Prior to the original Mevagissey Harbour Act of 1774 a thriving fishing industry had been built up around the village of Mevagissey. At this time a medieval Quay existed in the region of the present East Quay, however this did not offer much protection against the onslaught of easterly gales. With this in mind a group of business men, land owners and local clergy  brought together the necessary requirements to set in motion the Act of Parliament to enable the construction of East and West Quays.. Thus Mevagissey Harbour was set up as a Trust Harbour.

Over the years subsequent Harbour Acts have been made 1865,1888, and 1892. The construction of the Harbour to its present state was taken in various stages, which culminated in the construction of the Outer Harbour walls in 1888; these were virtually destroyed in the Great Blizzard of 1891, and were rebuilt and completed by 1897. Over the years much damage has been done to the Outer Piers in particular, and large amounts of capital and grant aid used for repairs and strengthening works.

Over the passage of time the fishing industry has tended to follow “boom and bust” cycles, however the industry has seemed to recover, albeit different types and trends of fishing.
 

The Present Situation

At present there are 63 registered fishing vessels in the Harbour which employs approximately 57 full time fishermen and 12 part time fishermen. Most of the boats are under 10 metres in length. The different types of fishing carried out being Trawling, Wreck netting, Sole netting, Ray netting, Shell fish with pots, Long lining, and hand lining for mackerel. In the summer months several of the boats take out angling trips and sight seeing trips around the bay.   

In 1988 Mevagissey Harbour was given Charity Status, and along with Looe are the only two Trust Harbours that are Registered Charities. The Charity status means a great deal to the Harbour and financial benefits are very important.

Tourism

Mevagissey has over the years become a very great attraction to the Tourist Industry, the Harbour area being the nucleus, which draws visitors through the village and on to the waterfront. Many of the local shops are now totally tourist motivated and as this is only seasonal, causes an area of ghost town quality in the winter months. The boom years of the 1960s and 1970s will probably never return due to the attraction of cheap foreign holidays, and the ease of foreign travel, however if the decline in visitor numbers is allowed to increase then much of Mevagissey’s economy will decrease in proportion.

As the nucleus of the village it is therefore important that the Harbour Area is given the chance to redress the balance, and by radical ideas not only protect the village from the probable effects of global warming, but bring in extra trade, create sustainable local skilled jobs, and change the visitors views in wanting to visit Mevagissey all year round and not just in the Summer months. 
 

The Future?

The Regeneration of the Harbour has been considered at great length, and many varying ideas on Outer Breakwaters, new access roads have been investigated . The Plan now formulated has taken into account the practicalities of access, the thoughts of local people, the issues of global warming, job creation, the requirements of a modern fishing industry, and bringing in of new business to the Harbour and village through road and sea.

The key player in the scheme is the design and building of an Outer Breakwater, around this all the other elements of the plan are based.

The Breakwater enables the reclaim of approximately 3 acres of land which the only practical use at present is to reduce the wave impact on the inner Harbour Quays . The area reclaimed would be the preferred area for creating the new area for fisheries. The area would be sufficient to build extra storage lofts, covered net mending and setting areas, stowage compounds for crab pots, trawl gear and nets. A new purpose built building to house cold stores, ice machines and bunkers, landing cranes and automated crane for landing fishing gear. In addition ample parking would be provided for fishermen, along with ease of access for merchants wagons picking up fish. Due to the extra space provided it is envisaged to have workshop space for marine engineers, electrical work shops chandleries etc.

The Outer Harbour

The development on the North side of the outer Harbour would dedicate this area to yachts, and providing the type of services that would be required, e.g:- toilet, showers, pump-out facilities, and access for disabled yachts-people. A lift out berth would also be incorporated in the development.
 

 Outer Harbour proposal - view to the north

The Aquarium and slip to be upgraded so that local caught fish could be displayed in a more modern and effective way, it would be of great benefit if a formal union could be made with the proposed University of Cornwall on this aspect.

It is envisaged that the Aquarium slip be widened so that it can be used to slip visiting boats, possibly rowing gigs.

  Outer Harbour proposal - view to the south

The Inner Harbour

The East Wharf development is a social requirement, which would be of benefit to locals, and visitors alike. The Wharf made wider by approximately 12 feet to enable a promenade and seated area on the edge of the Wharf with cars against the cliff. Although this would be a great benefit to the general public, it also offers support for the wall, which is badly bulged, and will require rebuilding in the near future. The Wharf also has the main village sewer pipe running through its length, which over the years has been relined several times to stop the ingress of salt water, this would be the opportune time to replace the sewer whilst the construction was underway.
 

Inner Harbour proposal - widening of the East Wharf

As can be seen from the plan, (click here to view) two areas outside the existing outer harbour are marked for phase two development which could incorporate industrial and residential usage.

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Potential Benefits of the Regeneration Proposals
 

The complete package of the Harbour development has been carefully considered to take in all aspects of the village community, and to move forward must benefit the whole community.

This is indicated by 

a)       Fishing Industry

b)       Pleasure boating/ Leisure Industry

c)        Social Aspects (East Wharf improvements)

d)       Job creation offering opportunities to young people

e)       Education (improving the Aquarium facilities)
 

 As the Harbour was originally constructed to support a thriving pilchard fishing industry, and although that fishing industry has changed radically over the years, the industry is still very much alive within the community and Harbour.

As catches of fish get smaller and boats tend to work more gear and fish at greater distances, a radical approach has to be made to the industry to keep it alive.

Recently a Task Force was set up to investigate these very important issues, the main points that were highlighted being as follows: -

a)       Sustainability

b)       Training

c)        Information

d)       Marketing / Promotion

e)       Quality

f)         Infrastructure

g)       Tourism / Public Awareness

Although the question of sustainability is very large and far reaching one it can be combined with education and exploring new technology in more sustainable methods of fishing, thus reducing the quantity of juvenile fish being caught, reducing the quantities of breeding stock being caught. This area being outside the remit of Mevagissey Harbour, however many of the other areas can be addressed.

Quality, new and larger cold stores, greater ice facilities with a modern method of delivering ice to the boats prior going to sea, extra landing berths so that boats are not queuing up sometimes for 2 hours until the landing crane becomes available. The capability for boats to land at any state of tide direct to the cold stores. Total covered landing area meeting modern hygienic regulations. The chill chain for quality is of utmost importance. The promoting of “Mevagissey Fish” as a marketing strategy, and the involvement of the tourist and general public in viewing the shore side operations of the industry.

The Pleasure Boat Industry

Recent surveys undertaken show the necessity for 3 small to medium sized mariner developments required for the this coast of Cornwall. The trend in recent years is for yachtsman to leave the traditional yachting areas of Solent and South Coast and head further southwest. The areas of Torbay have reached capacity and more berths are being sought in Cornwall. Mevagissey is the ideal geographical location for such a development as it has many “ day sails” no estuaries to navigate and no tidal restrictions from the Outer Harbour.

The yachting fraternity tend to have a larger disposable income, so would expect the generation of many marine related jobs through maintenance, engineering, Electronics, rigging, and chandlery requirements. The effect would also be to make the pleasure boating side a more all year round activity, and the effects of this would be felt through the economy of the whole community.

Social Benefits

The widening of the East Wharf would allow a pedestrianised area on the edge of the water front, allowing locals and visitors to walk without having to step out of the way of traffic, pleasant area for sitting and watching the Harbour or to have a picnic lunch and absorb the local atmosphere. It would also be the intention to move the fishing gear stowage off the East Quay and have all the stowage in one part of the Harbour on the South side, this would allow the East Quay better access for the public, and an ideal place to run boat trips from.

The Aquarium

At present in a good season it is expected to have 35,000 persons paying to visit the Harbour Aquarium. The design of the interior of the building dates back from the mid fifties, and the building itself designed as a lifeboat house in the mid 1880’s. To display locally caught fish in a more modern and more presentable way, and provide a heritage theme with the fishing industry would it is felt provide greater interest, this also is good public relations for the fishing industry.

At present throughout the season we have local schools and colleges that visit, and are given talks on the marine life in the Aquarium, and a brief insight into the fishing industry.  This area would be good to expand.
 

Job Creation

We are very aware of the lack of good full time employment within the village, and if skilled jobs can be created within the Harbour area or village community through the Harbour Development, then we might succeed in maintaining the age balance within the community. Mevagissey needs jobs for young people to survive as a thriving community well into the 21^st Century.

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