Shoppers urged to support British fishermen

SHOPPERS should try UK-caught produce as fishermen struggle with the impact of the Covid-19, a seafood industry expert has said.

With the export markets to Europe and China ruined, restaurants and chippies closed, hospitality shut down and many supermarkets not staffing their fish counters, skippers have decided to keep their vessels tied up.

But some are still going out to fish, and more of what they catch is available online or being sold door-todoor.

Barrie Deas, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, said: “This is a good time for consumers to try different fish where they can get access to them.

“Some of the more exotic species are not going abroad or into the restaurant trade, so there’s no reason why prices should not be low.

“There’s Dover sole, crab, lobster, scallops that could be available.”

He said there had been rapid growth in fishermen starting up doorstep sales.

But he said: “I don’t think this will substitute the main supply chains, it won’t be anything of that magnitude.”

Seafish, which supports the British seafood industry, has provided online advice about selling directly to consumers.

Director Hazel Curtis said: “We export around 80% of the fish and shellfish caught around the UK, so some fishing boat owners are adapting and finding ways to sell their catch directly to fishmongers or to the general public.

“Groups of fishermen around the UK are setting up websites so they can sell locally landed fish straight to local fishmongers or to households and we’re seeing an increase in the use of fish vans which makes it easier for people to buy seafood too.

“We’d love people to support our coastal communities and eat more of the delicious seafood we catch.”