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

Another rapid-fire Fathom in response to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, and examining its impacts on the fishing and seafood industries. After an extremely busy week of #FishToYourDoor campaign work, Paul and Chris dive into:

• The current state of the market - what's being landed and how are prices looking.
• How #FishToYourDoor has played out so far, and how it's helping merchants in Cornwall keep their businesses open whilst feeding families across the county and country, including an interview with Naomi Bullus of Celtic Fish & Game.
• Plans to use #FishToYourDoor as a platform for long-term, meaningful change. Could we all be eating fresh, local fish in the future?
• An update on Government support for fishing communities and ongoing discussions with Defra about how to protect the industry. 

Listening to all this fish chat making you hungry? Looking for healthy, sustainable and quality fish - pre-prepared and packed - to come right to your door? Or be delivered to a loved one? Email: [email protected] to register for our #FishToYourDoor match-making service. Deliveries available nationwide. 

Fisherman looking to sell direct? Get in touch with [email protected] and we'll promote you and your business. You can read the guidance on direct sales here: https://www.seafoodcornwall.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/First-sale-guidance-1.png 

Stay tuned for more Fathom, dropping weekly during the Covid-19 crisis.

In response to Covid-19 and its immediate impact on the fishing industry,  Paul and Chris discuss the following topics: 

• The current state of the market in the south west 
• The emergency #FishtoYourDoor initiative set up by Seafood Cornwall to provide a matchmaking service to customers in isolation who want fresh fish delivered to their door with fish merchants and fishmongers who can provide a delivery service. The customer gets Cornish fish on demand, and supports local fishermen - everyone wins! Email [email protected] if you are interested. 
  • Buying and selling of first sale fish. Want to know how to do it?  Check the poster on how you can sell direct the right way! 
• Support for fishermen who are struggling financially and with their mental health
  
  Links:
   
  #FishToYourDoor
  MMO's guidance on selling direct
  Poster on how to sell direct
  Seafood Cornwall Twitter
  CFPO
  
  

Fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the world.  It takes its toll physically and mentally on the body and yet there is no occupational support for fishermen to access. The work is tough and the hours are long so getting home in time to make an appointment is almost impossible. 

The SeaFit Programme has found a new way to help get fishermen fit and healthy, and help them stay that way. The programme was set up because fishermen find it difficult to make and keep pre-booked health appointments, they can't plan for time off because the weather, tides and fish locations often dictate when they need to be out at sea.

SeaFit is a joint initiative, set up between the Fishermen’s Mission and the Seafarers Hospital Society, with funding from Seafarers UK. In addition to the main partners, SeaFit also works with local GPs, opticians, health professionals and charitable organisations.

If you would like any health and wellbeing support please get in contact. All the contact details can be found below.

In Cornwall?

Call Hazel to get healthy lifestyle advice on 07753 460 957 (you can text too) or email: [email protected]

Call Ceri from Fairwinds about mental health support you can reach her on 01736 366 224 or email: [email protected]

Outside Cornwall? 

If you are outside of Cornwall and would like to be connected to a programme near you please call Carol Elliott, SeaFit Project Manager [email protected] or 07486 319621.

Events coming up
Health and wellbeing events for fishermen and their families.

• 14th May  Newhaven

Provisional dates

• 5 & 6 May or 12 & 13 May Bridlington
• 7th to 18th September Cornwall/Devon
• End September Kilkeel and Ardglass
• End October North Shields
• In Peterhead, SeaFit will have a new Health Trainer service set up starting in March.

Please follow @GetSeaFit on Twitter for regular updates. 

Want to speak to someone about your mental health?

Big White Wall provides online support 24/7 in a safe, supportive and anonymous environment. Services include access to trained counsellors, a support network, self-help materials and one to one therapy.

You can access the BWW service straight away and it only takes a few minutes – just click on one of the links below. They go to a very short questionnaire that all potential users are asked to complete. Please be assured it is entirely anonymous.

GET SUPPORT HERE 

Fishing is a career like no other.  Most fishermen say they wouldn't dream of doing anything else, it's a way of life.

However, the employment statistics for the UK fleet published by Seafish in 2019, reveals the average age of a UK fisherman is 42 and the industry is struggling to attract young and ambitious school leavers into a career at sea.

This month we're asking if it's really possible to have a career in fishing. We explore the work that's been going on in the background over the last ten years to entice people into a career at sea and we speak to young fishermen about what happened when they tried to leave school at 16 to become a fisherman full-time.

We also discover a lack of young new entrants is an issue that many countries across the world are struggling with, and we learn what they are doing to try and solve it. We ask the Maritime Skills Alliance to see what the fishing industry can learn from other maritime careers and what the industry needs to do to get young people to see fishing as a viable career.

Interviews include: 

Tom Lambourn -  Lyonesse (Crew), My Lass (Owner) and Youth Board Member
Aidan McClary - Deckhand (Little Cristina) and CFPO Youth Board Member
Ben Bengey - Shelly N (Skipper), Winner of 2019's Fishing News Award
Iain Mackinnon - Maritime Skills Alliance
Linda Behnken - Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association (ALFA)

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the closed doors of the December Fisheries Council? How quotas get decided and what role your representatives play? Do they really stay up all night?

Join the Fathom team as they get below the surface of this year's December Fisheries Council and find out why Mike Park, the CEO of The Scottish White Fish Producers Association (SWFPA), likens it to 'The Gladiatorial Ring'. 

Your Fathom Hosts:

> Paul Trebilcock, CFPO Chief Executive
> Katrina Ryan, Mindfully Wired Communications 
> Chris Ranford, Fisheries Animateur Project

Funders:

> Seafarers UK
> MMO 

This month the Fathom team has been out on the quay talking about fishing safety. The new ILO 188 encompasses a new set of rules and regulations fishermen have to follow,  but what does it mean when it has to be put in to practice on the water? Fathom is here to help fishermen find out.

In this episode, the team speak to NFFO's Safety Adviser and Safety Folder Founder, Robert Greenwood and Clive Palfrey Cornwall's Fishing Safety Adviser about where ILO 188 came from, what the safety folder is how it can help make fishermen safer and what drills and risk assessments fishermen need to be doing by law.  They also speak to the Skipper and the Owner of the Cornish fishing vessel Stelissa about their innovative approaches to safety on board and to the shellfisherman, Jeremy Hoskin, who has trialled three lifejackets but still can't find one that doesn't give him back pains.

Finally, you will hear a spine-tingling account of a real-life fishing accident from Luke Selvey, the fisherman on the Emilia Jayne - the vessel on which Reegan Green was washed overboard and survived due to the quick action of his crew and because he was wearing his lifejacket.

Helpful links

Risk assessments
Safety Folder
ILO 188
Fishing Safety Adviser (Cornwall)
Seafish Training Providers

Social Media

Fathom
Ryan Davey (Skipper of Stelissa)
Luke Selvey
SCT Training

Funders

Seafarers UK
MMO 

We are taking you on a deep dive into the Future of Our Inshore Fisheries Conference - a hugely significant event that took place just a few weeks ago. Of course, team Fathom were there. Join us to find out what the conference meant to fishermen, and hear from Government officials on what happens next. 

Got thoughts? Get in touch @Fathom_Podcast 

A quick teaser on what you can expect from Fathom: real conversations with real fishermen and straight-talking experts on topics that include fishing regulation, safety, fish politics and stories from the sea. 

The first episode of Fathom will be coming soon. 

Your Fathom Hosts:

> Harriet Yates-Smith, Mindfully Wired Communications
> Chris Ranford, Fisheries Animateur Project
> Paul Trebilcock, CFPO Chief Executive

Editors
> Harriet Yates-Smith & Katrina Ryan, Mindfully Wired Communications