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…
The Fishing News Awards presentation evening, held to celebrate excellence across the fishing industry during 2019, will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Aberdeen Treetops hotel on Thursday, 14 May, 2020 This is the only awards event dedicated to…
My first trips as skipper Hull skipper William Oliver had a trawling career spanning sailing smacks and the early days of steam, at the turn of the 20th century, to the outbreak of the Second World War. He set down…
North Sea mackerel, fished in close proximity to Shetland, was the first target species for the new Whalsay 75.4m midwater trawler Zephyr LK 394, when skipper Allister Irvine and crew started to establish the boat’s fishing credentials, reports David Linkie…
Cold hands and feet were warmed up with a delicious fish breakfast at Mitch Tonks’ Rockfish Brixham on 23 October, after this year’s final tour of Brixham fishmarket, in aid of the Fishermen’s Mission. This year, the Mission was delighted…
The Fishery Protection Squadron’s Squadex exercise, conducted in the Solent earlier this month, offered a chance to talk to the Royal Navy personnel tasked with safeguarding Britain’s fisheries – and to see behind the scenes. John Periam reports (Photos: Geoff…
A community group from Cellardyke has formed to restore one of the few remaining 1930s ring-net boats still left afloat. Manx Beauty is lying in Birkenhead and needs to be transported to the East Neuk of Fife, reports David Linkie.…
