Fishing operations have been regulated by Cornwall IFCA for the past couple of years, taking over responsibility from Cornwall Council. The oyster dredging season on the river Fal starts on 1 October every year, and closes on 31 March, although the gathering of mussels is not subject to a seasonal closure. The larger sailing boats have up to three crew, whereas the punts are generally operated single-handed. The dredgers fall into two categories: larger gaff-rigged sail-driven boats up to around 30ft long, and smaller punts that are generally used in the shallower parts of the river and in the creeks, and can be rowed out onto the fishing grounds, where they use a combination of anchors and hand reels to tow their dredges to and fro over a piece of ground. Ironically, the forecast was for the wind to fall further still as the week went on, too light to make wind-powered fishing possible – not a situation that any other fishermen normally find themselves in.įalmouth’s oyster dredging fishery is the only example of a regulated sail-powered fishery in the UK, and possibly in Europe too. Two weeks of relentless late winter gales had eventually moderated to a fresh WSW 4-5, giving a good level of wind for an acceptable speed over the ground, without too much sail area being necessary. However, this was working out well for the fishermen, as the price currently being paid for oysters was deemed too low, so the main target for the dredgers had been queen scallops, which Chris Vinnicombe explained had really saved their season.Ĭhris Vinnicombe shoots a dredge overboard at the start of a drift. Understandably, the number of oysters of an acceptable size caught was lower than it would have been at the beginning of the season. The fishery is currently in its close season, but Fishing News took a trip aboard one of the boats towards the tail-end of the season. However, the boats involved can also fish for queen scallops and mussels, as well as the native Fal oyster, depending on availability and market demand.
It’s hard to imagine that in the 21st century a viable fishery exists that relies solely on wind power, and negates the need for the background drone, or indeed the fuel bill, of an engine, spoiling the peace and quiet of a lovely day at sea.Įnter the Fal oyster fishery, a small-scale regulated fishery that is colloquially known as Falmouth oyster dredging. However, one element is almost always present to pierce the tranquillity – the noise from an engine. She was bought by the Vinnicombe family from the Strike family of Porthleven in 1923, who themselves bought her from Mevagissey. The 151-year-old wooden Boy Willie is skippered by Tim Vinnicombe, Chris Vinnicombe’s cousin.