Events & News

Mousehole Harbour Authority is pleased to announce it has secured £100,705.59 in funding from the Marine Management Organisation’s Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) to deliver key improvements for the harbour. The funding will provide a new harbour crane and five portable pontoons, each 11.5m long and 2.43m wide, which rise and fall with the tide and can be removed for community events such as the Sea, Salts and Sail Festival. These upgrades will make day-to-day operations safer and more efficient e.g., by  providing ladder free access, for those who fish from the harbour, while ensuring the space remains flexible and welcoming for the whole community.

Mousehole Harbour Improvements – Community FAQs

1. How much funding has been secured for the harbour?
   We have been awarded £100,705.59 from the Marine Management Organisation’s Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS). This investment is specifically designed to improve facilities for fishing communities and support sustainable coastal economies.
2. What exactly is being installed?
   Two main improvements will be made:

• A new harbour crane to make lifting and moving fishing gear, catch, and equipment safer and more efficient.
• A set of five pontoons, each 11.5m long and 2.43m wide, which float with the tide and provide safer berthing for boats.

3. Why are pontoons needed?
   The pontoons will provide safe, all-tide access for those who fish from the harbour e.g., by providing ladder free access. They will also make it easier for boats to load and unload safely, improving efficiency for our working harbour.
4. Will the pontoons change the look of the harbour?
   No permanent changes will be made to the harbour walls or Quay. The pontoons are portable and can be removed when needed, so the traditional character of the harbour will remain intact.
5. What happens during community events like Sea, Salts and Sail?
   The pontoons have been designed to be fully removable. For large events, they can be taken out so that bigger vessels can anchor alongside the quay as usual.
6. How will this benefit local fishermen?
   The new crane and pontoons will make daily operations safer and more efficient. Fishers will have more secure berthing, easier access to their boats, and safer handling of fishing gear and catch.
7. Will the improvements benefit the wider community?
   Yes. By supporting those who fish from the harbour, these upgrades help sustain local livelihoods and traditions. The improvements also ensure the harbour remains a safe, flexible space that can continue to host community events and welcome visitors.
8. When will the work take place?
   The project will begin shortly following final arrangements with contractors. We will keep the community updated on timelines and any temporary impacts on harbour access.
9. Who is responsible for delivering the project?
   The project is being led by Mousehole Harbour Authority, with funding support from the Marine Management Organisation’s Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS).
10. Who can I contact for more information?
    For questions or updates, please contact the Harbour Office or speak with the Harbour Master, Micky Bacon. Contact: harbourmaster@mouseholeharbour.co.uk. or 07944372289

Baulk insertion/boat removals dates update (Again :()

Once again the weather is not cooperating and it has been necessary to rearrange the dates for the baulks to go back in. Weather permitting they will now be put back in on Wednesday 5th November.

In addition, the amount of run into the harbour caused by the continuing strong winds has forced us to postpone the tractor to remove the boats onto the car park this Saturday (1st Nov). With the amount run present it is too risky to both remove boats from moorings, take them across the harbour and to raft them together ahead of being tractored onto the car park.

MHA apologises for any inconvenience caused but must put the safety of vessel owners and their boats and our staff at the top of its priorities list.

Baulk insertion date update.

Due to the forecast winds for tomorrow it has been necessary to re-arrange the date for inserting the baulks to Monday 3rd November. The windspeed predicted exceed the safe operating limits for the crane.

I can now also advise (again weather permitting) that boats will be moved onto the South car park on Saturday 1st November.

Harbour Masters report from 29th July meeting.

At the risk of tempting fate glad to report no significant health and safety issues of note since our last commissioners meeting with works continuing to improve our facilities and estate where necessary. As always though, if you see something that concerns you please let me know.

On a much sadder (and frustrating note) I have had two reports of fuel can thefts from vessels mooring in our harbour. With that in mind I would recommend to all, that where fuel cans cannot be secured in lockers or wheelhouses that they be removed from vessels when you are not in attendance. Hopefully the incidences were linked and opportunistic and won’t be repeated. Our CCTV is now keenly focused on moorings to capture any future incidents which will hopefully deter any further thefts. CCTV aside if you see anything that looks suspicious please let me know via the office or mobile number contact details and I or Bill will endeavour to check things out as soon as we can.

With the summer holidays now in full swing it is evident that kayaks and SUPs are much loved and well used. As has been said previously we do allow storage of kayaks within the harbour but only for those that have paid and have an allocated storage entitlement. I have recently noticed that a small number of kayaks have appeared by the war memorial slip that aren’t displaying 2025 permits. All authorised kayaks have been issued with permits so if you are lucky enough to have qualified for a space but not applied your permit please affix your permit to your kayak now. After a period of grace I will be locking the non-permitted offending kayaks to our railings and awaiting calls from the owners seeking release. We don’t have any further spaces available this year so the owners will be asked to remove them.

I am also pleased to report that both the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Cornwall Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority (CIFCA) will be making visits to the harbour over the coming months. Mousehole has a large number of both commercial and pleasure crafts, many of whom as well as just bobbing around like to enjoy the fruits of the seas. For conservation reasons there are strict limits on who can catch what, how much and how big so the above organisations will be monitoring to ensure all that use our harbour as a base harvest both legally and responsibly. In order to help all with understanding and abiding by the rules I have obtained some adhesive infographic stickers to assist in following those rules. If anyone fishing for the table (especially for crabs, lobster and Bass) wants a sticker please let me know and I will arrange for stickers to be issued to you.

Back on land I am pleased to report that our ever willing and able Commissioner Chris Cass is well on the mend and progressing well with the construction of the new notice board for the harbour railings. Look out for the larger, new notice board coming to a railing near you soon !

Lastly for this months report, just a reminder that the annual punt race will take place next Sunday (3rd August) and all are welcome to attend and or participate. For specifics on rules and requirements please contact any of the punt race organisers. All funds raised will go towards the annual fire work displays that take place within the harbour.

Harbour Master’s report from 3rd June meeting.

Thankfully nothing too adverse to report this month with most things, with the exception of the clock working as expected. Despite Chris Cass’s best efforts our clock remains out of action and we now await a service engineer to diagnose and fix the problem.

Clock’s aside, I would like to pass on my thanks to Commissioner Gwennap for pressure washing and repainting the North Quay toilet block which, together with the recently completed internal refurbishments of our loos afford us some excellent facilities for visitors and locals alike.

Continued thanks too to my phonetic Duke of Edinburgh award volunteer helpers Charlie and Oscar who have regularly been helping me with various tasks around the harbour on a weekly basis. Keep up the good work boys.

On the health and safety front we continue to maintain a watching brief but as always if you see something or have any concerns please don’t hesitate to raise those concerns with us.

Finally, a quick reminder that the Mousehole male voice choir have their first Mousehole concert this Sunday and I am sure they would be appreciative of your support. Fingers crossed for the weather.

Harbour Master’s report from April 15th Meeting.

Once again Mousehole Harbour is “Open for business”!!

As all will have seen, the baulks are now up and vessels are returning to their moorings. Prior to that we undertook the annual sand relocation exercise to both save our sand from going out of the gaps and minimise the backwash from SWW infrastructure running around the harbour.

As previously mentioned, all boats mooring in our Harbour must have at least third party insurance and pay for the privilege of mooring in Mousehole. Pleased to say that compliance with these requirements is high, making Harbour Master life a little easier, freeing my time to address other issues.

On another note I am also pleased to welcome a couple of short term additions to the team in the form of Charley Bradley and Oscar Stocks. Charley and Oscar are working towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award and will be helping Bill and I with various tasks around the Harbour for the next couple of months to fulfil some of the requirements of the Award. Well done for engaging in this and good luck. (Bill and I promise we won’t work you too hard :))

Finally, can I ask all to exercise a degree of caution when crossing the harbour via the Wharf, there are currently two lots of scaffolding erected that impede access and unless wishing to walk under one of them requires pedestrians to walk on the uneven ground on the seaward side of the tarmac. Please take extra care.

Finally, finally, Happy Easter one and all.

Harbour Master’s report from February 25th Meeting.

A relatively quiet period since I last reported with routine activities comprising most of my activities.

We have undertaken a number of repair and maintenance jobs on the Harbour office, quad bike store and North quay toilet blocks, all getting a dose of TLC. My thanks must go to Commissioner Hills for taking the lead and enabling me to tick the jobs undertaken off my “to do” list.

More dates for your diaries now, with the baulks scheduled to be lifted on Friday 28th March (weather permitting) and the boats returning to the water on the 29th. Ahead of that we will be arranging for the sand that has washed down towards the entrance to the harbour to be moved back up the beaches, watch out for the digger in due course.

In relation to the boats going back in the water, as has always been the case, every boat is required to have at least third party insurance if it is to be moored in our harbour. With that in mind I will be requesting proof of insurance before boats are allowed back into the harbour this year. Quite simply, no insurance, no mooring!

On a lighter note I am pleased to draw your attention to a new infographic display signage we have introduced into the harbour that highlights the importance of the fishing industry to our economy here in Cornwall. The sign is situated on the railings on top of the pumping station, so have a look and see what the hardy fishers and associated trades add to our economy.

Finally for this report, glad to see Bill back in action, however please help me ensure that he doesn’t overdo it too soon and remind him that he’s in a marathon and not a sprint.

PS, we are aware that the red lights on the quay are “blinking”. The system needs a new specialist battery that is on order.

MOUSEHOLE HARBOUR AUTHORITY PARKING CHARGES

Car parking charges will be increased to the following in both the North and South Car Parks from 1^st July 2025:

1 Hour:             £2.00

2-3 Hours:      £3.00

3-12 Hours:    £6.00

12-24 hours:  £10.00

Mousehole Harbour Authority is always reluctant to increase its car park charges and tries to keep them as low as possible. However, the Car Park charges form the main source of income for the Harbour Authority.  The Harbour Authority’s costs have risen in recent years which have been marked by significant inflation. In particular, the cost of maintenance has increased dramatically. This has combined with a loss of car park revenue over the last year. The Harbour Commissioners have a duty to ensure that they are, at all times, in a position to pay for the maintenance of the harbour. They believe that it is necessary to raise the charges to ensure that they have sufficient funds to properly maintain the harbour in the future. Maintenance costs can be unpredictable and unexpected because the harbour is subject to the vagaries of the weather and sea.

The Harbour Commissioners have done their best to protect local residents and people working in the village from increases. The Harbour Authority provides heavily subsidised annual parking permits at a cost of £125 per year to local permanent residents. The Commissioners are not raising the costs of the permits. They have also introduced a new 3-12 hour parking charge of £6.00. This will ensure that tradespersons and others coming to work in the village will only pay a marginal extra charge of £1 per day.

The Harbour Commissioners would like to remind users of its car parks that the Harbour Authority’s charges have historically been and remain some of, if not the lowest car parking charges in Cornwall. They have not been increased for 3 years and when they were last increased it was only by a very small amount.

Thank you for your understanding

Jonathan Bradley

Chair of the Mousehole Harbour Authority Commissioners

Gail Angove

Vice-Chair of the Mousehole Harbour Authority Commissioners

Further to my post below, I can now report that the Harbour Commissioners have given the green light to my proposal to photograph dogs on our beaches and post photos of the same on the website in an attempt to reduce the problem. Please feel free to forward any photos that you may capture so that I can add these to the website.

Sadly there appear to be a number of individuals who disregard (intentionally or otherwise?) our Harbour rules on dogs on our beaches.

We have good reason for such a ban and it is frustrating that regular conversations need to take place to support the removal of dogs from the beach.

With that in mind I am proposing to seek permission from the Harbour Commissioners to post photographs of errant dogs (not the owners) running around our beaches on our website. I am hoping that this will nudge owners recognising their pooches into compliance, which over time will reduce the problem. Most of us do comply so should have little worry of seeing our dogs pictures in the hall of shame gallery.

Please feel free to feedback to me on the above idea or if you have any other ideas that could support us in maintaining the safety of our beaches.