Isles of Scilly Fish and Fisheries - Cornwall Wildlife Trust

(Cetorhinus maximus) frequently seen. Porbeagles can found throughout the year,
and the larger ones are thought to appear around the islands in the winter when few
people are out fishing for them.
5.9) Spearfishing
Since the non-statutory Marine Park was set up any spearfishing within the Isles of
Scilly SAC has been actively discouraged. There is no evidence that it does occur in
the area.
6) Fish processing and supply to the islands
There is a chill store and ice-making plant on Rat Island along St Mary’s Quay, but few
other fish handling facilities. Apart from the preparation of crab there is no fish
processing in the islands. Locally-caught crab is available on the islands but most
goes to merchants and processors in Hayle and Newlyn. In the mid 1990s most of this
was exported to France and Spain.
The two trawlers supplied fish direct to associated outlets on St Mary’s with surplus
going on the ferries to Newlyn. Other vessels fishing around the area, if not returning
to the mainland, will also trans-ship fish and shellfish via the Scillonian III or the Gry
Maritha.
Locally-sourced white fish is scarce and could be found at Adam’s Fish and Chips on
St Martin’s; The Galley, fresh fish, chip shop and restaurant, on St Mary’s; and, in
2009, from the Fish Stall, Porth Mellon, St Mary’s. Griffins butchers and fishmonger
obtain their supplies from Newlyn Fisheries, Newlyn and it is most likely that The Coop
also uses a mainland supplier.
Restaurants and pubs give the impression that they use local fish, but since many
menus include sea bass, and sometimes sea bream, both of which are very rare in
local catches this is unlikely.
7) Research Surveys
The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), and its
predecessors, have carried out groundfish surveys for a number of years in an area to
the south of the islands around 49º 30’N and 006º 30’W in depths of around 110
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