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Fishing Study
Produced for the
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Local Enterprise Partnership
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
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
1
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.
2
3
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
4
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.
5
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
6
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).
7
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).
8
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.
9
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).
10
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
11
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
12
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
13
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.
14
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.
15
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
16
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
17
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.
18
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.
19
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
20
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.
21
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).
22
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
23
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.
24
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
25
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.
26
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
27
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
28
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
29
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.
30
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
31
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
32
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.
33
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
34
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
35
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.
36
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
37
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.
38
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
39
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
40
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
41
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.
42
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.
43
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.
44
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.
45
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.
46
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
47
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
48
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
49
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
50
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.
51
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
52
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.
53
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
54
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
55
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