and value are growing in tandem there is no real growth in the value of the catch to

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fishermen, and this was reflected ins some of the interviews, where fishermen claim prices

have not risen in line with prices to consumers. However, it could also be argued that if

volumes have increased without a comparative increase in employment, the catching is

being done more cost-effectively and this is where the gains are being made.

Changes in the nature of the catch have been greater than the figures relating to overall

volume and value suggest. For example, although crab was, and still is, the highest volume

catch, sardines showed strong growth between 2010 and 2012 and even overtook crab in

terms of volume during that time. This growth in the volume of Cornish sardine fishing was

referred to in the 2011 Review of Cornwall’s Agri-food Industry and was associated with the

increase in the number of ring-netters and the classification of the Cornish sardine as a

protected food name by the EU. It is noticeable that MMO data suggests that this growth has

not been sustained. The decline in the European market due to the recession is likely to have

reduced demand and the figures indicate that replacement markets have not been found.

However, some stakeholders have questioned the apparent decline in sardine landings and

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there is a suggestion that the MMO figures may not be correct. We have been unable to

verify whether this is the case.

The haddock, megrim and scallop catches have also risen and then fallen over the same

period. In the cases of haddock and scallops, the volumes had fallen to around or below

2009 levels during 2014. As discussed in Section 1.3 the Spanish market for megrim (and for

hake) has certainly been adversely affected by the recession. Pollack has been a solid

performer, having enjoyed a revival as an acceptable sustainable alternative to cod.

These fluctuations show what a delicate balance has to be struck between catching what

the weather and ocean conditions allow and what the market demands. However, within a

very competitive scenario, where price and volumes for such a short-shelf-life product are

always shifting, Cornwall has managed to create within its overall fishery a wide variety of

specialisms, determined by very local factors such as the nature of the catch, the fishing

conditions, and the first point of sale. The north coast fishing, for example, where distance

from a physical market for wet fish is an issue, is predominantly shellfish, much of which is

exported via a local wholesaler. Some of the south coast ports are targeting high value

species such as lemon sole, squid and (more recently) cuttle, with the restaurant trade in

mind; while the driver for others is the demand from local processors, who take the catch

straight from the boat. It is estimated, for example, that around 80% of scallops landed are

sold direct to one processor.

Fishing quotas continue to challenge the industry and there is widespread concern about

forthcoming changes to EU rules on discards. Cornwall has built an element of sustainability

into its fishing by developing significant, high value sales in non-quota species such as

shellfish. The promotion of non-quota species such as gurnard and the ready acceptance by

an increasing number of chefs to use these species also helps to relieve the pressure on

quotas. However, the large volume catches are mainly of quota species.

A measure of concern was also noted about the sustainability of shellfishing, in particular the

ability of local waters to sustain the increasing volume of crab being caught. Bearing in mind

the importance of crab to the Cornish seafood industry and the strong association people

make between Cornwall and crab, this cannot be ignored.

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1.3. Fish Sales

Much discussion and comment during our interviews related to the prices obtained at the

local fish markets and whether one particular market generated better prices than another.

The average prices for species landed in 2014 were compared for Looe, Newlyn and

Plymouth in an attempt to analyse these claims.

Figure 22 shows that, particularly for high value species such as bass, lobsters, monkfish, sole

and turbot, consistently higher prices do appear to be achieved at Looe and Plymouth

when compared with Newlyn.

However, this is a vastly over-simplified picture, which does not take the following factors into

consideration:

These figures relate to ports rather than markets. Not all fish is sold through the

markets.

The ‘first sale’ value is attributed to the landing port even if the first sale takes place

elsewhere. From conversations with vessel owners, skippers and merchants, a large

catch will sometimes be split between markets to prevent downward pressure on

prices by swamping the market at the port of landing. The excess catch is sent by

road to another market. Figures for Newlyn, for example, will therefore include fish

that is landed at Newlyn but sold at Plymouth market.

The figures do not take any account of volume or the rule of supply and demand. The

sheer volume of fish being landed at Newlyn compared with, say, Looe, will affect

prices.

The figures also disguise price variations between catching methods. For example,

handline mackerel and bass will fetch a higher price than those species attract when

caught by trawling.

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An additional factor to consider is that, across the UK, the average price of landings varies

greatly according to vessel length (see Figure 23). As a rule, longer vessels land much greater

quantities of fish than their smaller counterparts and will therefore typically achieve a much

lower average price for the fish landed due to the supply : demand ratio. For example, the

average price of demersal fish landed by vessels over 24m is £1.41 per kg, while for the 8m

and under fleet this is more than double, at £3.47 per kg. Similar differences apply for shellfish,

with an average price of £2.65 per kg for landings by the 8m and under fleet, compared with

£1.79 per kg for the over 24m fleet. The difference in prices is also partly due to differences in

species targeted, fishing methods used and choice of markets.

Figure 23: Average UK prices by length of vessel, 2013 (UK)8

The exception is the pelagic species, where the larger vessels obtain good prices compared

with the smaller ones (the medium size vessels generate the lowest prices), but the price

differential between the different vessel sizes is not as distinct as that shown for demersal

species. The majority of the Cornish catch is demersal species; however, the greatest

volumes are caught by the larger vessels and will not therefore benefit from the higher prices.

It is therefore very difficult to draw straightforward comparisons and conclusions about the

prices achieved at the different fish markets in Cornwall (Newlyn and Looe) and Plymouth,

where some of the Cornish catch is also sold. A smaller market such as Looe is almost certain

to achieve better prices for smaller volumes of high value fish, but for high volume sales, one

merchant who monitors the markets closely believes there to be no significant difference

overall between prices at Newlyn and Plymouth.

Whatever the like for like comparison, it is fair to say that there is an element of doubt among

some fishermen about the prices they receive for fish at Newlyn market and – rightly or

wrongly - a perception that Newlyn prices are not as transparent as they should be. As a

result, some are selling direct to customers to avoid the market, while at a port like

Mevagissey, where fish to the value of nearly £2m is landed, fishermen use Plymouth rather

than Newlyn to avoid the lower prices that are said to be received for ‘overland’ fish.

Prices alone are, of course, not a measure of profitability. From discussions it is apparent that

the recession of the last few years and the consequent shrinkage in the Spanish market has

8 Taken from MMO Annual Statistics Report 2013

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had considerable impact on the profitability of some of the high volume species landed in

Cornwall, such as megrim and hake. Prices are subject to more volatility than previously

experienced and have fallen as low as 50p per kg for megrim at times.

Some fishermen continue to use the Seafood Cornwall tags that identify fish caught by

handline in order to attract the premium attached to these fish. Other than the use of the

tags, there is no collective marketing or identification mechanism for Cornish fish.

There is a perennial discussion about what really is a correct definition of Cornish fish. In

general it is accepted that it refers to fish landed in Cornwall even though the larger volume

catches will generally have been caught far away from Cornish waters. Some of those who

fish close to shore ensure they make their customers aware of this distinction in their own

marketing materials and methods, but there is little evidence that consumers in general (and

many chefs) understand these complexities. Furthermore, a number of Cornish merchants

supply imported farmed fish, for example farmed bass from Turkey, to local restaurants.

Similarly, salmon and other species will be bought in from Scotland. There is no suggestion

that this in itself is bad practice – it meets a market need – but it is likely that some of this fish is

appearing on menus as Cornish fish or at least that customers are being allowed to think this

is the case.

A good deal of concern was expressed about media coverage of the sustainability issues

surrounding fishing, in particular some of the TV chef features that reinforce the message that

certain species should be avoided. While the amount of interest these programmes generate

in cooking and eating fish is welcome, this blanket messaging is considered to do little to truly

improve people’s understanding of fishing. Cod, for example, is off the menu for many these

days, regardless of the method and area of fishing.

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1.4. Facilities

An audit of the facilities at the 32 commercial ports reporting fish landings to the MMO in

2014 has been compiled and is presented in the following tables. Cornwall Inshore Fisheries

and Conservation Authority has data to suggest that another dozen or so ports also land fish,

or at least host fishing boats, at some point during the year. Many of these are either very

small ports or erratic with regard to landings; however we have included a number of those

that we feel are of significance here: Bude, Gorran Haven, Mousehole and St Agnes. In

addition, the information relating to the port of Falmouth is divided into the A&P Shipyard

area and the areas controlled by Falmouth Harbour Commissioners.

Table 2: Boscastle

Landing infrastructure and facilities Two slipways, no other facilities

Berthing facilities Chain moorings

Vessel repair and refit facilities None

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies None

Fish market Some fish sold locally through farm shop,

balance to Camel Fish in Rock

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Additional comments The fishing in Boscastle is ‘dying’ through lack

of infrastructure. The harbour has no running

water or electricity and there is a danger

that the three working boats (one full time,

two part time) will not be sustainable without

some investment.

Table 3: Bude

Landing infrastructure and facilities Tidal outer harbour with slipway, inner

harbour/wharf with sea lock forms terminus of

Bude Canal. No davits/cranes.

Berthing facilities Good within the inner harbour/wharf

Vessel repair and refit facilities Minimal – area of wharfside hard-standing

but mobile crane has to be brought from

Padstow to remove boats from water and

return at approx. £400/day

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies No ice or fuel (but boats tending to swap to

petrol outboards for ease of maintenance).

Local supplies available.

Fish market Some local direct sales but most shellfish

goes to Camel Fish at Rock for export.

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Additional comments A local fisherman has looked at applying for

funding in the past but was put off by the

amount of bureaucracy around a small bid –

he believes that Bude would benefit greatly

from a crane and also some vivier tanks

which would allow them to store shellfish on

land and help mitigate the supply peaks and

troughs caused by the weather (in common

with other North Cornish ports Bude is

notorious for losing fishing days to poor

weather).

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Table 4: Cadgwith

Landing infrastructure and facilities Beach landing using winch/tractors. Winch

was designed for beach keel 20ft boats now

being used for regular 25ft boats with more

kit so could do with uprating.

Berthing facilities Beach

Vessel repair and refit facilities None other than very basic maintenance

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies Two ice machines and a fuel tank in place,

supplies limited in Cadgwith

Fish market Most selling direct

Fish packaging capability There is a cold store but no packaging or

processing capability

Fish processing capability None

Table 5: Cawsand

Landing infrastructure and facilities Sand/gravel beach

Berthing facilities Swinging moorings off shore

Vessel repair and refit facilities None

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies None

Fish market Probably Plymouth

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Additional Comments Mainly a location for holiday and leisure boat

owners, as opposed to any commercial

fishing activity

Table 6: Charlestown

Landing infrastructure and facilities Good. Open slipway

Plenty of space and some sheds.

Berthing facilities Plenty of room, only three boats berth in the

outer harbour, tall-ships can be a nuisance to

fishermen and vice-versa

Vessel repair and refit facilities None

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies None

Fish market Fish mainly landed at Mevagissey

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Table 7: Coverack

Landing infrastructure and facilities Quayside and slipway. Modern 500kg davit

Storage on quay for nets & pots

Berthing facilities Hardstanding at top of slip. Swinging

moorings

Vessel repair and refit facilities Mostly done on site as harbour dries.

Major jobs use Gweek Boatyard

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies Ice and cold room facilities via FLAG project.

Fish market Varies, direct sales and markets.

W Harvey and Cornish Crab mentioned

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

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Table 8: Flushing

Landing infrastructure and facilities 40m of quayside, usable above half-tide

Storage area with cold room and space for

nets and boxes

Berthing facilities Alongside, or on swinging moorings

Vessel repair and refit facilities None

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies No ice

Fish market None

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Table 9: Gorran Haven

Landing infrastructure and facilities Small harbour wall and beach

Berthing facilities Moorings inside harbour wall, boats pulled

out of the water to dry storage area out of

season.

Vessel repair and refit facilities None other than routine maintenance

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies None

Fish market Small local sales; Ocean Fish; Plymouth

market

Fish packaging capability No

Fish processing capability No

Table 10: Hayle

Landing infrastructure and facilities Good - new davit recently installed

Berthing facilities OK - bid in for funding for new pontoon (75%

agreed but need 100% funding if possible)

Vessel repair and refit facilities Minimal

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies New fuel bunker with card system

Ice plant was installed 6-7 years ago through

FLAG

Fish market Some direct, some co-operative marketing,

some to Newlyn.

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Additional comments New sluice gates are being fitted but need

to be automated (£30-40k), an investment

wish list would include an environmentally

sustainable extension to the leading wall on

the west side of the estuary. This has also

been priced at around £30k, with gabion

baskets made from re-cycled tractor tyres,

and would, in conjunction with the new

sluice, help align and deepen the channel (a

permanently shifting problem currently).

Live crab and lobster kept in tanks on

pontoons. These are getting old and could

do with replacing.

Pressure washers for cleaning down

storeroom would be handy.

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Table 11: Helford River

Landing infrastructure and facilities Small slipway/beach

Berthing facilities Swinging moorings down river

Vessel repair and refit facilities On site for small jobs

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies No ice

No fuel

Fish market Unknown; farmed oysters sold direct to

wholesale market.

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Table 12: Looe

Landing infrastructure and facilities Good - but tidal which is an ongoing issue -

see additional comments.

New cold store has been added recently,

new dry store is part of the Sardine Factory

plan

Berthing facilities Good

Vessel repair and refit facilities Everyday repair and light engineering are

handled locally (Harbour Commissioners and

Black Dog Marine), larger repairs go to

Plymouth or to Toms of Polruan

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies 2 ice plants part funded by Objective One,

now 15 years old and in need of renewal

and the addition of a screw feed to boats.

Fuel - tank was put in by Harbour

Commissioners with grant funding, now

owned by a fishermen's company and works

very well

Supplies – available locally

Fish market Looe for the smaller boats, Plymouth for the

larger boats. An independent study carried

out by the harbour commissioners last year

showed that prices were on a par between

the two (although Looe fishermen selling at

Looe thought Plymouth prices were higher).

Very little if anything goes to Newlyn

(distance and price perception)

Fish packaging capability Some

Fish processing capability Some - new processing/packing facility has

been added on Buller Quay

Additional Comments Looe has organised itself well, every year the

community undertakes a new fish project.

Future projects include Sardine Factory

renovation which is already planned and

(hopefully) grant assisted, new ice machines

and a box washer would be welcome. A live

issue in Looe is that as fishermen become

more successful and upgrade to bigger

boats there comes a point when the boat is

of a scale that they need to 'migrate' home

port to Plymouth (this is a factor of the tidal

nature of Looe). Several feasibility studies

have been undertaken into the potential for

an outer harbour combined with flood

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defence system - there is a current study 'on

the table' - whether the outer harbour part is

realistic (and whether it would help with all

tide landings) is a much debated point.

Table 13: Mevagissey

Landing infrastructure and facilities Three new cranes in last 5 years, extended

jetty has added an hour to each end of the

tide + new crane on outer harbour enables

24/7 landing if necessary

Storage facilities OK

Berthing facilities Good but waiting lists for commercial

(fishing) moorings

Vessel repair and refit facilities Small jobs done locally - John Moor and son

Peter using a grant funded cradle on slipway

with boat maintenance grid on harbour.

Larger jobs go to Toms in Polruan.

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies 2 ice machines which should produce 7

tonnes/day but one broken. New machines

included in potential funding bid already

prepared.

Commercial diesel bunker operated by Keltic

Oil

Local shops, small chandlery but most now

ordered online

Fish market 90% to Plymouth, balance to FalFish/Ocean

Fish and shellfish to Harveys in Newlyn

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None but bait processing unit part of funding

bid

Additional comments Access difficult but Mevagissey is a harbour

that is 'booming'. There is a waiting list for

moorings, there are plenty of 'youngsters'

looking to join the industry - this is put down

to the appeal of day-boat fishing over

working on larger offshore vessels, a

community in which there are multiple

stakeholders (small boats, small businesses,

many families engaged in fishing). Owners

are continuously investing in their boats,

prices at Plymouth market are good

(perceived as much better than at Newlyn) -

some Newlyn boats are asking to land at

Mevagissey to access Plymouth market. A

grant funding bid has been prepared for a

new harbour building to include new night

time ice making machines (they would pay

for themselves in 4 years with electricity price

savings), new bait processing and a more

efficient arrangement of space.

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Table 14: Millbrook

Landing infrastructure and facilities £50,000 landing pontoon installed in 2014,

financed by FLAG and EFF. Storage facilities

onshore

Berthing facilities Pontoon berths, quayside berths & swinging

moorings

Vessel repair and refit facilities Engineering works on-site. Lift-out facilities.

Forklift & crane facilities

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies Ice unknown

Diesel available

Supplies locally and Plymouth

Fish market Probably Plymouth

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Table 15: Mousehole

Landing infrastructure and facilities Harbour quays and beach. Modern electric

davit installed with grant funding

Cold store which was destroyed in 2013/14

gales, but rebuilt

Berthing facilities Moorings in harbour

Vessel repair and refit facilities On site for small jobs. Newlyn for bigger jobs

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies No ice

No fuel – brought in by jerrycan

Newlyn for supplies

Fish market Newlyn. Either landed direct or sent by van.

Some local sales to restaurants

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Additional Comments Ice machine would be very useful.

Have considered fuel bunker, but put off by

regulations

Table 16: Mullion

Landing infrastructure and facilities Harbour quays and slipway. No davits

Berthing facilities At top of slipway

Vessel repair and refit facilities On site for small jobs

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies No ice

No fuel

Fish market Unknown, but mainly shellfish landed

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Additional Comments Owned by National Trust

Table 17: Mylor

Landing infrastructure and facilities 75m of quayside

Slipways

Pontoons

Storage of nets and boxes on open quay

Berthing facilities Alongside or on swinging moorings

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Vessel repair and refit facilities Mylor Boatyard

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies No ice

Fuel at Mylor marina

Chandlers in Mylor Boatyard

Fish market Unknown

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability Oysters gathered and stored for onwards

transportation

Table 18: Newlyn

Landing infrastructure and facilities 900m of quay with up to 8.5m draught at

Mean High Water Spring

Berthing facilities Quayside berths plus pontoons. New card

system for electricity.

Vessel repair and refit facilities Single slip capable of taking vessels to 27.4m

length and 4.0m draught

Some marine engineering and craft services

available locally but large jobs go to Holland.

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies Up to 90 tonnes of ice per day available via

private ice company.

Some fuel points on North Pier. Most fuel

delivered by tanker to the quays

Provisions and chandlers available locally

Fish market 1500sqm of floor area and 2 chill rooms.

Ability to land directly into the market from

the quays.

Fish sorting, grading and weighing line.

Traditional shout auction.

Building in need of refurbishment.

Fish packaging capability Available locally, including some contract

packing for direct sellers.

Fish processing capability Available locally, including some contract

processing for direct sellers.

Table 19: Newquay

Landing infrastructure and facilities 2 quays. 2 x 500kg davits. 3 x 250kg davits

Pot and net storage on quay

Berthing facilities Moorings in harbour – dries completely at

Low Water

Vessels ashore on quay and car park for

winter

Vessel repair and refit facilities On-site for most jobs. Padstow used for major

work

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies Ice machine and deep freeze on site

Fuel brought in by tanker. No storage on site

Fish market All shellfish sent abroad. Fish to Newlyn or

Plymouth

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

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Table 20: Padstow

Landing infrastructure and facilities Good for the number of boats using

Padstow, 5 davits

Storage is the one issue - very little and no

cold store - ideal would be to purchase some

land on the outskirts of Padstow for hard-

standing/cold store for bait/more vivier tanks

rather than keep pots.

Berthing facilities Good, but tidal outer harbour, inner (wet)

harbour can take up to 25m beam trawler,

the harbour often provides shelter for

Newquay and Port Isaac boats

Vessel repair and refit facilities Good, engineering and fabrication both

available locally

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies New ice machine recently installed

Fuel - fuel, gas and lubricants all available

Supplies available

Fish market Newlyn, Plymouth and Looe but more

fishermen looking to sell direct.

Fish packaging capability No

Fish processing capability Most landings are shellfish sold live

Additional Comments Would like to see more tourism/fish

collaboration across the county - it works

very well in Padstow where car park tariffs

support fishing investment etc. Potential

funded projects would include pontoons in

the outer harbour to enable movement of kit

etc. at low tide. Blue sky project would be a

'sill' from outside harbour office to south dock

to enable movement of boats at low tide.

Favours one central, independent fish market

for Cornwall. Concerns that fishermen are

getting the same price they were 20 or 30

years ago for crab and lobster while retail

prices have risen markedly.

Table 21: Penberth

Landing infrastructure and facilities Stone slipway with recovery winch

Store rooms at top of beach

Berthing facilities Hardstanding above beach

Vessel repair and refit facilities On site for small jobs. John Skuse at

Porthallow for major work

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies Fridge/freezer with ice machine

Communal diesel tank

Fish market Newlyn

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Additional comments Owned by National Trust

Table 22: Penryn

Landing infrastructure and facilities 40m of quayside usable 2 hours either side of

HW

Pontoons

Storage for nets and boxes

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Berthing facilities Pontoons and swinging moorings

Vessel repair and refit facilities Bring in specialist trades from outside

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies No ice

No fuel

Chandlers in Falmouth

Fish market Land to Fal Fish first. Some fish to local buyers

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Table 23: Penzance

Landing infrastructure and facilities Quayside. No davits seen

Harbour access controlled by lock gates

Berthing facilities Alongside quay

Vessel repair and refit facilities Engineering and marine services alongside

quay

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies No ice

Fuel in marina

Fish market Newlyn

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Additional Comments No evidence of fishing boxes, pots, nets etc

was seen on site, suggesting that the harbour

is used for repair/layup rather than landing

fish. Close proximity to Newlyn will account

for this.

Table 24: Polperro

Landing infrastructure and facilities Three cranes, one on Eastern harbour, two on

Western. Two forklifts.

Berthing facilities Winter – on chains in middle of inner harbour

Summer – two boat lay alongside outer pier,

six on moorings

Vessel repair and refit facilities Minimal

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies Good ice machine, fuel from 50,000l tank at

top of village gravity fed to 20,000l holding

tank on Eastern harbour.

Fish market Polperro has a redundant fish market which

has cold storage, ice machine and two

forklifts. Currently fish goes to Looe and

Plymouth markets.

Fish packaging capability No

Fish processing capability No

Additional comments Polperro is tidal – fish cannot be landed 3

hours either side of low tide. The Harbour

Commissioners have investigated working on

the outer platform to make it suitable for

landing fish (it’s currently used for embarking

sightseeing passengers). There is a feeling

that being able to land all day would

encourage another couple of trawlers and

two or three more smaller boats to work from

Polperro - which in turn might make the

market viable again.

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Table 25: Port Isaac

Landing infrastructure and facilities Harbour with slipway, no davit/crane but

forklift purchased by Harbour Commissioners

for use of fishermen

Berthing facilities Boats onto slipway

Vessel repair and refit facilities Minimal maintenance only

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies Small ice machine, private diesel tanks and

storage area at back of converted fish

cellars

Fish market Shellfish and wetfish shops in converted fish

cellars, local hotels/restaurants including

some renowned for fish. Most shellfish goes to

Camel Fish, either delivered by van or a small

Camel Fish lorry collects.

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Other comments The industry in Port Isaac is pretty healthy,

most vessels doing well on shellfish. A number

of younger fishermen have taken over boats

in the last couple of years.

Table 26: Porthleven

Landing infrastructure and facilities Davits/winch/1.5t landing derrick - PESCA

project

Fridge on site to hold fish

Berthing facilities 150ft of deep mooring under davits

Vessel repair and refit facilities 90% do their own maintenance. Engineers &

metalworkers in the village. Hydraulic

engineers in Helston. Spencer Carter

(winches/haulers) in Falmouth

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies Ice machine on quay. Operated by

Porthleven Fishermen’s Association.

No fuel on site - too much trouble with

bunds/booms etc. Most keep fuel on local

farms and have it brought down when

needed.

Fish market Newlyn

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability Small amount done by local fishmonger

Table 27: Porthoustock

Landing infrastructure and facilities Gravel beach. Multiple winches in small huts.

Launching tractor

Berthing facilities At top of beach. Some swinging moorings

Vessel repair and refit facilities On site for small jobs

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies No ice

No fuel

Fish market Unknown

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

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Table 28: Portloe

Landing infrastructure and facilities Slipway, winch and storage shed. Ungraded

winch and shed funded by FLAG

Berthing facilities Tidal harbour, boats pulled onto slipway

Vessel repair and refit facilities No

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies No

Fish market Most fish sold through two shellfish processors,

one in mid Cornwall, one in North Cornwall

Fish packaging capability No

Fish processing capability No

Table 29: Portreath

Landing infrastructure and facilities The harbour is railed all the way round, so

boats use block & tackle on rail stations to

unload boxes.

Wooden shed on site for equipment storage

and block built bait store

Berthing facilities Against quay walls

Vessel repair and refit facilities Most do repairs themselves. Harbour is fully

tidal, so can get underneath boats each

tide.

Boats craned out onto trailers if major repairs

needed

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies No ice

No fuel

Macsalvors for most chandlery items

Fish market 2 boats fish rod & line for Fal Fish

3 potters sell to John Earl or private buyers

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Additional Comments Harbour is owned by Cornwall Council.

Leased to Harbour Association

36 moorings.

Only accessible for 3½-5 hours either side of

High Water.

Boats come out in October and go back in

March. Rarely used at other locations over

winter.

Would benefit from a cold store and ice

machine to hold catches and ice for boats.

Table 30: Portscatho

Landing infrastructure and facilities Fish are landed onto slipway or beach, no

davits or other landing gear.

Berthing facilities Boats all pulled onto slipway

Vessel repair and refit facilities None

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies No ice or fuel, minimal supplies available in

village. Very small fisherman’s store for

equipment at top of slipway.

Fish market Fish sold through local hospitality and

fisherman’s own ‘farm shop’.

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

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Table 31: River Fal – A&P Shipyard

Landing infrastructure and facilities Deepwater quay within A&P dock basin

Davit on quayside

Shellfish storage

Blast chillers

Berthing facilities None – unload and go

Vessel repair and refit facilities Some in A&P yard. Mainly in-house repairs

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies Ice brought in from Fal Fish factory in Redruth

No fuel

Falcon supplies in dockyard

Fish market Fal Fish

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability Crabs processed on-site. Fish sent to factory

at Redruth

Table 32: River Fal – Falmouth Harbour Commissioners

Landing infrastructure and facilities Quays at Custom House Quay and North

Quay, but not used by fishermen for landing

catches.

Berthing facilities Berths in inner harbour. Some swinging

moorings

Vessel repair and refit facilities Falmouth Boat Construction. Mylor Boatyard

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies No ice

Fuel on fuel pontoon and fuel barge

Fish market None

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Additional Comments Commercial fishing is not really their market.

There are other landing places nearby

Table 33: River Fowey

Landing infrastructure and facilities Fishermen use a redundant clay jetty (Jetty

Number 3). There is a davit on the end of the

jetty. A potter working out of Fowey also uses

the ferry slipway at Caffa Mill (Fowey side of

Bodinnick Ferry).

Berthing facilities Chain moorings on river

Vessel repair and refit facilities C Toms and Sons of Polruan – serious

boatbuilding and repair business can take

boats up to 300t and 30m length on two

slipways.

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies Ice at shellfish processors, fuel and chandlery

at C Toms, Polruan

Fish market Shellfish (mussel) boats have their own direct

markets, Ocean fish also purchase a great

deal of shellfish from Fowey

Fish packaging capability Only for mussels

Fish processing capability Only for mussels – decontamination tanks

etc.

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Table 34: Isles of Scilly

Landing infrastructure and facilities Good - no tide issue, hoist to 500kg - a bigger

crane would be useful

Catch (mostly crab/lobster) kept in keep

pots - vivier tanks on the harbour would be

better

Berthing facilities OK

Vessel repair and refit facilities Good for the current <10m fleet - boat

storage, slipway and repair yard at Porthloo

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies Ice - owned by the fishermen's association

Fuel available

Supplies available

Fish market Local sales but bulk of catch to Newlyn on

Scillonian/Gry Maritha

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

Additional comments Expense of getting catch to mainland is a

problem

Overall the picture on Scilly is reasonably

positive, the community understands that the

fishing fleet is an integral part of the islands

tourist appeal. Two new boats are joining the

fleet in 2015, both crewed by local men. An

open retail fish stall on the harbour in the

summer sold out daily - a co-operatively run

permanent retail outlet would give a great

boost to the industry on Scilly as would a

general raising of awareness of the industry

on Scilly - perhaps a Scilly fish 'brand'.

Table 35: Sennen

Landing infrastructure and facilities Slipway with tractor for launch/recovery

Cold store on site

Berthing facilities None

Vessel repair and refit facilities Maintenance shed on site

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies Ice machine on site and ice bins

Diesel on site at cost price. Petrol supply own

Fish market Newlyn, with some direct to wholesalers in

Newlyn & St Ives

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability Processing facility currently under

construction

Table 36: St Agnes

Landing infrastructure and facilities Slipway with tractor for launch/recovery

Small net store

Berthing facilities Small hardstanding at top of slip

Vessel repair and refit facilities None

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies No ice

No fuel – small petrol outboard fleet

Fish market Unknown

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

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Table 37: St Ives

Landing infrastructure and facilities Land at Smeaton's Pier. 2 cranes 500kg and

250kg

Berthing facilities None - unload and go off to moorings

Vessel repair and refit facilities Loan generator for on-boat repairs. Boats go

to Newlyn or Penzance for major work

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies Ice machine on site

Diesel store on site

Newlyn or Macsalvors for supplies

Fish market Newlyn. Land at St Ives and sent over by

road

Fish packaging capability Some done by Matthew Stevens and Celtic

Fish & Game

Fish processing capability Some done by Matthew Stevens and Celtic

Fish & Game

Additional comments Access difficult in summer

Smeaton's Pier is Grade 2 Listed, so causes

problems for upgrades etc.

Need somewhere secure to store gear.

Table 38: St Mawes

Landing infrastructure and facilities Harbour wall with 500kg davit, slipway

opposite.

Berthing facilities Limited number of moorings

Vessel repair and refit facilities Some at Pasco’s boatyard a short way up

the river at St Just in Roseland

Facilities to provide ice, fuel and supplies No

Fish market Fisherman owned retail unit on St Mawes

Harbour, most fish landed sold under

contract to FalFish

Fish packaging capability None

Fish processing capability None

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1.5. Aquaculture

Aquaculture in Cornwall is limited to shellfish – farmed mussels, oysters and, more recently,

clams – but has been dogged throughout history by the hazards of water quality. The

Helford River, for example, which had been known for generations by the London market as

a source of fine oysters was decimated by the Bonamia parasite in the 1980s. Then, after

reinvestment and its successful rebirth around 2007, the same fishery was hit by a serious algal

bloom attack in 2009, a factor that is reflected in figures showing reduced output from the

Helford River fishery. The oyster farm in question now spreads its risk by focussing on sales of a

wider variety of wet fish.

Prior to 2014, investment in mussel farming in the Fal River had enabled it to reach a

purification capacity of 1 tonne a week. However, this was seriously affected when the

2013/14 winter’s storms caused high levels of pollution, closing the fishery during the height of

the season and placing severe strain on the businesses involved. It is yet to be seen whether

the businesses affected will fully recover.

Porthilly Farm, producing oysters, mussels and clams on the Camel Estuary on the north coast,

has been luckier and is now selling approximately 800,000 Pacific oysters and 100 tonnes of

mussels for wholesale and retail per annum. Floating oyster cages, part funded by an EU

grant, have increased production, and investment in purification equipment has enabled

the farm to sell direct to restaurants and other retailers.

Shellfish farming also takes place on the Fowey River. It should be noted that shellfish farming

is often carried out alongside wild harvesting, and that the wild and farmed shellfish industries

appear to work well side by side.

Padstow is home to the National Lobster Hatchery, a charity that works with the industry to

secure and enhance stocks of this valuable species, not only by collecting berried hens and

releasing their offspring into the wild at the optimum moment for survival but also by

undertaking academic research into the species and the global lobster fishery.

A PhD student at Exeter University’s European Centre for the Environment and Human Health

based in Truro is currently investigating people’s attitudes to shellfish in an effort to identify

ways of overcoming negative perceptions and food safety fears. The research is based on

the rationale that shellfish can be a valuable and sustainable source of protein and is a

potential substitute for other less sustainable protein foods, suggesting that shellfish farming

could help satisfy that need. This is also interesting in terms of the potential depletion of

natural stocks of shellfish in Cornish waters, mentioned previously.

A recent government-backed move to investigate the potential for finned fish farming off

the Cornish coast is currently on hold following the identification of a number of potential

drawbacks, notably that it was found that Cornwall’s waters are not sufficiently sheltered for

this type of farming and that the storms of the 2013/14 winter would have decimated any

such farms had they existed.

Water quality is the number one priority (and worry) to those operating in the aquaculture

sector, especially as it is a factor beyond their own control. The opportunity for aquaculture

in Cornwall therefore needs to be considered with care, but the county’s geography

undoubtedly lends itself to further exploration of the possibilities within what is almost certain

to become a growing market.

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1.6. Workforce

Data on Cornish fishermen is grouped by Administrative Port rather than the vessel’s home

port. As stated, Newlyn covers 29 of the 32 ports in Cornwall, with the remaining three being

accounted for within the Plymouth area.

There are over 800 fishermen in Cornwall, the highest number of all the administrative areas in

England, which reflects its position as the area with the highest number of vessels in the UK.

Figure 24: Fishermen numbers by Administrative Port – 2013 (UK)9

9 Taken from MMO Annual Statistics Report 2013

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Over the period 2003-2013, the overall number of fishermen employed in the UK fell by about

8%, from around 13,000 to 12,000. The decline, shown in Figure 25, has been generally slow

but steady.

Figure 25: Numbers of UK Fishermen 2003-2013

A fall in numbers was recorded for the Administrative Port of Newlyn between 2012 and 2013,

the only period for which detailed figures are available. The fall in the number of part-time

fishermen was larger than the fall in full-time fishermen. On the whole, the fall in numbers in

Newlyn, although not large, is higher than many other areas of England over the same

period. However, Plymouth, (where Looe fishermen are registered) recorded a significant

drop in full time numbers from almost 900 in 2012 to around 650 in 2013, and a drop of over

half its part-time fishermen. By comparison, the number of full-time fishermen at Brixham

increased by around 150 over the same period. As these two changes are far more

significant than any of the other changes in England, it suggests that there has been some

switching between registrations at the two ports.

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Income figures for Cornwall’s fishing sector are difficult to quantify as records relating to

fishing are collated with farming and forestry by the government and records relating to fish

processing are collated with all food processing and manufacturing.

However, the National Careers Service guidance10 states that a skipper can earn anything

between £10,000 and £65,000 a year and other findings indicate that a skipper can earn up

to £100,000 in a good year. Earnings relate to the size of vessel, nature of the work and, of

course, the nature and size of the catch. Junior deckhands will earn around £10,000 a year.

Our own findings via the survey and discussions confirm that pay rates in the industry in

Cornwall vary from minimum wage (or less for the self-employed in a poor year) to over

£70,000 for a skipper.

The National Careers Service states that the median income in fishing is £18,641, compared

to a national average of £27,017 for all industries. It is interesting that median income is

around two-thirds of the national average despite the very good GVA figures for the industry,

suggesting that, in this case, the median figure, which records only the middle measure of

salary, is not a good measure of the overall average amount earned.

The fishing industry is well known as a predominantly male sphere, with only a handful of

women from the UK ever having made a career for themselves at sea. However, it was

suggested to us that there is scope for the women from fishing families to become more

involved in businesses, particularly in a marketing role, much as women have been the

driving force in the transformation of the marketing of farm produce and the understanding

of farming.

The careers service also states that nearly 40% of those working in the fishing industry are self–

employed and that 45% of jobs are full time and 17% part time. In Cornwall, the part time

figure is slightly above this, at over 18%, indicating that the style of fishing is more seasonal

than average, or perhaps that Cornwall’s tourist industry makes the county’s fishing slightly

more seasonal in nature than elsewhere. However, the difference is not large and it could

equally be argued that a career in fishing is less seasonal in nature than jobs in the Cornish

hospitality, leisure and retail sector, which can suffer enormous seasonal swings in trade.

The day boat sector, particularly on the North Coast, is more prone to seasonality and many

in that sector find alternative employment on a temporary basis during the winter or through

spells of prolonged poor weather. There is also anecdotal evidence that some fishermen

keep another income stream throughout the year but fish because it is, for want of a better

expression, ‘in their blood’. This certainly seems to be the case with some of the very small

ports where the fishermen are desperate for a fishing presence to be retained for reasons

connected to heritage and culture. Some of these same fishermen were among the

interviewees that mentioned ‘local needs housing’ as paramount for the future of the

industry. In a location such as Portloe it would be virtually impossible for a new entrant to the

industry to live in the same village as his boat is moored, yet the couple of boats working from

Portloe add immensely to the visitor appeal of a village which is now dominated by second

homes and self catering accommodation.

10 www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

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Nationally, the Careers Service estimates that a comparatively high proportion - 42% - of all

vacancies in the fishing sector are related to skills shortages11 (compared with 23% within all

job vacancies). Critically, it is also reported that up to another 8,000 jobs will be needed in

the fishing sector nationally in the next 5-6 years. There is therefore a massive need for skilled

labour to meet that requirement.

Interestingly, only 5% of survey respondents in Cornwall reported that they found recruitment

of labour ‘very challenging’, while the majority indicated that they find it moderately easy to

moderately challenging.

Our survey also found that skills shortages appeared to be less of an issue in Cornwall than

nationally, and that a lack of appeal for the job itself, i.e. unappealing work, wages or

working hours, is just as much of an issue. Anecdotal evidence suggests that even this lack of

appeal is variable, depending to an extent on the specific nature of the work. Several

interviewees mentioned that long periods at sea on larger vessels had a decreasing appeal,

especially to new entrants, compared with day boat work. Difficulties were reported, for

example, in recruiting younger crew to work on the beam trawler fleet, whereas Mevagissey

is seeing a surge in day boat activity and has a waiting list for moorings for new entrants. On

the bigger vessels the appeal (or otherwise) of the working environment is also a function of

the ageing fleet – it was reported that the ‘more modern’ French trawlers are more pleasant

to work on and attract crew more easily.

Even the success of an individual fisherman can cause an unintentional issue – Looe has seen

a number of successful young fishermen upgrade their boats; unfortunately at a certain size

their craft become too large for the tidal harbour at Looe and they are forced to relocate,

usually to Plymouth. Looe has lost at least three young fishermen in this way in the last few

years.

11 www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

6%

21%

26%

26%

5%

16%

Figure 27: Experience of recruitment

Very easy

Fairly easy

Moderate

Fairly challenging

Very challenging

Not applicable - I do notdeal with recruitmentwithin my organisation

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PART TWO: OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT

As stated in our proposal, the considerations and findings relating to the possible areas for

investment are presented in the form of an individual SWOT analysis for each. In addition,

analysis of the survey responses provides an indication of the level of importance those within

the industry place on each of the suggested investments. Figure 28 provides a useful

summary.

We added extra questions concerning the importance of marketing and trade development

into the survey, in relation to another project we are working on, and discovered that this is

the area that received the highest overall ranking of importance, with all respondents

regarding it as either ‘fairly important’ or ‘extremely important’.

It is notable that all of the potential investments that received rankings of ‘not at all

important’ relate to infrastructure and the actual mechanics of fishing and fish processing.

This confirms a number of discussions where participants questioned the need for major

capital investments. The only infrastructure investment that did not receive any ‘not at all

important’ rankings is chilled storage facilities. This is interesting as our interviews found that

chilled storage, in both the smaller ports and coves and the large ports, is used not only to

help retain the quality of the catch but also to hold some of the catch back and release it

more slowly onto the market, reducing the risk of stress-selling at low prices. This is good for

fishermen but perhaps not so good for buyers and may also lead to the reduction in quality

that some customers reported seeing. A chef from a highly respected London fish

restaurant, for example, stated that whilst he has identified Cornwall as the best place in the

UK for fish quality, he uses only the catch from selected day boats, sent direct by courier

every day, claiming that fish he has seen on the markets is too old for him to use.

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Aquaculture

Ice, fuel & supplies facilities

Berthing facilities

Fish packaging capability

Landing infrastructure/facilities

Fish markets

Fish processing capability

Future employment and skills

Repair and re-fit facilities

Investment in vessels

Chilled storage

Marketing & trade development

Figure 28: Areas for Investment - Ranking

Not at all important

Fairly unimportant

Neither important norunimportantFairly important

Extremely important

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2.1. Modernisation and rationalisation of the fleet

Strengths Weaknesses

91% of survey respondents regarded this as

fairly or extremely important.

Modernisation is essential to sustainability of

the industry.

Efficiency improvements would raise

productivity per FTE even more.

Safer fleet.

Improve competitiveness against other

regions.

Sufficient investment now will have long-

lasting impact, i.e. boats do not need

replacing frequently.

Impossible to undertake without a strategy

on quota (other work is directing that

subject).

Requires a collective or even whole industry

approach, as rationalisation only possible if

enough vessels are prepared or incentivised

to retire and sell quota to new vessels.

Large vessels represent the high volumes

needed to make the industry and its

infrastructure commercially sustainable, but

are also the low margin, high risk, high

competition end of the market.

Cornwall is already achieving good returns

from fishing; investment in new vessels alone

is unlikely to generate sufficient additional

return to justify cost.

Several £1m+ vessels have recently been

added to the fleet, suggesting the

investment capacity exists where the

commercial returns are evident.

Opportunities Threats

Ageing fleet presents current opportunity to

make changes in overall balance. Doing

nothing at this time would be missed

opportunity.

Modernised fleet will attract more new

entrants.

All sizes of vessel are essential to the

character and USP of Cornish fishing; small

and medium size vessels catch the high

value species.

Generally small vessels use the most

sustainable methods.

Doing nothing will eventually lead to

Cornwall losing its high volume catch that

supports the industry infrastructure.

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2.2. Landing Infrastructure and Facilities

Strengths Weaknesses

73% regard this as either extremely or fairly

important, but this subject received the

highest proportion - 57% - of ‘extremely

important’ rankings.

Benefits of this type of investment have been

proven elsewhere.

Small investments in, for example, new davits

can have quite significant impacts.

Most ports have a ‘wish list’, widespread

small investment would be seen as ‘fair’

Doing nothing = moving backwards.

A small number of people feel this is not at all

important for investment.

Very difficult to identify who pays for ongoing

investment and/or maintenance in longer

term.

Lots of different ports using different models

of ownership and management. Difficult to

implement in anything other than port by

port fashion.

Opportunities Threats

A number of ports have already proved the

impact this type of investment can have.

Could attract more vessels to Cornish ports,

particularly Newlyn, where a boost is

needed.

Could attract non-fishing vessels, i.e. leisure

craft, to generate more mooring and

maintenance revenue.

Improvements present opportunity for ports

to charge for improved services and

increase revenue. Evidence suggests industry

is prepared to pay where the charge is

logical (e.g. recent improvements to

electrical supply at Newlyn).

This type of investment needs to be

maintained – other ports have made initial

investment but not kept their facilities ahead

of the game.

No clear indicator that Cornwall needs more

fishing vessels using its ports.

2.3. Berthing Facilities

Strengths Weaknesses

73% regarded this as fairly or extremely

important.

Supply of facilities at some ports is

outstripping demand.

Audit results do not mirror survey results and

suggest this is of less importance. However,

the fishing industry would not necessarily be

expected to identify a

need/demand/opportunity from the leisure

industry.

Opportunities Threats

Could attract more vessels to Cornish ports,

particularly Newlyn, where a boost is

needed.

Could attract non-fishing vessels, i.e. leisure

craft, to generate more revenue.

No clear indicator that Cornwall needs more

fishing vessels using its ports.

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2.4. Vessel Repair and Refit Facilities

Strengths Weaknesses

90% regarded this as fairly or extremely

important.

Some of the larger Cornish vessels are

currently being maintained in Holland or

elsewhere, others head to Plymouth or Bristol

= lost revenue to Cornwall.

Potentially a case for public sector pump-

priming, i.e. current market failure, private

sector unwilling to invest alone, generates

wider benefits, e.g. jobs, skills, training

opportunities.

Potential displacement of some existing

activity in Cornwall.

Likely to need business from elsewhere in UK

or overseas to make it commercially viable,

therefore needs to be state-of-the-art.

Creating one state-of-the-art facility at, say,

Newlyn could disadvantage vessels distant

to Newlyn.

Needs detailed market research to assess

exactly which facilities and services are

needed and their viability. (Why does

Cornwall not have those services at present if

there is commercial viability?).

No commercial entity identified to take this

on.

Small vessels appear to be well provided for

locally and owners have good relationships

with the network of services that exists

around the county.

Opportunities Threats

Creating state-of-the-art facilities could be

linked to specialist engineering

apprenticeships and training to create skilled

employment opportunities in otherwise low

skill areas (consider Falmouth where ‘virtuous

circle’ model has evolved through reputation

for traditional and high end boat-building

skills).

Alongside creation of other engineering

expertise hubs within Cornwall (e.g.

Aerohub), could help to generate global

reputation as engineering hotspot.

Potential USP for Newlyn to regenerate the

port’s reputation.

Insufficient business to make high end

facilities profitable.

Needs marketing and high aspiration to

make necessary impact.

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2.5. Facilities for Ice, Fuel and Supplies

Strengths Weaknesses

73% regarded this as fairly or extremely

important.

Potentially attractive to non-fishing vessels as

additional income-driver.

Impact of this type of investment is proven.

Only 16% regarded this as extremely

important, most said ‘fairly important’,

suggesting it would be welcome but not

essential.

Investment in a fuel bunker at Newlyn

received mixed response. Some indication

that current moveable facilities are

preferred.

Many harbours appear to have invested in

some form of ice facilities already.

Opportunities Threats

Potentially the improvement or addition of

ice and fuel facilities are low cost/large gain

activities.

Good type of activity for small grant scheme

that individual ports can access as the need

arises.

Supplies are often ordered online – even

ports of significant size such as Mevagissey,

do not support a serious chandlery.

Some ports beginning to see funding for

these types of investment as a given,

creating an expectation that support will

always be available. Potentially reduces the

need to build financial sustainability into

these investments and anecdotally we are

told the care towards equipment paid for by

grants is sometimes lacking.

2.6. Chilled Storage

Strengths Weaknesses

92% regarded this as fairly or extremely

important, 40% stating ‘extremely important’.

Would improve reputation of markets –

currently criticised by some for poor quality

fish – provided it is used to retain quality and

not to keep fish for longer than ideal.

Current capacity at Newlyn is under pressure

in busy season (but adequate at other

times).

Not clear how large scale investment will pay

for itself.

Many ports have already invested in this.

Opportunities Threats

Good type of activity for small grant scheme

that individual ports can access as the need

arises.

Being used as a means of keeping fish in

store until prices rise. Undermines quality of

the catch.

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2.7. Fish Markets

Strengths Weaknesses

75% regarded this as either fairly or extremely

important.

Reputation and infrastructure of Newlyn

market is in decline. Doing nothing is not an

option if industry is to retain its reputation and

achieve its potential.

21% regarded this as either fairly unimportant

or neither important nor unimportant.

Must have major backing - agreement has

been difficult in the past and opinion about

best site for a new market for Cornwall is

divided.

Newlyn has ‘been here before’.

Business case for new market in new location

is risky.

Opportunities Threats

This round of EU funding is likely to be last

chance for investment in a large scale

project for Cornish fishing.

Chance to show Cornwall as market leader.

Chance to iron out incongruities and

difficulties in existing system, e.g. increase

number of auctioneers, reduce price

differential for ‘overland fish’, improve

transparency.

New market could form the focal point for a

range of associated activities (the ‘Centre of

Excellence’ approach).

If no investment in Newlyn market, some form

of investment is needed elsewhere.

Are these the only two options?

Combining Newlyn and Plymouth markets at

a new centralised location could potentially

depress prices due to high concentrated

volumes.

Potential lack of match funding if project is

too big.

Moving Cornwall’s major market away from

coast/port location potentially endangers

marketing potential.

Compromise could make insufficient impact.

Volumes sold at markets are dropping, while

volumes sold direct to processors are

increasing. It needs to be established the

sufficient long term business exists to justify

significant investment in a market.

2.8. Fish Packaging Capability

Strengths Weaknesses

73% regarded this as fairly or extremely

important.

Adds value at first or second point of sale.

Improves quality and shelf life of the catch.

Difficult to make a collective packaging

facility broad enough to meet all needs.

Needs to be part of a broader development

strategy – packaging capability alone will

not generate sufficient returns to justify major

investment.

Opportunities Threats

Innovation in packaging can attract new

markets and improve returns.

Commercial viability in longer term.

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2.9. Fish Processing Capability

Strengths Weaknesses

83% regarded this as fairly or extremely

important.

Adds value at first or second point of sale.

Improves quality and shelf life of the catch.

Cornwall has major fish processors already.

Track record of collective processing facilities

elsewhere in UK is not good.

Opportunities Threats

Innovation in processing can attract new

markets and improve returns.

New product development facility would

foster and de-risk innovation.

Commercial viability in longer term.

2.10. Aquaculture

Strengths Weaknesses

69% regarded this as either fairly or extremely

important (although respondents included a

disproportionately high number of people

involved in aquaculture).

Strong market growth potential.

Existing aquaculture in Cornwall has been

shown to be high risk and requires investment

in water quality to prevent further disasters.

Shellfish aquaculture has proven track record

in the market place but weak track record

for risk in Cornwall.

The case for finfish aquaculture is weak.

Environmental issues need to be considered.

Opportunities Threats

Huge opportunities for those with new

approach.

Regarded as a major sustainable protein

source of the future. Cornwall needs to be

part of it.

Entrepreneurial fishermen are already

investigating ground-breaking opportunities

Fish farming has poor reputation; could

endanger Cornwall’s name.

River water quality is outside the control of

the industry

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PART THREE: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The complexities and vagaries in the way data on fishing is gathered and recorded have

made it extremely difficult to draw conclusions that can be applied reliably to the entire

Cornish seafood industry. At times even the MMO has shared and acknowledged our

frustration.

The sheer breadth of the Cornish seafood industry is another factor that makes specific

recommendations and conclusions difficult. Investments that would deliver major

enhancements for one part of the industry may, for example, have a detrimental effect on

another.

However, it is clear that, whilst the Cornish fishing and seafood industry has a phenomenal

reputation, generates significant returns for the local economy and has undergone

impressive evolution and growth, its ageing fleet, ageing workforce and ageing infrastructure

are now in danger of limiting its potential.

We have considered where the findings point to potential investments that will:

Enhance the competitiveness and value of the sector.

Make the sector more resilient and fit for the future.

Take advantage of opportunities.

Overcome current drawbacks and barriers to growth.

Heighten Cornwall’s reputation for fishing and seafood.

Create broader and long term impacts on the local economy, e.g. greater job

opportunities, a more highly skilled workforce.

Justify public funding intervention.

We have also identified areas where the status quo appears to be unsustainable and inertia

jeopardises the industry’s potential.

This process has identified the following areas as priorities for investment:

3.1 Newlyn/Fish Markets

It is generally agreed that Newlyn market is in need of investment but the appropriate scale

and scope of that investment is subject to mixed opinion. In the past, plans have been put

forward that the major user of the market has regarded as too ambitious and too costly and,

without their agreement, the chances of any project achieving the necessary private sector

match funding are limited. Projects therefore need to be realistic and the return on

investment needs to be very clear for all involved. Consensus is also vital.

Whilst projects need to be realistic, it is worth remembering that the forthcoming round of EU

Convergence funding for Cornwall and the IOS is likely to be the last chance for Newlyn

market (and consequently the Cornish fishing industry) to receive this type of financial boost.

Any plans therefore need to be sufficiently ambitious to maximise this opportunity in a ‘now

or never’ way, without being unsustainable.

The market is of course part and parcel of the harbourside and it would be logical to

undertake an upgrade of other facilities alongside any refurbishment of the market. The

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harbourside is used by processors who buy direct from boats, by other boats that land at

Newlyn and sell direct to buyers, and for landing fish that is transported to other markets. The

market is therefore by no means the only function of Newlyn harbour.

At present the market and harbour area has a drab, functional and somewhat unloved feel

about it, and on the whole the industry does not talk of Newlyn market with affection. This

belies Newlyn’s historical and economic significance and does not lend itself to activity such

as providing moorings or other facilities for leisure craft, which could bring other benefits to

the town and its businesses. There is scope for some uplift without undermining the

commercial and industrial functions of the harbour and without the cost becoming

prohibitive.

Another factor that has contributed to ambivalence about Newlyn market is the reduction in

the number of auctioneers to one, effectively creating a monopoly. More choice is likely to

increase use of the market and this is apparently already under review. However, further

discussions have highlighted that other markets operate successfully with one auctioneer,

but that their use of an electronic auction overcomes that difficulty. It is therefore the

continued use of the traditional shout auction alongside the sole auctioneer situation at

Newlyn that appears to be the cause of some of the unease.

The advantages of a clock auction are that buyers do not have to be physically present at

market and this enables a much wider range of buyers to bid; buyers can also monitor

several markets at the same time. It is claimed by one merchant who has monitored both

systems closely, both in the UK and overseas, that clock auctions do not necessarily improve

or depress prices or increase the overall number of buyers; however it is claimed that they do

tend to iron out major swings.

It is interesting to note that Plymouth Fisheries has recently issued a media announcement

about the success of the market and its considerable growth over the past decade, The

article also states that up to 60% of the market’s business arrives by road and claims that the

popularity of the market is due to its auction system, which “is unique in ensuring fishermen

can guarantee they’ll receive a fair price for their catch”.

We were also asked to consider the suggestion that a brand new market facility should be

constructed away from Newlyn itself, possibly around the centre of the county and close to

the A30. The rationale for this type of investment is that a new facility could provide the latest

technologies, including a clock auction, as well as greater convenience from being located

alongside the transport network and accessible from all Cornish ports. It has also been

suggested that it could potentially be possible to combine the Plymouth and Newlyn

auctions into one new facility.

Although this rationale has logic, views are mixed. Those landing on the north coast where

there is no market at present are, understandably, more in favour of the concept than those

on the south coast or in the west. The north coast fishermen report that they are unfairly

disadvantaged at present and receive a lower price for their catch because it is classified as

‘overland fish’.

Overall, the following concerns about a central market were noted:

Increase in transport of fish – a two tier transport system would be required for users –

one to get the fish to market and another to get the fish to its buyer – which would

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disadvantage those who currently land and sell at port. Conversely, fish from other

ports that currently travels to Newlyn could in some cases undergo a shorter journey

to market. Fish that currently travels overland to Plymouth from Newlyn would also

undergo a shorter journey if it was sold at a central Cornwall market.

There is concern that increased volumes at a single market would lead to reduced

prices and less competition. Since fish is currently being split between Plymouth and

Newlyn markets (and in some cases even Brixham and Brittany) in order to gain

better prices, this argument does have some weight. However, new facilities that

ensured higher quality may also improve prices. As this study shows, vessels and their

owners are already choosing where they land and sell their fish according to the

price they can obtain, rather than sticking to their home port. A new centralised

market would therefore need to obtain compelling prices for it to attract business in

just the same way that any market does. Ultimately, market forces will always

prevail.

There is no guarantee that volumes from Plymouth would all move to a central

Cornwall market if the markets combined. Some could shift to Brixham/Looe.

Moving Cornwall’s major fish market away from the coast is counter-intuitive to some

people and risks losing the association between the market and the sea, and by

implication, freshness. From findings reported elsewhere in this report it is clear that

buyers on the whole think beyond any romantic notions, but this does need to be

taken into consideration for marketing.

Taking all these considerations and the other findings from this study together, one of the

noticeable changes in the fishing industry in Cornwall over the past fifteen years is the

emergence of a greater choice of sales channels for fishermen. Alongside the traditional

market, fishermen sell their catch direct to processors or to overseas contract customers.

Some have created their own direct sales methods using digital technology. Markets like

Looe have invested and created their own points of difference that are logical for a smaller

port where a large amount of premium value fish is landed from smaller boats. This diversity

matches the diversity of the industry itself and ensures that different products are able to

differentiate themselves to the market place and high value products gain the appropriate

premiums.

Any improvements to Newlyn market or the creation of a centralised market need to take

account of this and identify and maximise their own USPs compared to other methods of sale

and other markets. It is no longer safe to assume that viable volumes will always be there.

Overall, investment in Newlyn market is a less risky option than creating a new concept of a

centralised market. The sums involved are likely to be in excess of £5m and risk is therefore a

big factor to take into account. However, investment in Newlyn market would need to

ensure that changes overcome the current negativity towards the market as well as

introducing physical improvements. Finally, as mentioned, doing nothing at Newlyn is not a

realistic option and if consensus and action proves impossible, the alternative becomes

increasingly feasible and attractive.

A final observation is that, having spent a lot of time considering these investment options,

we have not considered whether there might be other options worth exploring. For example,

a third possibility – the creation of a central distribution point at Saltash – has been raised via

our survey. Additionally, several people quoted Billingsgate and, although not specifically a

fish market, Rungis market in Paris, as examples of wholesale markets that also function as

retail markets to the consumer. Cornwall does not have the populations that Paris or London

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can draw on to sustain a large commercial consumer-facing function of this nature but

introducing smaller scale elements of investment into Newlyn to help promote the industry’s

key messages to consumers could help overcome an identified lack of consumer access to

fresh fish and improve consumer knowledge about fish, which many of the survey responses

identified as a priority. This could also help to spread the potential commercial risk of the

market function by introducing other revenue streams.

That said, this should not be interpreted as a recommendation to create a typical ‘visitor

centre’ type attraction, which are notoriously difficult to sustain commercially once the initial

investment has been spent. Cornwall has a reputation for being quirky and different and this

would need to be a feature that has a strong personality to match that reputation.

Neither should this report be interpreted as a feasibility study but it does seem, given the

importance of Newlyn in volume and value and the need for investment in the facilities there

other than the market that, depending on cost and available funding, Newlyn is the most

sensible place for major investment. There is an immediate action which could be taken to

‘market test’ part of the solution. We understand that the facilities for an electronic clock

auction exist at Newlyn already but are not being used. If the electronic clock was

commissioned for use and some serious publicity given to that, it would be a partial step to

re-launching the market with a new regime of transparency. Fish sale prices could be

monitored to compare both volume and value with the current shout auction before leaping

into a full scale redevelopment of the market.

3.2 Vessels

The ageing fleet is another potential time bomb for Cornish fishing and the complexities

around investment suggest that it would benefit from a strategic approach and further

analysis. Of particular note is the influence that a modernised fleet can have on attracting

new entrants to the industry, in itself a critical need. However, this is closely linked to quota

and the findings of the work on quota are required before this can be taken further. If that

work suggests there is scope in a central quota-buying resource, it could go a considerable

way to aiding investment in vessels if administered effectively.

3.3 Engineering

Creating a Centre of Excellence for marine engineering at Newlyn would be another way of

reinvigorating the port’s pride and reputation whilst providing quality jobs that could be

linked to formal apprenticeships and training programmes. Specifically, the need is for

engineering, servicing and re-fits for larger vessels. The smaller vessels appear to be well

provided for already in all parts of Cornwall. This would therefore need to be undertaken in

conjunction with the strategy for modernisation and rationalisation of the fleet, to ensure that

there would be sufficient demand in the longer term for this type of service. The port of

Falmouth and the Falmouth Marine School are likely to provide a useful model and also help

identify where the market gaps and skills gaps lie, ensuring for example that there is a

genuine need that is not capable of being delivered by existing bodies. C Toms and Son of

Polruan are a useful example of creative ideas in this sphere. Although they are diversified

into ferry services, fuel and chandlery they have demonstrated that it is possible to recruit

and retain engineers, fabricators and other skilled tradesmen in a small coastal community

and build a sustainable business around boatbuilding, re-fit and repair.

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Because of its specific nature, this is an investment that has not been identified as a need by

a large number of people who have taken part in this study but it is nonetheless regarded as

possible priority for public sector intervention because it could deliver far more than a

commercial service and produce multiple indirect benefits. However, this does require

careful viability assessment to ensure that, after initial pump priming, it is a service that could

function successfully commercially. It also requires commercial and educational partners to

take it forward.

3.4 Aquaculture

Again not an area highlighted as one of the most popular for investment, but we have

considered its potential in terms of the need for intervention and achievable longer term

benefits and transformational change for Cornwall. Cornwall is the UK’s only county

surrounded on three sides by sea and therefore deserves to be at the forefront of

developments in aquaculture (another subject with Centre of Excellence potential). Putting

this theory to the test has proved difficult to date, with the Government’s own initiative on fin

fish farming off the Cornish coast put on hold due to the exposed nature of the coast and

many of the commercial shellfish farms suffering from water quality issues. In our view, this

provides even more justification for investment, researching ways in which aquaculture can

be undertaken more successfully off the Cornish coast. Failure to do so places Cornwall in

danger of missing out in the future, when aquaculture is likely to have a much larger part to

play in feeding the world than it does at present.

3.5 Small Infrastructure Projects

Our understanding is that the purpose of this study is to identify options for major investment

projects that will support and develop Cornwall’s seafood industry. However, a noticeable

finding has been the impact that relatively small investments have had in recent years. For

example, the provision of chill facilities, ice facilities or landing and mooring infrastructure,

sometimes costing just a few hundreds or thousands of pounds, but providing major

enhancements to product quality and profitability. Often these investments are being made

in the tiny coves and ports which are home to only a small number of boats but nonetheless

produce the products that are gaining the attention of the high end of the market and

boosting Cornwall’s reputation.

Our research has shown that there are a number of projects already at the planning stage,

some ‘oven ready’ and several more that could soon be developed – these are all

dependent on, and waiting for, future grant funding. Within the industry there is a positive

entrepreneurial spirit, a will to exploit the opportunities available for Cornish fish in as many

ways as possible. Therefore, alongside major investments, we recommend that this type of

investment continues. Smaller projects to enhance processing and packaging could also be

included in this type of scheme.

3.6 Attracting New Entrants

This study has shown what an important, valuable and multi-faceted contribution fishing and

the wider seafood industry makes to the Cornish economy. It has also identified a need to

attract new entrants to provide the increasing numbers of people the industry will need in

the future, and to replace the ageing workforce as people retire. A key factor will be the

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ability of the industry to attract first generation entrants. All the above initiatives have the

potential to make the industry a better place to work, to provide quality, well paid jobs and

thereby to improve the attractiveness of fishing and related industries as an occupation.

Fishing would also benefit from a programme similar to those that have been developed in

the food manufacturing and hospitality sectors (where an image of unpleasant work and

unsociable hours etc. is also an issue) to improve understanding and messaging in schools

and colleges and amongst the community. This is particularly important given the GVA

figures for fishing versus other sectors referenced in the Background section at the start of this

document.

3.7 Marketing

Not an area that we were asked to cover, but a subject that any investment will need to

consider. At present, the marketing of Cornish seafood is fragmented and could do more to

build and support the industry if it was undertaken in a strategic and co-ordinated – but

commercially sustainable - fashion. Our 2014 survey demonstrated the high regard for

Cornish seafood amongst UK consumers and we know from other work we are engaged in

that the catering industry (from institutional catering to high end establishments) is similarly

receptive – the next few years present a ‘golden opportunity’ to expand the markets for

Cornish fish and increase the value-added in a way that sets the industry up for a sustainable

future. Many in the industry quote the value of the work of the Seafood Cornwall project,

which did not survive funding cuts. We believe that creating a service with built-in

commercial viability in a reasonably short time is entirely possible.

3.8 Industry cohesion and cross sector interdependence

A final observation is that this study has highlighted just how complex and varied the Cornish

and Isles of Scilly fishing and seafood industry is and a single study of this scope probably

does not do it justice. The industry of the trawler fleet, for example, is as different from, say,

day boat fishing or oyster farming, as horticulture is from dairy farming. It has also been

apparent at times that different interests can conflict. Investments that allow all parts of the

industry to flourish successfully in their own right will therefore improve overall cohesion.

Examples have been given of areas of previous investment that have been successful

because they have created impacts that reach wider than the individual businesses

receiving the grants. The widespread improvements throughout the supply chain that have

improved the care of the catch at all levels – from the way the catch is handled at sea to

the way it is handled by processors – were cited as a good example of individual investments

that improve the collective reputation and value of the sector.

This study has also reinforced our understanding that the fishing and seafood industry has

become quite isolated from other parts of the local economy. Fishing is inextricably woven

into the tourism, cultural and creative fabric of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and there are

mutual benefits to be gained from the sectors working more collaboratively. Possibly

because of the diverse funding streams, fishing also sits apart from the rest of the food and

drink sector. It is our belief that from the consumer point of view there is much to be gained

from Cornish farming, food and fishing presenting a united front based around exceptional

quality and Cornwall’s unique cultural, social and environmental heritage.

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REFERENCES

We are indebted to the MMO for the assistance from their analysts on interpretation

of some of the data used in this report. In addition to communications with the

MMO team, data was drawn from the following websites:

www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/monthly-sea-fisheries-statistics-

november-2014

www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/vessel-lists-over-10-metres

www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/vessel-lists-10-metres-and-under

www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/uk-sea-fisheries-annual-statistics-

report-2013

www.webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140507202222/http:/www.marinemana

gement.org.uk/fisheries/statistics/annual_archive.htm

Other reference sources:

Bournemouth University: Stakeholder Perceptions of the Cornwall Finfish Aquaculture

Demonstration Project, accessed online but page no longer available

Cornish Guardian: Trout Farms Plan Revealed for Cornish Coastline, 09 June 2014

Crown Estate, CEFAS and British Trout Association: Aquaculture: marine trout farming

test and demonstration project, Background Q&A, July 2014

Western Morning News: Plymouth Fisheries celebrates 20th Anniversary with Turnover

Increase, 26 February 2015

World Fishing and Aquaculture: Cornish Shellfish Back on the Menu. 15 October 2014

www.cornwall-ifca.gov.uk

www.cornishshellfish.co.uk/mussels/index.htm

www.faloyster.co.uk

www.ices.dk/marine-data/maps/Pages/ICES-statistical-rectangles.aspx

www.matthewstevens-cornishfish.co.uk/sustainable-fish/aquaculture-farming

www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/fishin

gvesselskipper.aspx

www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/fishin

gvesseldeckhand.aspx

www.thewrightbrothers.co.uk/oyster_farm_fishery

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APPENDIX A

Individuals and organisations who have participated in this study:

Name Company / Organisation Type

Tony Tomlinson Independent FLAG Chair

Kim Spencer Independent FLAG Vice Chair

Sarah Crosbie Seafood Cornwall Training Ltd FLAG Member

Paul Trebilcock Cornish Fish Producers Organisation FLAG Member

Chris Gilbertson Clerk to the harbour trustees - Mevagissey FLAG Member

Rob Parsons Newlyn Harbour Master FLAG Member

Nathan de

Rozarieux

St Ives Fishermen’s Association/Duchy Fish Quota

Company/Come Fish With Me FLAG Member

Jeff Penhaligon /

Tina Hicks Looe Harbour Commissioners FLAG Member

Felicity Sylvester Brilliant Fish Community Interest Company FLAG Member

Simon Cadman Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority FLAG Advisor

Nigel Legge Cadgwith Fishermen's Association Representative

Johnny Murt

Padstow Fishermen and owner of North Cornish

Catch Representative

Cliff Bowden Bude Fishermen's Association Representative

Robert Francis Isles of Scilly Fishermen Representative

Kevin Penney Dreckly Fish Fishing co-op

Matt Slater and

Ruth Williams Cornwall Wildlife Trust - Good Fish Guide FLAG Project

Robert Clifford-

Wing Wing of St Mawes Ltd/Newlyn Harbour

Fish Merchant

/Harbour

Commissioner

Robin Turner J H Turner & Co Ex-Fish Merchant

Richard

Corner/Carl

Menear Seafood & Eat It Fish Merchant

Matthew Harvey W Harvey & Sons Fish Merchant

Elizabeth

Stevenson

W Stevenson & Son and Newlyn Harbour

Commissioner

Fishing/Fish

Merchant/

Auctioneer

Mark Greet FalFish Ltd Fish Merchant

Paul Blewett Camel Fish Fish Merchant

Andrea Spencer

Smith Matthew Stevens and Son Fish Merchant

Peter Haddock Hayle Harbour Master Harbour Master

John Carter Hayle Fishermen’s Association Representative

Capt R M Atkinson Padstow Harbour Master Harbour Master

Byron Buse Port Isaac Harbour Master Harbour Master

Capt Paul Thomas River Fowey Harbour Master Harbour Master

Dale Clark Isles of Scilly - St Mary's Harbour Master Harbour Master

David Muirhead South West Handline Fishermen's Association Representative

Mike Collier Mousehole Harbour Master Harbour Master

Martin King Portreath Harbour Master Harbour Master

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Terry George Sennen Fishermen's Association Representative

Steve Bassett St Ives Harbour Master Harbour Master

Philip Ward Porthleven Harbour Master Harbour Master

Duncan Paul Falmouth Harbour Commissioners

Deputy Harbour

Master

Ollie Puckey Polperro Harbour Master and ex-fishermen Harbour Master

Chris Mlynski Portloe Fisherman Fisherman

Robert ‘Tich’

Preston Mevagissey Fisherman Fisherman

Jerry Marshall Rock Shellfish Aquaculture

Plus a number of fishermen on site at harbours around the county