HANNAH FENNELL CEO DESIGNATE OF SCOTTISH PELAGIC FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATION

Hannah Fennell CEO Designate of Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association. Fish Focus celebrates women in seafood in our latest publication.

Hannah Fennell is first female president of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, the CEO Designate of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association, and the Chair of UK Women in Fisheries.

Hannah started her journey in fishing as a researcher with Orkney Fisheries Association, looking at the economic, social, and cultural value of Orkney’s catching and processing sector. “What really fascinated me was how dynamic the fishing industry was- a change in Chinese foreign policy could have an immediate and dramatic effect on Orcadian fishermen” she said “I loved how complex the industry was, and how it melded modern technology and innovations with tradition, and knowledge that had been built up over generations”. From there, she moved to work for the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate where she was involved in a range of policies that included work on improving the resilience of the industry as well as enhancing sustainability. In 2020 she returned to Orkney and took over the role of CEO of Orkney Fisheries Association, and became the first female President of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation in 2023.

Now, Hannah has been named as CEO Designate of the Scottish Pelagic Fishing Association:

“I am delighted to be taking on the role” Hannah said. “The pelagic fleet is one of the UK’s most important and best-managed fishing sectors and is a vital part of the UK economy. My priority is to ensure that the interests of my members are clearly and fully heard by government, both domestically and internationally”.

In addition to her work, Hannah is the chair of the organisation UK Women in Fisheries (UKWIF), a network for all women who work in the fishing sector. Reflecting on the role of women in the industry, she said:

“Women have always been a huge part of the fishing industry- but these roles are often hidden. In the 1800s it was the Herring Lasses who underpinned the success of the fleet, and today our industry is still reliant on women- whether they be at sea, processing the catch, representing the industry, or doing the books and administration for the fishing business.” She continues “Last year, UK WIF held a joint event with Fishing into the Future which brought women from across the fishing industry and all over the country together in the same room to exchange knowledge and learn about fisheries science, management, and economics. Getting to see these women share their passion and make connections was incredibly powerful- and reinforced to me the importance of including women in fisheries management and decision-making.”

Hannah would love to see more women entering the fishing sector:

“We already have so many women working in fishing- whether that is in processing, marketing, associations, or research. But I’d still love to see more women in the catching sector. What was wonderful about the event held by UKWIF and FITF is that it was attended by female fishermen- I was totally blown away by how clever and passionate they all were. It’s girls like them that inspire me to do my best for the sector.”

We will be posting each individual article on our website over the coming weeks, but you can read the complete issue in our publications section here.

If you are a women working in the seafood/marine industry and you would like to be part of our next issue of Women in Seafood, or if you know of someone who you think should be, please contact me at mary@fishfocus.co.uk