ASHLEY MULLENGER, DIGITAL COMMS SUPPORT UK WOMEN IN FISHERIES & INDEPENDENT FISHERMAN

Ashley Mullenger, Digital Comms Support UK Women in Fisheries & independent fisherman. Welcome to Fish Focus spotlight on Women in Seafood, Issue 3. Follow us as we celebrate the amazing women at the forefront of the seafood industry.

I didn’t grow up in a fishing family, but from the moment I set foot on a boat, I knew the sea had claimed me. My journey into commercial fishing began in 2008 as crew on a charter angling vessel out of Wells-next-the-Sea, where I looked after customers, safety, and everything in between.

Over time, I moved into commercial potting work and eventually became the owner of my own 8m vessel, Saoirse. I now fish for crab, lobster, and whelks on the North Norfolk coast. And have documented my journey with its catastrophic highs and rock bottom lows in my memoir, ‘My Fishing Life- A Story of the Sea’, which deep dives my experiences as a woman in this space and unpicks the decades of fishing legislation which has shaped our sector.

Being a woman in this industry has been both empowering and, at times, exhausting. There’s a quiet pressure to prove yourself—not just to others, but to yourself too. I’ve never shied away from hard graft, but there’s a difference between physical challenge and the emotional labour that comes from being one of a small handful of women in a male-dominated space. That said, I’ve also been met with generosity, humour, and a kind of gritty camaraderie that defines life at sea.

What’s changing, slowly but surely, is visibility. Women have always been part of the fishing industry—on the boats, in the sheds, behind the logistics and on the quayside—but they’re only just starting to be seen and recognised. That’s why I’m so proud to be involved with the work of UK Women in Fisheries, a network that uplifts and connects women across every corner of the sector. From processing and science to sales, management, and fishing itself—we belong here.

I believe we have a duty to make the path easier for those who follow us. I actively support and champion other women working in this space. I have a strong social media presence under the handle @thefemalefisherman because visibility is so important not just for young women and girls but for the fishing community to see the acceptance I have had.  If I can show even one young woman that this life is achievable, I’ll have done something worthwhile.

My advice to any woman thinking of a career at sea? Don’t wait for permission. The sea won’t hand you a neatly drawn map—you’ve got to chart your own course. Learn all you can, ask questions (even the ones that feel stupid) and surround yourself with people who believe in you. You’re stronger than you think, and the industry needs your perspective, strength, and voice.

Looking ahead, I want to keep fishing sustainably, grow the conversation around small-scale fisheries, and make sure women’s contributions are written into the future of seafood—not just its history. This life isn’t always easy, but it’s honest, it’s raw, and it’s real. And for me, that’s enough.

seafood—not just its history. This life isn’t always easy, but it’s honest, it’s raw, and it’s real. And for me, that’s enough.