The Isle of Man king scallop seasonal fishery opened at the beginning of November with licensed boats on a daily quota of 560kg, in line with catch limits implemented by the Manx government to regulate the fishery. Since the start…
The age-old Thames cockle fishery achieved 21st-century endorsement with the award of Marine Stewardship Council accreditation in early December. John Worrall reports Cockles have been the main fishery in the Thames estuary since at least the early 1800s. Back then,…
An impressive £17,500 maiden trip provided early validation of the owners’ decision to invest in a modern and versatile ‘big’ 15m scalloper. Phil Lockley reports The gross figure from a good trip on a 30m beam trawler can be eye-watering,…
The selection of photographs shown here have been sent in by Fishing News readers. Although the number of photos currently being received is insufficient to generate a Photo of the Month competition, a selection of readers’ photos will continue to…
Stonehaven static-gear skipper Ian Mathieson, and crewmen and Buckie brothers Neal and Derek Clarke, fished their first crabbing trips on the new 14.6m potter Dalwhinnie A 913 towards the end of last month, reports David Linkie Built to a high…
Skipper David Fraser and the crew of the Wick fly-shooter Opportune WK 171 took their last seine-net shot last month, signalling the end of an era spanning 40 years, reports David Linkie. Having mainly landed into the Caithness harbours of…
A 69ft fishing boat built by J&G Forbes & Co of Sandhaven in 1947 as Jessie West FR 559 for Fraserburgh skipper Alex West is still active in British Columbia, Canada, reports David Linkie. The traditional-style dual-purpose herring drifter/seine-net boat,…
Featuring a new concept of bulbous bow and an aft bagging arrangement designed to enhance fishing efficiency, crew comfort and safety, the 24m twin-rig prawn trawler Virtuous FR 253 significantly advances the parameters of divergent thinking on vessel design, reports…
A distinguished old lady has returned to the Wash after a facelift, some fetching changes to her topsides and other surgical reconstruction. John Worrall reports Lynn Princess – or some of her – is 50 years old. Built in Holland,…
As environmental protection exerts the precautionary principle, an age-old fishery is feeling the pinch. John Worrall reports They’ve been shrimping in the Wash since Pontius was a pilot. Long beaches, tidal churn, and four sizeable rivers adding flavoursome effluent (less…
