Fathom: getting below the surface of the UK fishing industry.

Our second flash episode sees us talking to Duncan MacInnes from the Western Isles Fishermen’s Association. We chat to Duncan about how the new Marine Fund Scotland is helping young Scottish fishermen buy fishing vessels, and how this could help revitalise Scotland’s fishing industry. Duncan also talks about the history of funding and cooperation in his region, and we consider whether these models could be emulated elsewhere in the UK.

For our first ever flash episode, we head out to sea in Wells with Ashley Mullenger, aka The Female Fisherman.  We chat to Ashley from her boat about using social media to connect with other fishermen around the UK, engaging with the media and public on the realities of small-scale commercial fishing, and spreading the word of local seafood.

'This isn't about a regulator wanting to do something for regulation's sake. This is about ensuring that the industry has somewhere to go in the years ahead '. 

Are you a vessel owner? Did you recently receive a letter from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) about safety and compliance with ILO188? We’re here to help. You will have heard a lot of safety talk flying around over the past year, but it’s something the industry can still improve on. With a heartbreaking seven lives lost last winter, each and every vessel owner has a huge responsibility in ensuring that this loss of life doesn't continue to happen.

Tune in for an honest, informative discussion between MCA’s Roger Gee and Seafood Cornwall Training’s Clive Palfrey. We’ll walk you through what you need to do, whilst getting to the bottom of why this issue is so vital and why - as Paul says - ‘the temperature has changed with the MCA’. Some of the points covered: 

• What is ILO188? 
• Medical certificates - what they are, and who needs one. 
• PFDs - when you need to wear one. 
• Fishermen's Work Agreements - they’re here to guarantee you pay, working hours and safer working conditions.
• Surveillance and surveying. 

As Roger says, this isn’t about the MCA. This is about you, your crew, and your family’s wellbeing. 

HOSTS 

Chris Ranford, CFPO 

Paul Treblicock, CFPO 

GUESTS 

Roger Gee, Maritime and Coastguard Agency 

Clive Palfrey, Seafood Cornwall Training

For our second episode of the season, we delve into the baffling, yet essential topic of finance. We wanted this episode to be as useful as possible for the industry, so we’ve reached out to gain practical, on-the-ground insight, and understand what fishermen can do to become financially secure and get businesses off the ground.

With various grants being announced for the industry, such as the MMO’s new Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FSS), what are these pots of money for, and how can fishermen begin applying? Rob Poole works for Fishing Animateur - a team funded by The Seafarers' Charity, dedicated to helping the industry develop projects to secure grants - and is no better placed to answer these questions. We chat to Rob about all things funding. 

Ever heard of credit unions? They’re different to high street banks in that they’re not-for-profit, and are member-owned and run, with no private shareholders. With this model, credit unions are able to develop and deliver the financial services that members really need. James Richards works for the Commsave credit union, who have been working closely with The Seafarers' Charity to develop services, especially for the fishing industry. Keen to find out more about how this inclusive, supportive cooperative can support your business? Tune in!

Being financially savvy can unlock a number of opportunities for industry members, and these practical, easy-to-understand discussions are a great place to start! 

Guests

Rob Poole, Fishing Animateur 

James Richards, Commsave

Host 

Paul Trebilcock 

Chris Ranford 

We’re back for the second season of Fathom, and we have a treat of a first episode for you. Following what’s been an incredibly difficult year, we shine some positive light on the future of British Fish. This episode weaves together three stories of how individuals and organisations are pulling together to promote quality, wild-caught, sustainably harvested seasonal British fish and shellfish to British consumers. 

We hear voices from right across the supply chain, starting with the catch sector and the entrepreneurial, unstoppable duo Buck and Nicola Beckett, who have built a hugely successful direct selling business - Buck Becketts Fresh Shellfish - reconnecting consumers with the boat and people behind their seafood. Nicola explains the value of fostering a direct, emotional relationship with customers, and tells of a growing appetite from the public to buy locally. We then hear from the retail sector, both big and small, starting with Victoria Townsend of Ocean Fish. She stresses the importance of getting top supermarkets on board with wild, British fish, and tells us of the work Ocean Fish are doing to facilitate this transition. 

Lastly, we hear from Sue Lucas of Camberley’s renowned, independent fishmonger, Passion 4 Fish. Sue’s deep understanding and knowledge of British fish has inspired customers to adapt their purchases, to tune in to the nature and provenance of wild species, and to connect with the individual boats catching their seafood. These stories paint a bigger picture, nodding to a refreshing sea-change in consumer habits and a growing support for British caught and landed fish. 

Guests 

Buck and Nicola Beckett, Buck Becketts Fresh Shellfish
Victoria Townsend, Ocean Fish
Sue Lucas, Passion 4 Fish 

Hosts 

Paul Trebilcock, CFPO 
Chris Ranford, Roam Marine 

Thanks to funding from The Sefararers' Charity,  the Fathom podcast is getting ready to launch a second series!

We'll be releasing monthly episodes, covering a wide range of fishing industry issues. As usual, we'll be breaking down complex subjects through meaningful conversations and getting to the heart of what matters. From policy to safety, finance and funding, to marketing, welfare support, and training - we'll be seeking out the experts that know the subject best, so you don't have to.

Fathom hosts Paul and Chris kick things off as they outline what to expect from this series. 

‘This is the biggest blow I’ve ever had, in all my years of fishing’. 

It’s our last episode for a few months, and it’s a big one. We head to the quayside - through the ‘new normal’ medium of Zoom, Whatsapp and good old fashioned telephone calls - to talk to fishermen about their feelings and thoughts, following the disappointing (to say the least) UK/EU Agreement. 

With all the politically-charged articles and press releases flying around, it’s easy to miss the real lives, livelihoods and communities behind the headlines. Enter Fathom: a place where these on-the-ground voices are heard. We hear from young and old, new and experienced, inshore and offshore fishermen, who share heartfelt accounts of the Brexit deal. 

First, we hear from Brackan, a young Cornish fisherman working on an inshore trawler. Talking of the Government’s failure to stop EU vessels from accessing the UK’s territorial waters (6-12 miles), he says, ‘everyone in the fishing industry is pushing toward sustainability, and the government had a golden opportunity to give sustainability and the future of inshore fisheries a massive boost…  but they’ve given it away. They failed to deliver.’

Moving our way around the coast, we then chat to experienced skipper-owner of the ‘The Guiding Light’ Andy Giles, from Looe. Again, he shares his anger as UK fishing became the ‘poster boy of the Brexit campaign’, only to be ‘sold down the river.’ We also travel outside of the South-west, to get the views of fisherman Graham Doswell of the under-10m fleet over in Eastbourne, who talks to us with a heavy heart, as the opportunity to level out quota allocations and support the u10m fleet has been missed. 

Tune in to hear these stories and more, from Scottish fisherman John Clark, owner of an offshore trawler, to inshore fisherman and CFPO Youth Board member, James Roberts. 

We know of the anger, but what of the hope, if any? We ask the guys if we can dust ourselves off and find a light at the end of the tunnel, and finish with a conversation with CEO Paul Trebilcock about his hopes and expectations of 2021.

Hosts
Paul Trebilcock 
Chris Ranford 

Guests
Brackan Pearce
Andy Giles
Graham Doswell
John Clark
James Roberts 

Links
CFPO reaction: ‘Betrayed by Boris’

We end the year on our 30th (but, perhaps not final) episode, and it's a landmark moment that no doubt will go down in history: the UK Fisheries Bill has passed through parliament and received royal assent, becoming the UK Fisheries Act. 

The Act will provide the legislative framework for future fisheries management in the UK, replacing the Common Fisheries Policy as we depart from the EU. It’s 133 pages long, and not that easy to read... the good news is, we’ve read it all - so you don’t have to. 

In this unmissable episode, we talk to Fisheries Minister Victoria Prentis MP, and Defra Deputy Director Anne Freeman, to break down what the Act really means for the industry.

You might be curious about why the phrase ‘framework Act’ is continually bashed about - we’ll explore what this means, along with how the key tagline of ‘taking back control of our waters’ will be achieved. 

We also ask our guests about the huge sticking point of sustainability, unearthing where the objective of sustainable fishing sits in the Act, as well as exploring the climate change, ecosystem and bycatch objectives. 

Tune in to learn about so much more: localised fisheries management plans, quotas, foreign vessel access. The changes embedded in the Act will be felt on water, so it really is one to get your head around. 

Podcast hosts: 

Paul Trebilcock 
Katrina Ryan 

Podcast guests: 

Victoria Prentis MP, Fisheries Minister 
Anne Freeman, Defra Deputy Director

Links
UK Fisheries Act 

We’re deep into November, and the tumultuous, exhausting year of 2020 is coming to an end. And who could be better placed to give an end of 2020 check-in, than Tom McCormack, CEO of the MMO. Tom joins us on the podcast with his top team Phil Haslam, Operations Director, and Michelle Willis, Finance Director, to outline a number of critical updates from the MMO that will help the industry navigate the UK’s fast-approaching transition to an independent coastal state. 

It’s easy to get lost in all the Brexit jargon and overwhelmed by the plethora of changes happening this year. But as Tom says, ‘we want to focus first on what we know... the EU transition period is definitely ending on the 31st of December.’ He continues, ‘whether there’s a trade agreement or not, things will change. We need to be ready to fish in our own waters and in EU waters’. 

Phil then gives an overview of how exporting and importing will change on January 1st. Exported fish will need catch certificates, as proof of legal and sustainable sourcing - to facilitate this process, the MMO are piloting an online platform on which fishermen can apply for catch certificates, and access useful services (including a 24/7 helpline) to support their applications. This week represents an iterative ‘warm up period’, allowing the industry to trial this Fish Export Service and give their feedback. We also hear about licencing, control and enforcement.

The MMO have been a vast source of support for fishermen throughout recent months, running ‘MMO outdoors’ for face-to-face support as the pandemic has unfolded. Michelle confirms that as of December 29th, support will be 24/7. Also to note is the repurposing of £800,000 of

Maritime and Fisheries Fund (MFF) funding - which so far has been invested in winches, refrigeration, and health and safety projects, and to which new applications are encouraged. 

There are a number of key things that fishermen should do now to prepare: 

• Register for the Fish Export Service if you intend to direct land in the EU, and join the dummy run to familiarise yourself with the system 
• Register for your IMO number - contact the MMO with your phone number and email address if you haven’t already done so 
• Attend the MMO’s workshops, where you can ask real-time questions, happening between 21 - 26 Nov
• Get in touch with the MMO 

These dark winter months are the perfect time to ready yourself for the incoming changes - as usual, Fathom is here to help you, with an easily-digestible, conversational breakdown from the experts. 

Fathom guests 

Tom McCormack, MMO 
Phil Haslam, MMO
Michelle Willis, MMO 

Useful links 

Prepare your fisheries business for changes from January 1st 2021

Exporting fish to the EU from January 1st 2021

One stop shop 

Series of helpful guides 

It’s been hard to ignore the eye-opening research released by Seafarers UK earlier last month. The landmark report, “Fishing Without a Safety Net: The Financial Resilience of Small-Scale Coastal Fishers, their Families and Communities”, revealed the precarious financial situation experienced by small-scale fishermen around the UK. Fluctuating incomes, difficulty budgeting, an inability to access affordable credit and an overburden of debt may all be painfully familiar for some. 

In this episode of Fathom, we talk to Deborah Layde and Tina Barnes from Seafarers UK, to unravel the research behind the report, along with the key findings. Whilst this financial precarity is not reflective of the entire industry, it is vital that we don’t leave this part of the fleet behind, particularly as another lockdown is likely to exacerbate fishermen’s financial struggles. 

Bleak findings have been met with urgent, innovative solutions: Seafarers UK have been quick to respond to the research, proposing a number of recommendations for individuals, charity and government to improve the financial resilience of small-scale fishermen and their families. These range from the centrepiece‘ share fisher plus cooperative approach’, to a national credit union, tailored specifically for the small-scale fleet. Wondering what on earth these things mean? Tune in! 

The ‘Safety Net’ is still very much an active piece of work, and any ideas or comments from within the industry will be highly welcomed. 

Fathom guests 

Deborah Layde, Seafarers UK
Tina Barnes, Seafarers UK 

Fathom host 
Chris Ranford 

Relevant links 

The Safety Net press release 

Fishing Without a Safety Net report

Fishing Without a Safety Net Webinar