NEWLYN has a fleet of both modern and not-so-modern vessels pursuing a wide range of fisheries, thus cushioning the effect to and extent of stock changes and political madness. In 2003, however, fishermen cam to boiling point following yet more illogical an stupid regulations emanating from Brussels and being enforced by H.M. Government.

In its long history as a seaport Newlyn has had perhaps one of the most chequered careers of any fishing centre in theUK.

From a centre of smuggling in the middle ages to riots of one from or another and an often anti-Government stance the port has witnessed a wide variety of escapades, many involving the fishing industry.

And of course fishing in one form or another has been the history of the Cornish port, as it is still today. Yet the clannish-ness the seems to have influenced developments here for so long could also in part be the reason why it has lagged behind other UK ports in several directions.

And which in turn has led to its shortcomings in recent times. For, while the fishing expertise and determination of local fishermen has hardly ever been better the fleet infrastructure facilities have become totally outdated for present-day needs.

A new fish market was built in the 1980’s but this is today completely inadequate and the harbour itself, with its largely tidal areas, not suited to the number of the size of vessels that can be utilising it. And repair and maintenance facilities have not kept pace wit fleet development. Many of the larger vessels in particular have to travel considerable distance to have work done.
Since th demise of the Humber ports Newlyn has taken prime position in the ranking by value of landed fish in England and Wales and for years has been within the top ten most important fishing ports in the UK.

In 2003 value of fish landed was just below £19m, like most ports slightly down on the previous year and this included £1.4m from foreign vessels landings, basically Dutch and Irish.
The local fleet today comprises around 170 vessels. 100 of these are day boats of 10m in length and below pursuing mainly static gear methods with a few very light trawlers. Just under 30 of the remaining 70 are beam trawlers of 25m and above, the largest being of 39m in length. There are only a handful of simple trawlers within this fleet, the remainder being netters.
The beamers all land at home whereas the netters land both at home or go directly to France, mainly Roscoff where Pollack fetch far better prices.

In addition there are up to a dozen potters, the largest being 18m in length, the bulk of the remainder being owned by local shellfish processor W.S. Harvey who have substantial holding facilities just the quayside.
Megrim is the highest value fish species landed, in 2003 some 980t being put ashore valued at almost £2.9m with monkfish not far behind at £2.6m for 1215t. Black sole then followed with landings of 326t valued at £2.3m. Pollack landings of almost 600t sold for £1.2m and the fish most important species was hake with some 550t landed for £1.1m.

Pelagic landings, which used to represent most of fish landed locally, were last year just around 350t valued at £357,000, the bulk being pickerel. Pilchards, once the most popular species, where almost nil although efforts are toady being made to revive this fishery to sustain a better shore-based processing sector.

Whereas whitefish landings by local vessels last year were valued at some £14.7m shellfish landings amounted to £2.5m. Crab was of course the mainstay with around £850,00 worth landed, scallops coming just behind a fraction. The only other major shellfish landing came from squid with over £200,000 value.
It si with this background that the new Newlyn Regeneration Plan has been launched. Although the funding for the ambitious £57m plan, which incorporates substantial development in the tourism industry also, has not yet had full approval, initial early parts of the project have begun to receive funding.
In charge of the Newlyn Project, as it is now know, is Tony Woodhams, a former Fisheries Officer with a lifetime’s knowledge of the industry and the Southwest of Cornwall. He sees the project as big but of necessity.

“Newlyn has been behind other ports for far too long and is now losing out because of this. The facilities required are accordingly more expensive but by including other development strategies within the same project – such as tourism which is of major importance here – we believe that we can provide developments which not only revive and modernise the fishing industry but other local industries also, benefiting the entire community. It isn’t an easy task but all involved are adopting a positive attitude so we are hopeful for a successful outcome”.

The proposed fishing-related developments will not only cater for local interests but could well, because of it’s geographical position, allow Newlyn to attract more business form non-locals and perhaps lead to the establishment of a greater local processing industry to give an added-value dimension to the Newlyn fishing scene.

But, the project is under way.

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FISHING VESSELS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND - May 2004
© Peter Brady