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

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, we...

‘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-charge...

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...

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...

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 a...

One year ago, we recorded our first ever episode live at the Future of Our Inshore Fisheries Conference. This landmark, inclusive event saw active fishermen, industry leaders, policy makers, regulators, researchers and a number of environmental groups come together in one place, to discuss the future management of the UK’s Inshore Fisheries.  This was a vital opportunity for real grassroots knowle...

As summer fades over the horizon and the crisp autumnal months begin to settle in, we take this transitional moment as an opportunity to take our busy Fathom schedule back to the quayside and touch base with the CFPO and our co-host Paul Trebilcock, to reflect and forecast.  We answer an array of fishermen's questions that have been bouncing around the quayside in recent weeks, focusing prima...

If you have been tuned in to the discussion on social media, it will not come as news to you that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) have launched an open consultation on the revised small vessel code, MSN 1871.  The new Code of Practice will affect all fishing vessels of less than 15m in length and, with a focus on safety, arrives at a critical moment when a great deal of attention is being...

“ The last straw came when all the fishermen working on the quay were given a letter to vacate the site, clear all our gear off, as they wanted to build housing… so we decided… rather than sell this land to a developer, can the fishermen buy it?” This is a story of how a strong, self-organised community of fishermen in the southeast stood up against the gentrification of their harbour. The Eastbou...

Women play an integral role across the seafood supply chain - from caring in fishing families, to policy, net fixing, processing and catching. But why do we know so little about them? Why do their voices remain relatively ‘invisible’, and why does the industry remain male-dominated?  Whilst only scratching the surface, this episode creates the space for women in fishing to share their stories and...

We release this episode of Fathom on International Youth Day , to celebrate and share the hard work, creativity and forward-looking energy of CFPO Youth Board, who over the past year have been helping to lay the groundwork for the first-ever Commercial Fishing Apprenticeship Standard.  The world can be a daunting and uncertain place for young people leaving school. For those with hands-on skills,...

The government responded swiftly to the maelstrom of Covid-19, with a broad sweep of financial support schemes for the fishing industry. Coastal towns are beginning to bustle, and things are starting to feel ‘normal’ again. However, some people have inevitably fallen through the gaps, with smaller industry members - from self-employed share-fishermen and fishermen under employment contracts, to ve...

‘All fishermen know the job is dangerous… it’s nice to keep it in your mind that there are people who care about you at home… rather than, you need to wear your lifejacket, you need to do this, you need to do that!’ Ben, skipper at Newlyn  This week is a special episode of Fathom to celebrate and share #MaritimeSafetyWeek, #SeafarersWeek and the launch of a powerful new fishing safety campaign, #H...

Learning, adapting and becoming more self-reliant has been the talk of the town in the wake of both Brexit and COVID-19. How might the fishing industry, and more specifically producer organisations (POs) take on this motif?  In this episode of Fathom, we talk to Chief Executive of the Anglo North Irish Fish Producers Organisation (ANIFPO), Alan McCulla (OBE). Alan’s lifetime in the fishing industr...

In this episode of the Fathom podcast, we hear from Kara Brydson from Fisheries Innovation Scotland (FIS) and Paul Macdonald from the Scottish Fishermen's Organisation (SFO). FIS as an organisation that ‘brings together fishermen and other experts along the seafood supply chain, to champion innovation and try new things – to make Scottish fisheries more prosperous and sustainable.' Kara...

Fathom host, Paul Trebilcock, has an open and honest conversation with the CEO of Seafish, Marcus Coleman, as we navigate the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and Brexit for the UK seafood industry. From the impact of the Sea for Yourself marketing campaign to navigating new regulatory regimes and labelling requirements,  Marcus also discussed future plans for Seafish.  Paul asks some critical que...

Fathom hosts, Paul Trebilcock and Chris Ranford, interview Mark Greet and Edward Polley from Falfish, a leading supplier of fish and shellfish, and Sophie Throup from Morrisons, the fourth largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom. This week's episode takes us behind the scenes of the supply chain and delves into the market trends and forecasts related to the COVID-19 crisis. Mark a...

It is uncertain times for everyone right now. There are financial uncertainties, changes in routines and schedules, challenges with social distancing onboard vessels, and so much more.  Fishermen need to know there is support available.  The GetSeaFit team want you to know that they are open and available to provide support and they encourage all fishermen and their families to reach out if they a...

2020 is likely to be one of the most significant years in British fishing. Coronavirus, loss of market, opportunities of a domestic market, direct selling,  new marketing opportunities,  and we haven't even touched on the subject of Brexit. What will be next?  Chris Ranford and Paul Trebilcock are back with bi-weekly episodes after five weeks of weekly rapid response episodes.  Paul, Chief Ex...

This week,  Paul Trebilcock and Chris Ranford take us back to the quayside to speak to Seafood Cornwall's Safety Advisor, Clive Palfrey, to talk about how fishermen can utilise their time in isolation to think about safety on their vessels and get ready for when lockdown is lifted. Clive also reminds all fishermen that the social distance measurement is 'one fathom' and explains why...

"The information that everyone wants to know:  how much, how many, and when?" When Tom McCormack offered an interview with his top MMO team to give us the 'intricate' details of the Fisheries Respond Fund, we couldn't say no.  So, here it is, the second Fathom episode of the week. If you want to listen to our interview on Wednesday with Fisheries Minister, Victoria Prentis...

This is a landmark episode for Fathom and the fishing industry. Appointed on 14th February 2020, Fisheries Minister Victoria Prentis MP was still new to the brief when the Covid-19 outbreak hit the UK, wreaking havoc with fishing supply chains and threatening fishing businesses. Last week, her Department announced a £10 million bespoke support package for the fishing industry - recognising many fi...

In this week's episode Chris and Paul interview Alison Freeman, Fisheries Programme Manager at The Fishmongers' Company , about their new joint grant scheme set up with Seafarers UK. Alison explains the fund has been set up to keep the industry up and running and buoyant. She promises the application process is not a lengthy process and encourages people to work collaboratively on their...

This week on the Fathom podcast, Paul Trebilcock and Chris Ranford, interview two guests, sharing the voices of those who are still at sea, catching, landing and selling, and  those working at a national and political level. Fathom's first guest is Andrew Stevens , a fisherman who has been successfully selling his catch directly to a fishmonger for a number of years.  Andrew discusses his exp...

The Fathom team continue to bring you our rapid-fire Fathom episodes in response to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. This week Paul and Chris interview the Chief Executive Officer of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), Tom McCormack CBE.  In this short 20-minute episode, Paul asks Tom how the MMO will be guiding the industry through this crisis and what support they will be offering. Tom outline...