CORNISH FISHERS TRAVEL TO CYPRUS

Cornish fishers travel to Cyprus to share ‘hope spots and bright spots’ for small-scale fisheries

Two fishers involved in Clean Catch, a UK Government-funded programme championing collaboration to mitigate bycatch of sensitive marine species, attended the first Small-Scale Fisheries Regional Symposium for Europe last week alongside programme staff to share their experiences.

Symposium attendees, including members of Clean Catch, speaking to local Cypriot fishers.

Will Shugg and Barry Preston, both gillnetters who work out of Mevagissey Harbour in Cornwall, travelled to Cyprus to attend the first Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) Regional Symposium for Europe over 1–3 July. Their attendance was funded by a grant from The Fishmongers’ Company, which also saw them joined by two staff from the Clean Catch programme, Alessandra Bielli (Cefas) and Chantal Lyons (Mindfully Wired Communications).

Named ‘Hope Spots, Bright Spots’ and organised by Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM)/Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO) and the National Consortium for the Small-Scale Fisheries Research and Development (TBTI Global), the event brought together researchers, campaigners, lawyers, and other experts from across Europe to explore ways to support small-scale fishers to thrive. Local Cypriot fishermen took part in discussions and, on the second day of the symposium, hosted attendees at the quayside to showcase their catches. These included red mullet, scorpionfish, and non-native lionfish, caught using gillnets and trammel nets. The fishers also highlighted the significant challenges they face such as invasive species and competition from illegal and recreational fishing.

Local Cypriot fisher shows the dolphin deterrent device he uses with his gear.

“I really felt for the Cypriot fishermen,” said Shugg, “But it was heartwarming that all these people at the symposium were coming together and wanting to help small-scale fishers.”

Preston echoed Shugg’s words, saying, “It’s an experience I’ll never forget. I’m glad I witnessed it.”

Other symposium attendees noted how valuable it was to listen to the Cornish and Cypriot fishermen exchanging their experiences and knowledge, with Shugg and Preston being the only fishers present across the full three days of the event. The fishermen found plenty of common ground, including on the use of pingers (sound-emitting devices) to keep dolphins away from nets – even if the motivation in the case of the Cypriots was to prevent their catches being taken, while Shugg and Preston were more focused on preventing dolphins from becoming entangled.

The Cornish fishers have been involved in work to mitigate cetacean bycatch in UK waters since late 2019 as part of Clean Catch, which is funded by the UK Government. The programme champions collaboration to minimise and, where possible, eliminate the bycatch of sensitive marine species – including cetaceans, seals, seabirds, sharks, skates, and rays. Clean Catch also seeks to share knowledge on bycatch mitigation globally. As part of Clean Catch, Cefas has been leading a trial in Southwest England to test measures for preventing the bycatch of dolphins and porpoises in a small-scale gillnet fishery. Cefas has used feedback from Shugg and Preston to make necessary modifications to the trial over time, with the fishers addressing the symposium about their involvement in Clean Catch as well as their experiences as small-scale fishers in the UK more generally.

Clean Catch’s presence at the symposium would not have been possible without the generosity of the Fishmongers’ Company and its Fisheries Charitable Trust. Gavin O’Donnell, Charities Communications, commented: “The Fishmongers’ Company is committed to supporting a sustainable future for the UK fishing industry, working collaboratively for solutions that benefit both fishers and the marine environment. We are delighted to have funded this exchange. We look forward to seeing the continued progress of the Clean Catch programme and a healthier future for fisheries in the Southwest and the UK more widely.”

Shugg and Preston continue to work with Clean Catch on the cetacean bycatch mitigation trial, which will see an extra seven skippers from across three Cornish ports joining from this summer. All fishers will trial the Banana pinger developed by Fishtek Marine.

Clean Catch will also establish a second bycatch monitoring and mitigation trial with a fishery partner in England in 2025. The trial will focus on one or more species groups including marine mammals, seabirds, sharks, skates, and rays. Clean Catch is currently seeking expressions of interest from fisheries who wish to be involved in the trial, and prospective partners are encouraged to get in contact via secretariat@cleancatchuk.com. Involvement in the trial offers the opportunity to contribute to efforts to protect marine ecosystems and enhance the sustainability and reputation of UK seafood.

Source

 Main Image: Cornish fishermen Preston (left) and Shugg (right) visit a fishing harbour in Cyprus, as part of a knowledge exchange with local Cypriot fishers.