Tristan da Cunha Fishing News 2008

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Report on MV Kelso's role as a Tristan- based factory ship
From Dorrien Venn of Ovenstones
Island fishing operations resumed on 2st September with fishing teams Eugene and Simon, Richard and Thomas, Timothy and Ken, Mark and Duncan, Raymond and Colin kicking off fishing operations for the Kelso’s second trip. There is a general expectation that catch rate will improve this trip as we enter the traditional “Big Season” months of October and November.
Catches during the Kelso’s first trip were not as high as had been anticipated. The Kelso spent a total 44 days off Tristan. Winter weather conditions resulted in 13 days on anchor with no fishing activity. The average daily catch for the 31 fishing days during the trip amounted to approximately 1.6 tonnes against a budgeted target of 3 tonnes. While fishing generally proved to be good on the south western side of the Island, adverse weather conditions typical of the time of year, often meant that the boats were forced to fish in a small lee area that did not necessarily yield good catches.
A total of 48.8 MT was landed during the first trip, leaving a quota balance of 141.2 tonnes to be caught. Ovenstone remains hopeful of landing this quantity before mid December. Due to the unpredictable nature of current fishing operations, the Kelso’s sailing schedule should be viewed as provisional and subject to change in accordance with fishing requirements.

Fifth MV Kelso Team complete their shift

Fifth and Final Fishing Team of the inaugural MV Kelso Tristan island fishing trip (using Tristan islanders while there is no land-based factory) came ashore ready for the ship's departure for Cape Town on Friday 29th August. The factory ship will deliver the first of the 2008/9 fishing season's crawfish to Cape Town and onward dispatch to international markets.

The fourth team came ashore on Thursday 21 August, and the fifth team went on board and consisted of:

Adrian Swain & Aron Swain

Christopher Swain & Larry Swain

Shaun Green & Kevin Glass

Martin Green & John Lavarello

Ricky Swain and Clive Glass stayed on for another week as the fourth week in an arrangement which included covering for Herbert Glass (Clive's father who is in Cape Town).

Fourth Kelso fishing team aboard
Cynthia Green reports that the third team of fishermen came ashore from the Kelso on Wednesday 13 August and the fourth team went on board:-

Patrick & Alfred Rogers

Neil & Wayne Swain

Ricky Swain & Clive Glass

Nicky Swain & Desmond Green

Eugene Repetto & Albert Green

The Kelso is due to sail from Tristan on 28 August, two weeks later than originally scheduled.

Kelso Change-Over
The second team of fishermen came ashore from the MV Kelso on Wednesday 6th August and the following went on board:

Raymond Green & Colin Hagan

Grant Green & Simon Glass

Richard Green & Thomas Swain

Gary Repetto & Cliff Swain

Barry Swain

Barry's fishing partner is Andrew Green who is currently in Cape Town on medical treatment. Duncan Lavarello is fishing on behalf of Andrew (Duncan was on last week with his partner Mark Swain and stayed on for this week with Barry).

And then there were ten
Experienced fishermen Ken and Timothy Green were taken aboard the MV Kelso on 31st July together with the power boat 'Verkenner' to try to boost rather poor catches. This brings the island fishing personnel to 10, with two additional observers (see below).

All change on MV Kelso
Cynthia Green reports that the eight fishermen based on the first week of ship-based Tristan da Cunha crawfishing arrived home on Wednesday 30th July and have been replaced by eight more men who will fish for the second week.
The new four teams of two are :
Christopher Swain & Larry Swain

Shaun Green & Kevin Glass

Martin Green & John Lavarello

Duncan Lavarello & Mark Swain
They are expected to remain aboard MV Kelso until Wednesday 6th August, harbour landing conditions permitting.

First Ship-Based Tristan Fishing season starts
MV Kelso arrived at Tristan on Wednesday 16th July, but poor weather led to passengers not being offloaded until Tuesday 22nd July. Offloading was complete by noon. Six island fishermen went aboard to being the first week of Tristan fishing based from MV Kelso which will act as factory ship whilst the shore-based factory is being re-built. This new practise should mean fishing every day, as MV Kelso finds lee conditions whatever the weather, but catches on the first day were disappointing so two further men and their power boat were taken aboard the MV Kelso on 24th July. The 3 teams of two are : Nicky Swain and Desmond Green; Clive Glass and Ricky Swain; Eugene Repetto and Albert Green They were joined by Adrian and Aron Swain on 24th July Also aboard are Warren Glass and Rodney Green who will act as Fishery Observers.
	Marie Repetto's pictures of 22nd July showing ~ Left : Desmond Green and Nicky Swain Right: Albert Green and Eugene Repetto setting out from Calshot Harbour

Power boats Left : leaving the harbour Right : Approaching MV Kelso Centre : Power boat being loaded aboard MV Kelso to begin the first week of ship-based Tristan da Cunha Fishing following the fire which destroyed the shore-based factory.

New longline fishing vessel arrives

Head of Tristan Agriculture and Natural Resources Department James Glass reports
that the longline fishing vessel Casablanca departed Cape Town for a fishing trip within Tristan's EEZ on the 7^th July. She is one of the smallest vessels to operate at Tristan, and will be targeting Bluefish, also known as Bluenose on the markets.

The Casablanca arrived at Tristan on 16th July and is licensed to fish for white fish up until mid-September. Norman Glass is on board as the Sea Fishery Officer/Observer.

2008/9 Fishing Season Plans
Updated 10th June with further information from Dorrien Venn of Ovenstone
Plans for the 2008/9 fishing season have become clearer as the provisional schedule for the fishing vessels MV Kelso and Edinburgh are announced. The schedule can be viewed on our Shipping Page which is updated regularly.
MV Kelso will carry out three extended trips of approximately 42, 48 and 29 days from July-November. Tristan power boats will operate from the MV Kelso with fish being delivered to the ship for processing and subsequent dispatch to Cape Town. This will mean that Tristan fishermen (the first woman apprentice also worked in 2007) will continue their employment, but locals will lose their income from processing at the Tristan factory.
Factory fishermen will be divided into 6-8 man teams and will fish from the Kelso on a weekly rotational basis. On board processing will be carried out by the vessel's crew. The permanent factory staff will be deployed in the factory rebuild process.
Operating from the Kelso, the island fishermen will have direct access to the lee of the island which means that fishing operations will be less affected by weather and harbour restrictions. It is anticipated that the full Tristan 2008/9 quota will be landed over a four month period.
Despite the immense logistical challenges presented with the factory rebuild, Ovenstone are intent on having the newly built factory operational by the start of the 2009/2010 fishing season.
Friends of the island will be aware that the next year is a crucial time for Tristan's fishing industry, and the island economy which it supports. They may wish to support the community by purchasing the special issue of Tristan da Cunha stamps featuring the factory fire on the First Day Cover design which will be available soon. See Future Stamp Issues Page

Postscript on the 2007/8 Tristan Fishing Season from Dorrien Venn of Ovenstones
The Tristan Factory boats landed a total 169 tonnes of lobster for the period 1 July 2007 to 13 February 2008. At the time of the fire, a Factory quota balance of 16 tonnes remained to be caught. This quota balance was landed by the MV Edinburgh in March, after the vessel was granted permission to fish the remaining quota balance at Tristan, with a proviso that the vessel fished outside of the factory vessels' traditional fishing grounds.

A total 9.3 tonnes of frozen lobster was destroyed by the factory factory fire.

Fire Destroys Fish Processing Factory

A fire on 13th February 2008 totally destroyed Tristan da Cunha's Fish Processing Factory.

Due to the importance of this news,
a separate page Fishing Factory Fire 2008 has been created
where you can follow the story of the fire and its aftermath.
Plans for the new factory, and details of work as it commences
can be found on a separate Factory Building Page.

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