4th September 2009

As the wharf space in Port Stanley is limited, when the catch verification process is finished, and we have loaded the stores and supplies we need for the trip home, we must move away and allow the next boat in line to start their verification process.

The last thing we need is about 154 ton of fuel to top up our tanks before we head home. Usually we do that from the wharf, but at this time, shore supplies were low and we had to go alongside a small trading fuel tanker in Berkley Sound, just around the corner from Port Stanley. That went well, and we were finally on our way by 02:30hrs on Friday morning. First waypoint is for Cape Horne, about a day ½ South-west from the Falklands.

This shot was taken just before we left the wharf at Port Stanley.
From left, Grant, Masa and Shooter have been aboard since April and are looking forward to the flight home on Saturday, it’s been a long haul for them, 5 months at sea. Migs (from Sulivan Shipping) has been our agent for the last 4 seasons and he takes care of coordinating customs, port authorities, stores, equipment and just about anything we need while we’re at the Falklands. Dean (on the right) is our vessel manager, he has flown over from NZ to meet the ship. Dean is kept busy during the verification process working alongside the MSC people that weigh our fish and eventually issue the very important  “Catch Documentation” paperwork.

Rgds: John B.

2nd September 2009

Port Stanley when the sun comes out looking South West.

We have been alongside the wharf in Port Stanley for 3 days now and the crew have just finished reloading. This is called the “catch verification process”, we must unload all of catch and have the weight checked by inspectors from the South Georgia government. This has to be done to satisfy requirements for MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) accreditation. Without this we can not sell our fish anywhere in the world.

Each fish is wrapped in a plastic bag, the big fish go into sacks and the smaller fish are packed in 20kg boxes. Each sack and box has a barcode label that is scanned during the unload. At the end, our reported catch figures must be the same, or very close, to the figures the inspectors have before they will officially verify our catch. This season we had a difference of 0.08%. To the best of our knowledge nobody has come close to that level of accuracy in this fishery before. We’re patting ourselves on the back for that.

Unloading in the snow, FIPASS wharf, Stanley.

Reloading from the holding containers, into the cargo nets to be lifted back aboard.

Tomorrow we take bunkers (Fuel) and start heading for home.

Rgds: John B.

22nd August 2009

As part of our licensing requirements in the South Georgia & South Sandwich fishery we must undertake to tag and release a percentage of the Toothfish we catch.

This season we have tagged almost 800 fish from both areas. At US$18.00 per kilo that equates to about NZ $75,000 worth of Toothfish we have tagged and returned to the water. It is a high price to pay but necessary for the proper, effective management of a sustainable fishery.

So far this trip we have recaptured and recorded details off 106 previously tagged Toothfish, 14 of those fish were tagged by us during the last 4 seasons we have fished in South Georgia.

 

In this photo, Masa has carried this fish from the hauling station to the live fish holding tank where it will calm down for a while before being measured, weighed, tagged and then released.

 

 

In the second photo, Sandy and Juliet are tagging Toothfish. There are about 6 more fish in the tank waiting to be done. Then we have to choose our moment to put them in the water otherwise the Seals will get them before they’ve gone 10 metres. Sometimes we have to hold them in the tank for hours before letting them go.

Rgds: John B.

20th August 2009

For today’s comment it is worth looking at a website of an organization that is committed to stamping out Illegal and Unregulated Toothfish Piracy.

A large number of companies that operate in the CCAMLR Toothfish fishery, along with gear supplier and fish wholesalers, are members of an organisation called “COLTO” (Coalition Of Legal Toothfish Operators).

If you check out  their website you can read all about the hard work that goes on behind the scene to combat illegal fishing on the highseas.

Sue and Noel in the galley holding my "COLTO " T shirt. These shirts are hard to come by. They will have their own one day.

Rgds: John B.

30th July 2009

We can’t let this day pass without giving special thanks to Emma Jones.

Emma has been one of the Chief Fisheries and Customs Officers at King Edward Point in South Georgia for the last few seasons and today is her last day before heading home to warmer climates and, no doubt, a change in life style.

Every day we send our daily catch reports to the team at KEP; from there they monitor the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the fishery and advise all vessels when fishing areas are about to close as the TAC for that area is reached. In return we get a comprehensive news bulletin every week with local and international news reports from around the world, mainly those countries that have vessels licensed in the South Georgia Fishery. The open and friendly working relationships between fishers and fisheries management in South Georgia is a great example of how a sustainable fishery should be managed.

This photo was taken during our preseason briefing and customs clearance in 2007. From left: Andrew (MRAG observer) Me, Emma, Sarah (British Antarctic

Rgds: John B.

23rd July 2009

Research fishing, the collection of biological data and the tag and release of Toothfish and Skates are just some of the many responsibilities we must undertake so this fishery continues to be properly managed and compliant with (MSC) the Marine Stewardship Certification authority.

Sam is our official observer for this trip. He is appointed by a British “Marine Research Advisory Group” (MRAG) to help us comply with all the relevant fishing regulations, collect important biological data, record species by-catch, details of tag release and recaptured fish. Every week Sam sends his report to the South Georgia Fisheries base, at King Edward Point where his records are compared with our daily reports for accuracy.

Adam (on the left) is assisting Sam by writing down the details of a small recaptured Toothfish as Sam calls them out (weight, length, sex, gonad state, general condition and tag numbers). You can just see the little yellow tag behind the fishes dorsal fin.

Each time a Toothfish is recaptured the crew get $10US. Sam will hand out the cash to the crew that spot the fish when we get back to Port Stanley. This is a good incentive for the crew and helps create some interest in the tag and release program. After all…it is their wages that gets put back in the water in the first place.

Rgds: John B.

18th July 2009

At the start of setting each line, first the floats and GPS beacon are thrown over, then around 2 kilometers of down line to reach the bottom. Each end of a line is held by two 40kg anchors and two 40kg chains. Usually we work between four lines in the area we choose to fish. That is around 1.3 ton of anchors and chains that have to be manhandled about the deck every day just to hold each line so it doesn’t move. When the weather gets foul we put extra chain on the down lines to be sure they stay in position.

On their shift: Chevy (right) and Aaron are responsible for connecting everything together as it goes over the stern while setting. They need their wits about them, a rope turned about a wrist or a foot in the bite of a line would have them over the side in a flash. For this reason that part of the setting operation is monitored by two closed circuit cameras and continuous voice communications monitored on the bridge. The skipper or 1st mate must watch and listen to every move while the stern doors are open for setting.

Note: The lead core back bone or main line is to make the line sink faster and stay out of reach of foraging seabirds. We are proud to report we have not caught a single seabird during 11 years of Toothfish operations. The CCAMLR and MFish observers monitor our activity very closely when it comes to seabird safe fishing practice.

14th July 2009

I have finally got a photo of Francois for you.

Francois is our compliance officer/factory manager. He is responsible for keeping the records straight and sending our daily catch reports to the Sanford office, South Georgia Government and CCAMLR.

To comply with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) accreditation we have to provide what is called a Chain of Custody (COC). For the system to work, our daily reporting must be accurate to the kilo when we unload our catch at the end of the trip. It is a reasonably complicated system and Francois manages this very well.

The bottom line is: every fish we catch has a barcode attached that will go with it showing the time and location it was caught for the consumer, wherever that may be. If the paper work isn’t accurate we could loose access to our market, or worse, we could lose our license to catch fish. We must forgive Francois if he looks a little stressed.

Francois working at his office station on the port side of the wheelhouse. As you can see he is still a little sensitive about his hair cut….. I think it looks fine….. besides, it will eventually grow again!

NB: Francois has asked me if he can spruce the photo up a little before sending it through the satellite system. Its ok with me…..I assume he has done that.

Rgds: John B.

1st July 2009

South Georgia is notorious for its bad weather, particularly in winter. We have been fishing along the North and South West coasts of the island for the last 7 days and still haven’t laid eyes on its rugged mountain rangers. We can see the island on radar just 25nm to the north but fog, sleet and low cloud have kept it hidden from view. During the last 4 days have we have had classic bad weather conditions with 60kt SW storms bringing with it huge seas freezing and conditions about the ship. But life is relatively comfortable aboard with the hatchers well dodged down in these severe conditions. Only occasionally will the crew have to venture out on deck to bring fishing gear back aft to the shelter deck for setting.

Mat on deck taking floats back to the shelter deck ready for setting lines.

A few days before we arrived at the fishing grounds one of the other long liners, ( also licensed to fish in South Georgia waters ), accidentally caught fire. Eventually the fire was brought under control by the crew but too much damage had been done for them to make repairs or continue fishing. A large Korean trawler was diverted to tow the damaged vessel to Montevideo, while doing this they were caught in that same storm we were in a few days ago. By all accounts, the tow line broke, the fire took hold again, and the vessel eventually sank around 200nm North of South Georgia. We believe there was no loss of life, all crew are safe and well.

2nd Mate Shane on the left with the Chief Engineer Greg, checking BA gear and fire fighting equipment.

This was just another reminder to us that accidents do happen and the need for us to be self sufficient and deal with our own problems is vital, it is no use waiting for help to arrive out here.

Rgds: John B.

16th January 2009

As well as retaining all our domestic rubbish aboard for disposal ashore, and burning whatever we can in the incinerator, we must also keep aboard all offal from the factory after the fish are processed. Even the little bits that fall on the factory deck, and any bait that comes back on the hooks, or is left over after the lines are set, must be kept aboard and only discarded once we are on the way home, outside CCAMLR waters and, preferably, before we re-enter New Zealand waters.

To do this we pass the offal through an industrial mincer, a machine which grinds the offal into a paste – like porridge. It’s then pumped into one of four huge refrigerated holds aboard the ship. These holds have been specially modified to store the offal and even though the chief tries to maintain the offal temperature at between -2 and +2 degrees centigrade it still gets pretty smelly after three months.

As this is only the Antarctic Chieftain’s second voyage after her total refit in Nelson between June and August 2008, it was necessary to carry two chief engineers. Beginning next voyage, Pete and Karl will rotate between trips.

Karl is a bit camera-shy, but I managed to get a shot while he was test-running the emergency fire pump the other day.

Rgds: John B.