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HRH The Princess Royal Meets the Next Generation of Seafood Lovers at Bingley Grammar School

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

HRH The Princess Royal visited the Fish in School Hero Programme on Tuesday 1st October, to discover how it is inspiring the next generation of seafood lovers at Bingley Grammar School and beyond.

The Food Teachers’ Centre programme, funded by the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust, aims to ensure that every child gets a chance to prepare, cook and eat fish before they leave school, building a new wave of young seafood consumers.

The Princess Royal, Court Member of the Fishmongers’ Company and past Prime Warden, visited classes at Bingley Grammar School where the programme first launched in November 2019.  Students from years 10 and 11 demonstrated their newly acquired seafood skills, cooking a range of dishes using mussels, something many students had never before eaten, let alone cooked. The Fish Hero lessons provide students with all of the skills they need to cook mussels at home, whilst also outlining the sustainability and health benefits of UK rope-grown mussels, including low food miles, low environmental impact, biodiversity benefits, and carbon capture potential.

The Fish in School Hero programme works to train secondary food teachers to be confident in preparing and cooking fish with students in their classrooms. Teachers are supported by local heroes: fishmongers, fish-loving chefs and fish suppliers, as well as other heroes who visit schools to talk first-hand about their role in bringing seafood from the sea to the plate, highlighting careers and opportunities in the fish industry.

The classes at Bingley Grammar marked the beginning of this year’s Mussel Power initiative, that will bring mussels to over 8,000 students across 200 schools in November. The programme is supported by Offshore Shellfish, who have kindly donated six tonnes of mussels over the last 3 years, reaching over 24,000 students across the UK. Offshore’s Head of Sales and Marketing Sarah Holmyard, also a member of the Fishmongers’ Company Livery, said “We’re delighted to be able to support the Fish in Schools Hero programme. It’s so valuable to introduce the younger generation to the benefits of sustainable seafood, and mussels are the champion. They’re easy to prepare, quick to cook and delicious to eat.”

Eleanor Adamson, Fisheries Programme Manager at the Fishmongers’ Company said “it was a pleasure to join HRH The Princess Royal at Bingley Grammar School to experience the impact of the Fish in School Hero programme first hand, and see the next generation fall in love with some of the incredible sustainable seafood that the UK has to offer.”

Simon Gray, Programme Lead for the Fish in School Hero programme said : “Mussels are one of the most under-utilised shellfish in this country, so we are getting young people to try them in the safe, positive environment of their food preparation and nutrition lessons.  This would not have been possible without amazing industry partners offering to support this initiative greatly reducing the cost to schools.  Schools are super excited and hugely grateful for Sarah’s generous gift to enable them to learn new skills and taste quality shellfish.”

Enabling De-carbonisation in the Seafood Supply Chain

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

The Company, the Seafood Grimsby & Humber Alliance and Seafish Industry Authority hosted a webinar this week introducing the Seafood Carbon Emissions Profiling Tool to a range of seafood suppliers, processors, and retailers. The tool, launched at Fishmongers’ Hall in January, enables users to quantify the carbon emissions in their product supply chains, identify hotspots, and demonstrate seafood’s position as the lowest carbon source of animal protein. Importantly, this tool has been backed by all of the major seafood processors in the UK, an example of the pre-competitive collaboration driven by the SGHA, that places the seafood industry in an advantageous position compared to other sectors of the food industry, where multiple emissions calculators can be found for individual products.

The webinar provided an in-depth demonstration of the Tool, highlighting its advanced features for calculating carbon emissions across the seafood supply chain. Simon Smith, Chairperson of SGHA and vice-chair of Sofina Foods Europe, welcomed participants who received a comprehensive walkthrough of the tool’s capabilities from Seafish Head of Responsible Sourcing, Dr Stuart McLanaghan. Tom Maidment, Group Product Sustainability Senior Manager at Hilton Food and Ruth Hoban, Head of Sustainability at New England Seafood International then delivered two case studies of the Tool’s application to wild caught and farmed seafood, showcasing the Tool’s application to two major seafood supply chains.

Cassie Leisk, Planet and People – Group Director at New England Seafood remarked- “Achieving industry-wide alignment on carbon measurement practices will greatly benefit the seafood sector as a whole. By adopting a consistent approach, we can more effectively communicate seafood’s low carbon footprint compared to other animal proteins, while also targeting areas for further emissions reduction. Reaching this key milestone in our SGHA carbon journey is an exciting step, and we look forward to ongoing collaboration with our suppliers and customers to drive progress on this critical issue.”

The webinar was supported and facilitated by the Fishmongers’ Company as part of their long-standing commitment to a thriving, sustainable UK seafood industry.

To access the webinar recording, please click here. To find out more about the Tool please click here.

Farmer-led initiative explores the environmental benefits of Oyster farming

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

Any oyster farmer will tell you that their farm causes no harm to the marine environment, and in fact has positive benefits for nearby wildlife and water quality – but what’s the evidence that they are right?

A recent scientific study, conceived and led by a group of dedicated oyster farmers, aimed to provide hard evidence for their lived experience of how farming oysters has no negative impacts, and can even enhance biodiversity and water quality in UK waters, leaving the sea in a better condition.

The research, carried out in partnership with Envision Marine Ltd and the University of Essex, with funding from the Company’s Fisheries Charity and the UK government, used underwater cameras, sediment sampling, and ecosystem function tests to zero in on three Pacific rock oyster farms, one naturalised rock oyster reef, and one native flat oyster restoration site.

The findings revealed minimal adverse environmental impacts from rock oyster farming. In some areas, seabed biodiversity was higher at oyster sites than in control areas, with the farms providing habitats that support marine life. The farms also contributed to nitrogen cycling, essential for ecological balance, with microbial communities on oyster shells aiding in nitrogen compound breakdown, as well as dealing with ammonia inputs from the animals themselves. A summary of the findings can be found here.

“We’ve always known that our oyster farms are a force for good in the marine environment. This study finally gives us the data to prove that we’re enhancing biodiversity and improving water quality around us for everyone’s benefit.” Andy Woolmer, Oyster Farmer from Angle in Pembrokeshire

The study’s findings contradict concerns about potential environmental damage. Observations of birds, fish, and marine mammals utilising oyster farms underscore the potential role that oyster farms play in enhancing marine habitats and supporting diverse ecosystems. Amid regulatory uncertainties concerning invasive species, the study supports the industry’s call for balanced policy support, with potential for a revised, nuanced regulatory framework to embrace oyster farming’s sustainability benefits, enabling a boost in production of this low footprint, high value, nutritious seafood.

“Our goal has always been to work in harmony with nature. Seeing birds, fish, and even marine mammals thrive around our farms is incredibly rewarding.  It’s no surprise to us that the study shows that sustainable oyster farming is not just a livelihood for us, but a way to positively enhance the marine ecosystem in the estuary.” Tim Edwards, Oyster Farmer from Bantham in Devon

Alongside the positive story for rock oyster farms, the study also revealed the difficulty of restoring native populations. The restoration site investigated had been restocked with both large and small native oysters in the past, but surveys could only find large ones, indicating poor survival, and emphasizing the importance of monitoring in conjunction with restoration to ensure the efforts to enhance survival and development of native oyster populations are effective.

Cornish fishers share knowledge to reduce by-catch

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

Funding from the Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust has enabled two fishers involved in Clean Catch, a UK Government-funded programme championing collaboration to mitigate bycatch of sensitive marine species, to attend a regional small-scale fisheries symposium in Cyprus alongside programme staff to share their experiences.

Will Shugg and Barry Preston, who both work out of Mevagissey Harbour in Cornwall, travelled to Cyprus to attend a regional small-scale fisheries (SSF) symposium over 1–3 July. They were joined by two staff from the Clean Catch programme, Alessandra Bielli (Cefas) and Chantal Lyons (Mindfully Wired Communications).

Clean Catch champions collaboration to minimise and, where possible, eliminate the bycatch of sensitive marine species – including cetaceans, seals, seabirds, sharks, skates, and rays. The programme also seeks to share knowledge on bycatch mitigation globally. Established in 2019 to support the UK Government’s ambitions on bycatch in its waters, one of the programme’s key activities has been a trial led by Cefas in Southwest England to test measures for preventing the bycatch of common dolphin and harbour porpoise a small-scale gillnet fishery. The trial set out to determine the effectiveness of LED lights and two different models of pinger in reducing cetacean bycatch, as well as how feasible they are for fishers to use on a daily basis. “Pingers” are small devices that attach to nets and emit pulses of sound designed to alert cetaceans to the presence of the nets and so prevent their entanglement; with the lights also intended to make the nets more visible.

Fishers Shugg and Preston have been involved in Clean Catch’s work from the beginning, with their feedback used to make necessary modifications to the trial over time. They spoke about their experiences of taking part in Clean Catch at the first SSF Regional Symposium for Europe, named ‘Hope Spots, Bright Spots’ and organised by IUEM/UBO and TBTI Global. The event brought together researchers, campaigners, lawyers, and others from across Europe to explore ways to support small scale fishers to thrive. Local Cypriot fishermen took part in discussions and, on the second day of the symposium, hosted attendees at the quayside to showcase their catches, including red mullet, scorpionfish, and invasive lionfish, caught using gillnets and trammel nets. The fishers also highlighted the significant challenges they face such as invasive species and competition from illegal recreational fishing.  

‘I really felt for the Cypriot fishermen,’ said Shugg. ‘But it was heartwarming that all these people at the symposium were coming together and wanting to help small scale fishers.’

Preston echoed Shugg’s words, saying ‘It’s an experience I’ll never forget. I’m glad I witnessed it.’

Other symposium attendees noted how valuable it was to listen to the Cornish and Cypriot fishermen exchanging their experiences and knowledge, with Shugg and Preston being the only fishers present across the full three days of the event. The fishermen found plenty of common ground, including on the use of pingers to keep dolphins away from nets – even if the motivation in the case of the Cypriots was to prevent their catches being taken, while Shugg and Preston were more focused on preventing dolphins from becoming entangled. As with many other bycatch mitigation measures, there was wide recognition at the symposium that the usefulness of pingers is fishery-dependent.

Shugg and Preston continue to work with Clean Catch on the cetacean bycatch mitigation trial, which was paused to enable an evaluation of the design and is due to resume this summer with an extra seven skippers from across three Cornish ports joining. As part of the redesign, LED lights and one of the models of pinger will not be tested as Shugg and Preston found them to be impractical, preferring Fishtek Marine’s Banana pinger. Clean Catch will also establish a second bycatch monitoring and mitigation trial with a fishery partner elsewhere in England in 2025. The trial will focus on one or more species groups including seabirds, seals, sharks, skates, and rays. Clean Catch is currently seeking expressions of interest from fisheries who wish to be involved in the trial to contribute to efforts to protect marine ecosystems and enhance the sustainability and reputation of UK seafood.

Gavin O’Donnell, The Company’s Charities Communications Manager, commented: “The Fishmongers’ Company is committed to supporting a sustainable future for the UK fishing industry, working collaboratively for solutions that benefit both fishers and the marine environment. We are delighted to have funded this exchange. We look forward to seeing the continued progress of the Clean Catch programme and a healthier future for fisheries in the Southwest and the UK more widely.”

Unlocking Myanmar’s Freshwater Fish Collections

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

Myanmar (formerly Burma) is a country of breathtaking landscapes, rich human history, and abundant biodiversity, home to over 600 freshwater fish species (compared with about 40 freshwater species in the British Isles). 

Examples of cypriniform (Lepidocephalichthys, Danio, Garra) and siluriform (Batasio, Glytothorax) diversity in Myanmar photographed as part of this work. 

Our scientific knowledge of Burmese fishes began with the fish collections of British colonial and Indian explorers, most of which are now held at London’s Natural History Museum (NHM). In the period following World War II right up until the turn of this century, Myanmar was inaccessible to scientists, until the year 2000 when international scientists could again mount Burmese expeditions, collecting  new specimens of Burmese fishes both known and unknown to science. A lot of these new unstudied specimens also rest at the NHM. 

In 2024, as part of our Fisheries Charitable Trust’s ongoing support for fish research at the NHM, ‘Simon Birch Legacy’ Funding was granted to help unlock the secrets held in these collections through digitization, giving the global research community access to this rare resource. The work involved a specialist Curatorial Assistant, Chrissy Williams, cataloguing over 600 jars of specimens, taking high quality photographs, and recording and harmonizing detailed geographical information for 220 locations. This was often difficult, and so a native Burmese speaker had to be recruited from a local South Kensington restaurant to help translate place names! Ten species that Chrissy catalogued were new to the NHMs collections, unsurprisingly as Burmese species new to science are still being discovered every year. 

Channa rubora, a newly described species of dwarf snakehead from northern Myanmar (from Britz et al., 2024). 

Unfortunately, political conditions have deteriorated in Myanmar in recent times, while threats to freshwater biodiversity from deforestation, mining, hydroelectric dam projects and invasive species are ever increasing. The collections held by London’s Natural History Museum therefore represent an irreplaceable global asset in both cataloguing species and developing our understanding of the evolution of fish diversity in one of the world’s most significant biodiversity hotspots. 

The Company congratulates the recent success of new MFS Master and Recognised Fishmongers

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

Four new recipients of the Master Fishmonger Standard (MFS) were congratulated this month, as they completed their assessments to recognise their skills in the fishmongering trade. These marked the first candidates to pass since Seafood Grimsby & Humber Alliance became the new custodians for the scheme. 

The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charities Communication Manager, Gavin O’Donnell, congratulated the recent accredited MFS candidates: ‘To be recognised by the MFS, a candidate has to not only demonstrate excellent knife skills but also knowledge of species, sustainability, and customer communication, a huge congratulations to our candidates for showing such commitment and passing the vigorous assessments, truly deserved’ 

Sue Mackenzie, owner of The Fish Shop; Passionate about Fish Ltd, and CJ Jackson from Billingsgate Seafood School received their accreditation for the Master Tier of the Master Fishmonger Standard. Alan Brinck; a fishmonger for Waitrose and Joe Hembrough from The Menai Seafood Company, achieved the Recognised Tier of the Master Fishmonger Standard.

On receiving notification of his Award, Alan said ‘I am pleased to be accepted as an MFS Recognised Fishmonger and look forward to engaging with everyone in the future’.

Chris Parker, Wales Seafood Cluster Manager, said: ‘As an assessor for The Master Fishmonger Standard, I find it incredibly rewarding to witness first-hand how this program promotes exceptional knowledge, craftsmanship, and high standards in the industry. Congratulations to our recent candidates—your awards are well-deserved!’  

Passionate about fish and the environment, while upholding the heritage and craftmanship of the fishmonger trade, the Master Fishmonger Standard celebrates professional excellence by certifying fishmongers with extensive professional skills and knowledge.

The MFS was developed by The Fishmongers’ Company in 2018 and is supported by a number of influential members of the fish trade, not least the National Federation of Fishmongers. As an ancient Guild, The Fishmongers’ Company has a historic interest in helping to preserve and commend the fishmonger trade and support those who have adapted to a progressive industry.

Keen to encourage career progression and foster career-long working relationships, the MFS recognises achievement for both new and highly experienced fishmongers through five certification tiers. The ultimate accolade for working fishmongers is the MFS Master Fishmonger tier, whilst the MFS Companion recognises and rewards outstanding lifetime achievements in the fishmonger trade.

The MFS aims to bring to life the craftmanship of fishmongers by communicating rich and authentic stories and, in doing so, hopes to empower consumers to strive towards and seek out excellence.

Fishmongers’ Company and Grimsby Seafood Cluster Visits North East Scotland fishing and harbour businesses

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

The Fishmongers’ Company and Made Great In Grimsby Seafood Cluster recently embarked on a landmark visit to North East Scotland that included visits to the bustling Peterhead Fish Market and Fraserburgh Harbour plus engagement with key fishing businesses in the area. This visit hosted by The Scottish Seafood Association and The Fishmongers’ Company marks a significant step in fostering stronger ties and collaborative opportunities between two of the UK’s leading seafood hubs.

The delegation, composed of prominent members of the Fishmongers’ Company and Grimsby Seafood Cluster, was warmly welcomed by representatives from the North East fishing industry. The visit included a comprehensive tour of the Peterhead Fish Market, the largest whitefish market in Europe, renowned for its state-of-the-art facilities and sustainable fishing practices.

“We are delighted to have had the opportunity to visit Fraserburgh Harbour and Peterhead Fish Market and meet with the vibrant fishing community here,” said Andrew Wallace, Fisheries Director, The Fishmongers’ Company. “This visit not only strengthens our relationship with the area but also provides invaluable insights into best practices and innovations in the seafood supply chain.”

During the visit, the Grimsby delegation engaged in productive discussions with local fishing and seafood processing businesses, sharing best practice of the successful Seafood Grimsby & Humber Alliance organisation, exploring areas for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and potential partnerships. The meetings focused potential closer working relationships between the UK’s two major fisheries and seafood processing hubs.

“North East Scotland and Grimsby share a rich heritage in the seafood industry, and this visit underscores our mutual commitment to promoting great sustainable seafood and fish products along with health and consumption. ” said Jimmy Buchan, CEO of The Scottish Seafood Association. “We look forward to continuing this dialogue and working together to ensure the future prosperity of our fishing communities.”

The visit concluded with a commitment to ongoing communication and collaboration between the two regions. Both parties expressed optimism about the potential for joint initiatives that can benefit the broader UK seafood industry.

The UK’s First Electric Fishing Vessel

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

Lorna Jane, the first fully electric vessel on the UK fishing vessel, was designed and built by Hans Unkles, a crab and lobster fisherman from Tayvallich in the West of Scotland. The vessel, which for half of the year runs entirely on solar power, is the first of its kind in the UK.

Hans, winner of the 2024 Fishing News Sustainability Award, was inspired, after 40 years of fishing, to see if he could create a commercially viable, all electric vessel. After two years of hard work, Lorna Jane took to the water, with Hans benefiting from a more sustainable, lower-effort and quieter way of fishing.

Now, with support from the Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust, Hans is using a series of short films to spread the word about the vessels capabilities and its technical capacity, in a bid to help convert other fishers to the electric approach. You can watch the films and find out more about Han’s boat on the It’ll Never Work website.

The first of the films watch it work covers the practical capabilities of the boat and helps to tackle some of the misconceptions many hold about electric fishing vessels.

The second, how it works, provides a deeper dive into the technical specifics of the boat, with a walk through of its systems, from the propeller to the kettle.

The aim of these films is to inspire fishers from across the UK to explore the potential of electric vessels as the industry strives towards net-zero. Any fishers who are interested in this are encouraged to email gavin.o’donnell@fishmongers.org.uk.

A voice for aquaculture in Northern Ireland

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

Re-establishing the Aquaculture Representative Group

Grant funding from the Fisheries Charity and in-kind support from the Seafish Industry Authority has breathed new life into aquaculture conversations in Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland aquaculture sector produces around 4,000 tonnes of fish and shellfish annually, valued at over £12 million. The sector makes an important contribution to coastal and rural communities in the region, employing over 140 people.

Coordination amongst the aquaculture industry in Northern Ireland had lapsed in recent years, exacerbated by Covid when industry couldn’t meet, and by Brexit which removed former funding streams for group support. In 2022, the Company and Seafish stepped in to re-invigorate the group, when Rod Cappell was appointed as Northern Ireland Aquaculture Representative Group’s (ARG) new facilitator.

As a Director of the fisheries and aquaculture consultancy Poseidon, Rod brought international experience, and having relocated to Northern Ireland with his family, has a strong desire to support NI businesses.

“When we moved here ten years ago, I didn’t expect to be doing much work locally. But I’m delighted to help ARG member businesses as much as I can and support sustainable development of the aquaculture sector in Northern Ireland. We’re very grateful that the funding provided by Fishmongers Company’ has enabled that work to continue.”

As of 2024 there are 34 aquaculture operators in Northern Ireland, producing trout, oysters, mussels, kelp, and salmon. Annual production includes around 1,400 tonnes of oysters worth £3.6 million, 1,300 tonnes of mussels worth £1 million, and 1,100 tonnes of finfish worth £7.3 million.

Far exceeding farm gate value, the sector is providing valuable and essential ecosystem services. NIwater’s Living with Water Programme, tasked with upgrading and increasing Belfast’s water treatment infrastructure, has in 2024 estimated that without the mussel production in Belfast Lough contributing to clean water via nutrient absorption, NIwater would have to spend over £50 million more of public money on wastewater treatment capacity!

As part of the ARG’s activities in 2023 it commissioned independent research estimating the carbon footprint of NI’s aquaculture production – demonstrating the climate friendly nature if the industry in Northern Ireland. This supports the promotion of NI seafood as being a low carbon food choice. As well as products for retail and food service, thanks to rigorous controls, Northern Ireland has retained disease-free status, enabling production of trout ova for global export.

The small yet diverse capacity of Northern Ireland’s aquaculture sector, combined with continued access to the EU single market as well as GB, suggests there are a lot of positives for the future of aquaculture in Northern Ireland, yet there are many challenges for operators seeking to grow the sector. The coordination and representation provided by the ARG aims to help individual businesses and the industry at large, working with government on more effective regulation and management to enable that sustainable growth. And that’s why a voice for NI aquaculture through a functioning ARG is so important.

To find out more and make contact visit: www.aquacultureni.co.uk

Iceland: Fostering Relations in International Trade

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

Around one third of the Icelandic economy revolves around the Fish Trade – and much of their sustainable whitefish makes its way directly through the port of Grimsby and on to UK consumers, via wholesalers, retailers and the food service sector – including much of the sustainable cod served in our UK fish and chip shops.

In April 2024 a team from Fishmongers’ went to Iceland to visit these sustainable fisheries at source – speaking with the catching and processing sector at Brim, the Icelandic government’s Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, the innovators behind the Iceland Ocean Cluster, and the rapidly evolving on-land salmon farming industry.

Drawing threads together, the team visited diplomats at the British Embassy in Reykjavík, where the Prime Warden Fred Stroyan hosted a Seafood Industry Reception alongside British Ambassador Bryony Mathew. This evening event, featuring British sparkling wine paired with Icelandic seafood, was well attended by people working across government and industry in Iceland, including the new-in-post Icelandic Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Bjarkey Olsen Gunnarsdóttir.

The Prime Warden is no stranger to Iceland, having long standing import relationships with the whitefish sector. The visit gave him a chance to draw the work of our Fisheries Charitable Trust closer to the innovation and sustainable practices of the Icelandic industry. Alongside the Prime Warden, Nigel Bankes, Court Member and Chair of the Fisheries Committee, led the Fishmongers’ team which also included Clerk Toby Williamson, Fisheries Director Andrew Wallace, and Programme Manager Eleanor Adamson. They were accompanied by Simon Dwyer of the Seafood Grimsby and Humberside Alliance (SGHA), who is working closely with the Fisheries Charity to boost our contribution and impact with the UK’s on land fish trading and processing sectors.

Gunnar Örlygsson, a key figure in the Icelandic seafood industry and long-time associate of the Prime Warden facilitated the visit, introducing the team to a wide cross section of those relevant to the Icelandic Seafood trade.  Alongside his wife Dunna Johannsdottir, they ensured that the Team experienced the spectacular scenery as well as the fish industry!

Fisheries Director Andrew Wallace said “This has been an eye opening and inspiring experience. The relationships cemented here will be a great asset as we grow our impact in the regional coordination of sustainably managed capture fisheries, and also in shaping our thinking about how we can best push forwards innovation on land, to support new ideas, products and value chains that fully utilise the fish we catch”.

SGHA’s Simon Dwyer said “I firmly believe the ‘Grimsby’ link with Iceland and fish is further solidified with Fishmongers’ Company engagement. I felt the meetings with producers, Government departments and the Iceland Ocean Cluster in particular, presented further opportunities for SGHA to engage with our key trading partner. The discussions around school engagement, skills, science, carbon and start-ups leaves lots of new opportunities.”