Midsummer Report, 2008

Early summer in Sherkin was as blissful as one could ask, with the wild flowers blooming and the song-birds busy with their nests, while the clouds rolled along with soft rain just often enough to keep everything fresh. One appreciates it all the more as the years pass, the poignant knowledge of its fleeting fragility being ever keener. Right enough the storm clouds came back this last while, so we’re just keeping our fingers crossed that the sunshine prevails again before too long! Fortunately the gang I had out in the Anna M last week knew how to enjoy themselves rain or shine. (video clip)

Boarding Anna M in Horseshoe Bay

In February a storm blew the fine tree at the east gable down, another of those aggravations-cum-favours, for the way became clear to get some solar panels up there on top of a small extension, instead of the clapped out oil boiler, to provide loads of hot water for our guests’ showers. I have the block-work of the lower floor done, with Poroton insulated clay blocks and help from a very versatile Scottish wwoofer called Matthew, and hope to get the panels up in a matter of a few weeks. Meanwhile hot water is supplied by an immersion heater, which I will be very glad to get rid of, making way to pull down the old conservatory and get stuck into building a new one.

Coming up shortly Anna M and I have some work to do with Dr Mike Flecker, a marine archaeologist who will break new ground for us by bringing his magnetometer and side-scan sonar equipment aboard. Meanwhile Dr Sam Shephard and I are looking for support for a more extensive tuna campaign in the late summer, as well as more generalized support for our sustainable fisheries project, as outlined below:-

Gannetsway Sustainable Fisheries Project (GSFP)

Objectives:-
1) To research, develop and publicise artisanal fishing methods that are by their nature sustainable in the long term, with minimal impact on fish stocks, dependence on fossil fuels, and capital requirements.
2) To facilitate grass-roots groups of fishermen who wish to take responsibility for localized fisheries, optimising their sustainability and the return for their effort.

Background:- While high-powered international groups of scientists are warning that commercial fish stocks world-wide are on the verge of collapse, coastal communities everywhere are suffering from the erosion of the marine resources that have sustained them in the past, at the very same time that the viability of the fisheries is under threat from the soaring price of oil. The EU and national governments tend to respond with clumsy ‘command and control’ measures that frequently only exacerbate the situation. GSFP seeks to address the situation in an organic way, by promoting sound techniques and management.

Initial Projects:-
1) Feasibility study leading to the construction of a prototype sail/fuel-cell fishing vessel. Hearking back to the most recent large-scale sea fishery based on wind power in this part of the world, that of the Breton thoniers, and building on the success of a pilot albacore cruise by the Anna M in 2007 (see < http://www.gannetsway.com/news/tuna-trip.htm>), and also on a regular activity of the Anna M in trolling for pollack and mackerel, we consider a huge amount of valuable work remains to be done in terms of gathering and recording hard practical knowledge about these fisheries, and any others that are conducive to the project of building a sail/fuel cell powered fishing boat.
2) Research practical, scientific and legal options for groups of fishermen who would like to manage their fisheries, and offer the fruit of this research to such groups.
3) Investigate market advantages available to help promote sustainable fisheries, probably in cooperation with the British Marine Stewardship Council and equivalent European initiatives.