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HRH The Princess Royal explores Plymouth Seafood Industry & Marine Environment

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

HRH The Princess Royal, Court Member and past Prime Warden of the Fishmongers’ Company, visited Plymouth on Monday 25th October to learn more about its nationally-important seafood industry and its pioneering efforts to protect and enhance the marine environment.

The visit included a tour of the city’s Fish Market to understand the role it plays in supporting hundreds of livelihoods and supplying businesses across the South West and beyond.

The Princess Royal was also taken by boat across Plymouth Sound, home to the UK’s first National Marine Park, which the Company was fundamental in founding, where she learned about research into the environmental impacts of the shellfish industry and the habitat preferences of commercially important fish species.

The visit on Monday was arranged by the Fishmongers’ Company in conjunction with the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Plymouth City Council, the University of Plymouth, Plymouth Trawler Agents and Sutton Harbour Group.

During the day, The Princess Royal toured the Fish Market managed by Plymouth Trawler Agents where she met fishers, processors, stallholders and merchants. She also heard about the market’s electronic auction system, and took part in a mock auction to see how each morning’s catch is not only landed but also sold.

The Princess Royal also met officials from Devon-based firm Tecmarine and learned about its efforts, supported by the Fishmongers’ Company, to use remote electronic monitoring as part of Blue Marine’s SAFEGEAR project, which helps to tackle issues caused by lost fishing equipment, also known as ghost gear.

In the afternoon, she visited the University’s Marine Station where she heard about its world-leading marine research and pioneering industry partnerships.

She then joined researchers and students on board RV Falcon Spirit and was told about ongoing work to assess the impact of the UK’s largest mussel farm, owned by Offshore Shellfish Ltd, on the Lyme Bay Marine Protected Area. This research has been supported by the Company’s Fisheries Targeted Academic Sponsorship Programme.

Researchers also explained how cutting edge underwater video and acoustic technology is being used to monitor the National Marine Park and fish habitats right across the English Channel.

Andrew Wallace, Fisheries Director of The Fishmongers’ Company, said: “It was a pleasure to join HRH The Princess Royal, in Plymouth to learn more about the valuable contributions the local fishing fleet and seafood trade make to the region’s economy and surrounding communities. This was followed by a fascinating afternoon exploring the University of Plymouth’s marine research which, supported by the Company, is improving our understanding of how local mussel farms are boosting the health of our marine ecosystems.”

Rewarding excellence in our namesake trade

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

26 fishmongers from across the UK were rewarded for their skills, knowledge and passion at the third Master Fishmonger Standard Awards Ceremony, hosted at Fishmongers’ Hall on Monday 25th October.

The ceremony, hosted by comedian Aideen McQueen and opened by Court Member and Chairman of the Fish & Fisheries Committee Nigel Bankes, recognised fishmongers across all levels of the trade, from new entrants to those with decades of experience.

The Master Fishmonger Standard assesses technical skills, knowledge of the fishing trade and sustainability as well has hygiene and customer service to acknowledge those that uphold the highest standard in the fishmonger trade. Entrants are examined by those who have achieved Master status, fostering peer-to-peer learning and the sharing of best practice in the sector.

Stewart McQueen, CEO of the Seafood School at Billingsgate, who manage the Master Fishmonger Standard, with support from the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust, explained: “It was great to hold the event in person after 2 years and seeing so many awards presented, we look forward to continuing participation in the scheme and recognising the talent in the industry”.

Testing the latest technology in fish identification

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

Identifying the range of fish species present in our aquatic ecosystems is an essential part of understanding the health of our lakes, rivers and oceans. Environmental DNA (eDNA), genetic material obtained directly from soil, air or water samples, is one method of ascertaining the range of species present, however in river systems, large volumes of water and currents can make this method challenging for identifying fishes..

Jane filtering samples at the Datchet site.

Supported by our Fisheries Targeted Academic Sponsorship Programme, Jane Hallam, a PhD student at University College London, has been comparing eDNA water samples from the River Thames with historical records of fish assemblages to assess the accuracy of eDNA in identifying the range of fish and freshwater species in London’s river.

Jane compared Environment Agency records with new eDNA sampling at 35 sites along the Thames from both the freshwater and estuarine stretches. In the freshwater sites, Jane was able to identify all 16 species recorded by the Environment Agency, plus another six species that had not been previously identified. Her results suggest that, in this environment, eDNA provides a more accurate indication of which freshwater species are present, providing better information about what swims beneath the surface in the upper reaches of the artery of our largest city.

Downstream, in the turbid, tidal, estuarine regions, her results were more mixed. Jane’s eDNA method identified 72% of the species recorded by the Environment Agency, missing out on five that have previously been captured, but she also identified seven additional species not on current records, including brown trout and the protected sea lamprey. While further work will be needed to improve the accuracy of eDNA in turbid environments like the tidal Thames, Jane’s research advances our understanding of how DNA can be used to shed light on the ecology of large river systems and the species who live there.

To read the full paper click here.

Capturing the contributions and services of the Pacific oyster to the UK’s marine environment and coastal economy.

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

Oysters have been a key part of the UK seafood culture for thousands of years, dating back to cultivation in Roman times. Historically, the species of importance was the native European Flat Oyster, but this species has suffered drastic declines and no longer represents a viable industry. 

In the mid-20th Century, encouraged by government, the oyster industry turned to Rock Oysters, also known as Pacific Oysters. This species now makes up the bulk of UK oyster production, is farmed in every nation of the UK, and is widely cultivated across mainland Europe. 

In 2021, after conversations with the Shellfish Association of Great Britain, we drew together a team of experts to capture the current and potential value of the Pacific Oyster to the UK, covering the ecological, economic, and societal benefit, as well as providing information on how neighbouring countries approach the cultivation and wild settlement of this species in their coastal waters of conservation importance.

The report, led by Martin Syvret of Aquafish Solutions, includes contributions from SAGB, JHC research, the New Economics Foundation, Atlantic Edge Oysters, and our Programme Manager, Dr Eleanor Adamson. Click here to read the report.

 

 

Best Practice in World Fisheries

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

With the UK’s exit from EU and the Common Fisheries Policy there is a clear opportunity to learn from the ways in which other countries around the world manage their waters and fisheries. On November 21st 2017 the Company was able to bring together the experience of fisheries management experts from four independent coastal states (Norway, Australia, New Zealand and the USA) with delegates from the UK fishing industry, civil society, NGOs and the public sector, to discuss and produce a report on examples of Best Practice in World Fisheries.

This event, co-hosted with the Blue Marine Foundation, pulled together representatives from all parts of the fishing industry and environmental NGOs – a mix of organisations who have not traditionally found it easy to work together.

The Conference, preceded, the night before, by a very successful dinner which helped break the ice and set the scene, was attended by 150 invited delegates from industry, civil society, the public sector and the press. After an introduction from Chairman of the Company’s Fish & Fisheries Committee, Nigel Bankes, the event was chaired by Sir John Beddington, former Chief Government Scientific Adviser (2008-1013) and presented perspectives from from the USA, Margaret Spring, Vice President of Conservation, Monterey Bay and a former US Deputy Under Secretary of State for Oceans; from Norway, Peter Gullestad Director, Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries; from Australia, Professor George Kaillis, University of Notre Dame; and from New Zealand, Speaker: Dr Geoff Tingley, Director, Sustainable Fisheries Partnerships.  

Each speaker was responded to by a representative from both industry and civil society including academics from Plymouth and Exeter Universities, and representatives from the Marine Stewardship Council, Price Waterhouse Coopers, the Deepwater Group and Norwegian Fishermen’s Association. The 45 minute plenary discussion after each session helped to clearly and constructively expose the problems, opportunities, challenges and lessons learned in these four countries and stimulating debate about how we might make the best of the opportunities afforded to UK fisheries, by Brexit.

The Rt Hon. Michael Gove MP, then Secretary of State for DEFRA, spoke to the assembled guests and answered questions. He welcomed the conclusions of the conference, saying :

“Leaving the European Union gives us an historic opportunity to develop a world-class fishing industry while proving ourselves environmental leaders. I have always been clear any new domestic fishing policy needs to be guided by science, and I welcome this report and the insight it gives us into practices around the world.”

The ability to convene, build partnerships and fill knowledge gaps is a key element of our work to support a more sustainable and profitable UK fisheries sector, and at the time, this conference succeeded in facilitating collaboration between industry and civil society figures in a way not done before. The discussion and subsequent report helped to identify clear knowledge gaps and potential opportunities for the UK fishing industry post-Brexit.

Read the full report produced after the ‘Best Practice in World Fisheries’ Conference here.

  

Discover Seafood: Wrapping Up Three Months of Seafood

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

The start of 2021 has proved an exciting time for the Company’s Discover Seafood project, working to promote the consumption of locally caught seafood at a critical time for the UK’s fishing industry, launching a new UK coastal relay and working collaboratively to connect the public with seasonal British seafood. Here, Sophie Fontes, who, as part of an internship with Mindfully Wired Communications, sponsored by our targeted academic sponsorship programme, has been supporting the programme over the last few months, provides an update on its progress and how the internship has developed her knowledge of the UK seafood sector and developed her career opportunities.

Well, three months is already up and a part of me feels like I’ve only just submitted my welcome blog! But if I think back to where I was when I began at Discover Seafood and where I am now, I realise how much we have fitted into a mere three months and how far I have come in regards to my knowledge and understanding of the UK fishing industry.

With the invaluable support and advice from Harriet and Elspeth at Mindfully Wired, and Gavin at The Fishmongers’ Company, I have dived right into the world of Discover Seafood; writing blogs, managing social media, creating graphics, making videos, editing websites, researching ports and so much more.

Before beginning the programme, I considered my knowledge of UK fishing to be quite limited and was eager to learn more. I have been blown away by what I have seen and read, especially by the vast array of seafood we have right here on our doorstep and by the people who work within the industry; their histories, stories and passion for sustainable seafood. In three months, we have seen many more seafood retailers sign up to the map, enabling us to connect customers with local fish suppliers, allowing us to play a small part in supporting independent businesses during what has been a challenging time. I have also found myself frequently using the site for recipe inspiration and to check which species are in season every month, as well as constantly recommending it to family and friends who have been interested to hear where they too can find fresh UK fish.

You can find fish suppliers from all over the country on the Discover Seafood map

It has been especially exciting to be part of the project whilst the topic of eating more UK seafood has been so prevalent in the media, with the Prime Minister calling for a campaign to encourage people to eat more fish and the CFPO tackling the public’s perceptions of under-loved UK species. One of my hopes at the start of the internship was to learn more about creative communication strategy which can instigate positive change, so what a perfect case study Discover Seafood has been in the effectiveness of good communications. Through our social media presence, celebrating fishermen’s stories, sharing recipes and (most recently) launching the UK seafood relay, we aimed to harness the increased public interest in UK fish and effectively use the Discover Seafood platform to educate, inspire and incite change.

The stories, recipes and useful graphics shared on Discover Seafood’s Instagram page

Being a part of the project has sparked multiple conversations with friends and family and it’s been encouraging to find so many people eager to try more UK seafood, but don’t always know where to start. I have found Discover Seafood to be an absolutely vital educational project and the website an incredibly useful tool for people to use. It’s been a pleasure to be a part of the Discover Seafood team and I’m very grateful to Gavin and The Fishmongers’ Fisheries Charitable Trust for the opportunity.

Although my internship with the Fishmonger’s has come to an end, I am thrilled that Mindfully Wired is taking me on for longer to work on their diverse range of projects. One of these is the Discover Seafood UK Relay, which I am especially excited to be working on over the next few months. This is the next step for Discover Seafood, bringing together a diverse range of coastal explorers who are keen to discover local seafood and share stories from the fascinating fishing communities all over the UK. We’ve already had many people signing up to take part in the project and our aim is to have an explorer in every port! If you’d like to become a relay explorer or you’re simply interested in reading more about the project, you can head to it’s homepage here.

Launching the Discover Seafood UK Relay

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

The UK Relay is the exciting next step in advancing Discover Seafood’s ongoing work to celebrate the UK seafood industry and the fascinating people behind it. Our goal is to form an inspiring collective of professional and hobbyist creatives who will gather stories from key fishing towns that will be shared on the Discover Seafood website and social media channels. The relay will ultimately foster a greater understanding of local seafood at a point in time when support and recognition of the UK fishing industry is absolutely critical. 

We are on the hunt for passionate journalists, bloggers, photographers and filmmakers, who are keen to use their tale-telling talents to shed light on the ‘faces of fishing’ and ‘undiscovered’ local gems in their area. 

As a Coastal Explorer for the UK Relay you will identify opportunities to attend seaside events, make meaningful connections with members of the community, visit places of interest and (best of all!) try local seafood. Document your experiences through whichever medium you choose. This can be via blog posts, short films, illustrations, photography essays or vlogs. The stories collected by our Coastal Explorers will cover every inch of the UK coastline with tastes, experiences, personal testimonies and local insights.

Whether you’re up on the Isle of Skye or down south in Penzance, we are looking for people who are either passionate about their local patch or have an eye for adventure and a willingness to explore further afield and try something new. 

What’s in it for you? 

At the end of the year, to celebrate your achievements and to thank you for your work, you’ll have the opportunity to attend a networking event with industry professionals and fellow Coastal Explorers at the Hall, where work from the UK Relay will be presented.

This is an exciting opportunity for individuals to build their creative skills and writing experience, whilst educating and inspiring a new audience of seafood enthusiasts to go out and support the incredible businesses that exist on their doorstep. Volunteer writers and content creators will also be able to reference Discover Seafood and the Fishmongers’ Company on their CV. 

Click here to sign up now.

Building sustainable fisheries management through collaboration

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

Fishing communities are central to the UK’s coastal economies and heritage and are vital in supplying our namesake trade with fresh, sustainable seafood. This understanding underpins the Company’s commitment to building a prosperous future for the UK fishing industry through our support for and engagement with collaborative and innovative projects. Effective and fair management of our fisheries, that works for both our ecosystems and the fishermen that rely on them, is crucial in supporting and developing healthy and thriving coastal communities.

This is why the Company’s Fisheries Charitable has strengthened its strategic partnership with Fishing into the Future (FITF), an independent UK charity led by people working in the fishing industry. The partnership includes a substantial grant to implement a three-year work programme that builds on their innovative learning and leadership initiative. This work is being coordinated by fisheries and seafood expert, Emma Plotnek, who has been brought on board to take on the role as FITF’s Programme Manager.

The major initiatives enabled by this grant will build on the charity’s education and leadership programme as well as strengthen an established peer-learning network. Since its inception, FITF has been instrumental in delivering unique learning opportunities designed to equip fishermen, scientists and fisheries managers with the knowledge, connections, and confidence to work together towards effective fisheries management, for a sustainable and prosperous UK fishing industry. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, FITF is currently focused on building relationships and knowledge remotely through an online network and series of digital interventions and events, aiming to restart face-to-face activities later in 2021.

Fishing into the Future’s Chairman, Dave Stevens, owner and skipper of the demersal trawler, Crystal Sea SS 118, remarks on the importance of charity’s work and the benefit the support from The Fishmongers’ Company will bring:

“Improving regular communication between stakeholders is fundamental if we are to build trust among industry players, but on top of this we aim to increase the impact of these conversations by improving how we talk and listen to one another. When you compare a fisherman’s background with that of scientists and policy makers, we have a very different formation and experience, which puts us at risk of not making ourselves heard – or lacking the technical language to communicate what we know best through experience. Thanks to the support from the Fishmongers’ Company, we can continue devise and deliver solutions to help communication, build transparency and foster co-management that is nurtured by collaborative data collection and science.”

Support from funders such as the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust, and the voluntary input from FITF’s Trustees is vital to prove the concept that viable solutions to complex problems can be achieved through building knowledge and understanding among people working in UK fisheries.

Additional time and expertise is provided by Alison Freeman, Fisheries Programme Manager at Fishmongers’ Company. She added:

“We support a wide range of projects, grants, and convening to build and safeguard a prosperous and sustainable fishing industry that benefits its users. This collaboration aims to help build a transdisciplinary approach to fisheries management that emphasises the need for collaborative problem‐solving among stakeholders.”

Through additional funding from Seafarers UK, FITF has hired fisheries and seafood lead, Emma Plotnek, to coordinate this new programme of work.  Emma is currently focused on strengthening and developing FITF’s network to improve knowledge, cohesion and collaboration within the UK fishing sector. This includes preparing events and tailored workshops, so that a representative pool of people within the catching sector can participate in management, science, and business scenarios. Emma adds:

“Once the value of this work is fully appreciated, we hope the work delivered by FIFT will become integrated into the foundations of a prosperous UK fishing sector, based on effective dialogue, collaboration and a mutual understanding.”

The Charity’s work depends on engagement from a fully representative body of supporters and if you would like to find out more about Fishing into the Future they can be contacted on the phone, via email or on social media.

Image: STOCK IMAGE SEAFISH. COPYRIGHT GARETH EASTON 07752666522 GARETH EASTON PHOTOGRAPHY LTD. IMAGE LICENCED TO SEAFISH AND SEAFISH STAKEHOLDER LIBRARY. NO SYNDICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR SALE TO ANY THIRD PARTY.

Making a difference when the world changed – how our Covid-19 Rapid Response Grants landed in the seafood community

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

“Without doubt the grant helped increase sales of fresh fish – therefore having an effect on profitability as well as introducing a new type of affordable and delicious locally caught fish into the marketplace for people to enjoy”

Amanda Pender, Director of Island Fish and RRGP recipient

In March 2020, with the sudden closure of overseas markets and the local restaurant trade, the UK’s fishing and seafood industry was thrown into chaos. Knowing the community we work to support was teetering on the brink, we acted swiftly, working with partners Seafarers UK to launch an emergency fund for fishermen, fishmongers and community groups to diversify and collaborate – to survive the financial pressures of lockdown, and to support some of the most vulnerable in their local communities.

Sea Source, in Killkeel, Northern Ireland, used RRGP funding to open a seafood hub, opening up new markets that allowed their fishermen to get back out to sea.

Our independent impact assessment is in, and we can now share key achievements of this initiative, as well as lessons learnt. Key findings include increased business resilience, job retentions, and raised profile of local seafood in local communities. Click here to read the executive summary or here for the full evaluation report.

Island Fish used their grant to purchase new equipment:

“(Our purchase) was not intended to be a panacea to combat all financial difficulties, rather it was to form part of an arsenal of tools intended to assist in making the company more profitable and better able to easily offer a greater range of fish to the local populace, visitors and businesses – this it achieved, easily and without any difficulties”

The Numbers:

  • Supported 121 beneficiaries across all 4 devolved regions of the UK
  • Enabled businesses to support jobs – 65% of recipients said that grant supported the employment of at least one individual & 57% said the grant allowed their business to keep staff in employment
  • Prevented businesses from closing – 28% of recipients said that the grant kept their business running during lockdown
  • Developed resilience in the seafood sector – 82% of recipients said that they aim to continue the elements of the business/project established in response to COVID-19

When recipients were asked about the impact that the Rapid Response Grants had, they listed:

  • Retention of jobs
  • Creation of new employment
  • Increased profits
  • Heightened links with local communities
  • Increased awareness of locally caught seafood

Lessons Learnt:

At a time when applicants were stretched and stressed, our evaluation reveals that recipients really valued the simple application form and rapid pay out of funds. We also identified that the independent help and support provided by the Fishing Animateurs, who guided anyone who asked for help through the application process, was very much valued by recipients. This provides a clear lesson on the importance of facilitators and guidance when aiming to support communities that don’t have always have a strong background in IT and form filling.

As part of our ongoing engagement and quest to better understand and work to support the seafood industry, the programme also revealed key “future needs”, we will use this new understanding of the sector will help to guide our future charitable initiatives.

Future Needs:

  • Promotion of British seafood: customers are willing to pay a premium for locally caught products
  • Support for existing distribution networks; and improvements to inland transportation
  • Improved practical training opportunities to support apprenticeships
  • Access to technical and marketing support for small businesses
  • Improvements to waste management across the supply chain

Discover Seafood: Moving Forward in 2021

Posted on by Gavin O'Donnell

2020 saw the launch of our new Discover Seafood site, working to connect the British public with their local fishing industry, seafood and coastal communities. After a successful launch, 2021 marks the next phase in the project, building up the site’s capacity and launching an exciting UK-wide Seafood Relay. To support these next steps Sophie Fontes has just joined our partner on this project, Mindfully Wired Communications, as an intern through our Fisheries Targeted Academic Sponsorship Programme. Here, Sophie talks us through what 2021 means for Discover Seafood and what the internship means for her future career prospects.

2021 has already gotten off to a flying start, as I’m thrilled to be joining the team at Mindfully Wired in partnership with The Fishmonger’s Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust.  As part of my new role at Mindfully Wired, I’ll be working on The Fishmongers’ Company’s Discover Seafood project, an exciting interactive online portal helping to connect people with local seafood.

Now more than ever, it’s important to support independent businesses and our local fishing communities, where we can and I’m delighted to be working on a project which provides an exciting new platform for those in the fishing industry, helping them to reach new customers during a challenging time.

A walk through of how to find your nearest ports and retailers and what is in-season with Discover Seafood

The prospect of instigating positive change through creative communications with Mindfully Wired Communications was a huge draw for me. The opportunity to use and build upon my current marketing experience (my background lies in publishing and the travel industry) in order to educate others about local seafood and sustainability sounded like an exciting challenge, with the added bonus of expanding my own knowledge of UK fisheries and marine sustainability. I love cooking and I’m a keen forager, so promoting seasonal and sustainable eating is a subject right up my strasse!

The Discover Seafood site is already a fantastic resource and I look forward to adding to it as much as we can: more local retailers, more stories and more delicious recipes! The most exciting addition in 2021 will be the introduction of the Discover Seafood Relay, which will bring together a diverse range of coastal explorers who are keen to discover local seafood and share stories from the fascinating fishing communities all over the UK. If you have a seafood story please get in touch!

I am only one week into the role but the time is already flying! There is so much work to be done and we’ll be sharing all the goings-on at Discover Seafood over the next few months. In the meantime, if you’re in need for some local fresh fish during lockdown, Discover Seafood has your back: https://discoverseafood.uk/retailers/.