CASE STUDIES
Interested in learning more about what the Animateurs do? Take a look at our collection of case studies. It's a great resource where you can find information and insights about the projects we've worked on.
Engine grant funded by the UK Seafood fund
James Moyle is an inshore fisherman who employs two others to help on board his vessel Grey Mist. He is passionate about sustainability and his home port of Lyme Regis, an area of outstanding natural beauty with only a handful of commercial fishing boats still working from the harbour.
James fishes seasonally, using only passive gear to catch sole, plaice and crabs. He has a deep concern for the environmental impact of his work and chooses to hand-harvest scallops when conditions allow.
With the help from the Fishing Animateur team James has received a grant from the UK Seafood fund for an engine replacement; by replacing his engine built in 2009 with a like for like model, he will reduce fuel use and carbon emissions on board his vessel and contribute to emitting fewer greenhouse gas emissions within the fishing sector.
This project has ensured James’s fishing business will continue to flourish and play a part in supporting the small coastal community of Lyme Regis including the others he employs.
Mark & Marie
Mark Taylor is a small-scale fisherman who fishes with his crew member, Marie from their home port of Hope Cove. They have been fishing from the port for many years, fishing no further than 6 miles offshore, between Hamstone and Ayrmer Cove. Mark and Marie use a variation of sustainable fishing gear from potting and netting to scalloping.
Their catch varies, from lobster during April to September, which are sold to local pubs and restaurants and Spider and Brown crabs which are exported to Spain and Portugal. Occasionally, Mark and his crew also undertake artisanal fishing of scallops using a traditional 1-metre dredge in Salcombe harbour which they sell directly to local businesses and customers within Hope harbour.
As Mark and Marie sell most of their catch locally, delivering straight to wholesalers, restaurants, and markets it creates the additional need for storage of the catch, to maintain optimum price. Additionally, they faced difficulty in the hot summer months of 2022, maintaining quality of the catch at high temperatures. Therefore, their project focused upon the improving the efficiency and quality of their shoreside infrastructure. This included the purchase of onshore lobster tanks, a walkin freezer, ice-maker, and insulated fish tubs to maintain the value of their catch.
Local fishermen also face the trouble of ice collecting, as the nearest ice facility is based in Plymouth Harbour. The purchase of a small ice facility would improve the ability to net and land fish when the weather allows, as they would not be limited by an ice supplier. A local inshore ice facility will also reduce the amount of time and fuel consumed travelling back and forth to Plymouth.
Through the assistance of the Fishing Animateur team Mark and Marie put forward an application for FaSS grant funding in March 2023. The project was a total of £31,575.85 and gained 80% funding from the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme. Without this funding, they would not have been able to purchase and improve their shoreside infrastructure. This has allowed them to increase resilience within their business, and helped to gain greater control over their ability to sell their catch at an optimum price and premium quality.
Improvements to shore based
infrastructure in Hope Cove
Hope Cove is a small coastal village located in the South Hams District, Devon, England. It is located 5 miles west of Salcombe and 5 miles South-west of Kingsbridge.
The village itself is made up of two parts, Outer Hope to the north and Inner Hope to the south; both areas are home to a small sandy beach and are within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Historically, Hope village was developed as a centre for the local fishing industry, mainly landing crabs, lobsters, and pilchards. Unfortunately, due to the rocky surrounding seas, the area has not been kind to the local fishers in the past, with many boats falling victim to the rocks at Bolt Tail. Fishing within Hope Cove, however, has always persisted - shifting from pilchard, crab, and lobster fisheries to just crab and lobster fisheries in the modern day.
Hope Cove has always been a small hub for local small-scale fishermen, it is therefore essential to support the practice and allow it to continue.
Eclectic Quad bike for Joanna & Dave
The Fishing Animateur team have also helped Joanna Sealy and Dave Clark gain access to grant funding.
Joanna Sealy and Dave Clark are both small-scale coastal fishers, that operate from Hope cove. They use static gear, mainly pots to catch lobster and occasionally Spider crab. Prior to gaining funding, Joanna and Dave did not own a vehicle to move their vessel, making it difficult to transport their boat on land. As they are both passionate about sustainability, the project included the purchase of an electric quad bike.
With the support of the fishing Animateur team Joanna and Dave were able to gain 80% grant funding from the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme for their £26,000 project. Without this funding the purchase of the electric quad bike would not have been possible.
Both projects supported by The Fishing Animateur team have helped develop shoreside infrastructure within Hope Cove, and have supported the small, local fisher community within.
Health & Safety improvements
to Ilfracombe Harbour
Ilfracombe is an ancient port which has been in use for several centuries, and is the largest harbour in North Devon.
It is recorded that Ilfracombe has been a traditional farming and fishing community since the twelth century, and the fishing industry here is still thriving today. Ilfracombe harbour is home to 7 registered fishing boats and 5 day-trip tourist boats. Two deep sea fishing boats operate from the port, but the harbour primarily supports the five small-scale boats using static fishing methods such as pots, to catch lobsters, crabs and whelks.
The harbour is currently carrying out three projects that have secured grant funding of over £200,000 facilitated by North Devon Council and implemented and overseen by Ilfracombe’s Harbour Master, Georgina Carlo-Paat. These much-needed harbour improvements include new walkways, fendering, ladders, davits, landing crane and a fishermens compound.
The project once complete will improve the health and safety of the port, improve the resilience of the fishing fleet and maintain employment of >30 working fishermen, thus keeping Ilfracombe’s fishing industry thriving.
Health & Safety improvements on board
A prominent focus of the Fishing Animateur project is to help secure grant funding for projects that will improve health and safety in the industry.
Barney Rosewall is an expert fisher who has been in the industry for 15 years, he fishes single-handed on Trishanne a 6.4m vessel, from St Mawes. He uses static fishing methods, pots for crab and lobster and hand lines for bass. In 2022 the Fishing Animateurs supported an application to the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme and secured £60,000 of grant funding for a health and safety overhaul of Trishanne. The project now complete, comprised of a new non slip deck, raised gunnels, hand rails, new propeller and a complete re-wire of electrics. This project has generated many benefits, the upgrade to the vessel has increased safety, built resilience to the business and given Barney peace of mind when fishing single-handed by reducing the risks.
Direct selling in Cromer and Ramsgate
A common hurdle faced by remote and costal fishers are restrictions on where to sell their catch, when a market or footfall are not available.
One way to overcome this is to take the fish directly to the customer, this was the case in the Northern coastal town of Cromer, where the fishing animateurs helped Mr John Davies and his company to secure grant funding for a small refrigerated van. The company JJ & CAS Davies has one vessel, the Richard William 9.9m, John fishes within 6 miles of the coast, using pots to catch lobster and crab and occasionally nets for bass.
John runs the company with his partner Claire; which employs 6 full time staff, this includes two fishing crew. This project has greatly improved the business’s ability to sell its catch locally, to residents, restaurants and wholesalers. The benefit of the temperature controlled transport enables the catch quality to be maintained, improving its value thus, increasing the business’s resilience, maintaining employment and sustainability.
A similar project is being currently being carried out in Ramsgate where the Animateurs guided Mr Ian Cannon through the Fisheries and Seafood scheme grant application. Ian fishes from ‘Bumble’, a 6.5-metre fishing vessel with his brother Paul. Funding has been secured for a small refrigerated van, essential in helping Ian and his brother to build resilience in their business and sell to new markets. Ian and Paul plan to utilise the loans offered by Commsave credit union to complete their project. Commsave offer loan support to fishers to bridge the gap between purchasing the goods and receiving the grant funds.
Working with Credit Unions
The animateurs work with the CommSave Credit Union for projects across England and the Kernow Credit Union for smaller and challenged applicants in Cornwall.
With grants of 80% being available, the credit unions have turned a carrot on a long stick into a viable project. As all grants are claimed retrospectively many businesses do not have the cash flow to enable this. The credit union loans against the offer letter at around 1.2% a month and will loan the remaining 20% at 26% over 2 years. For many small fishers this has been a vital element of enabling their project.
To date under FASS over £750,000 has been loaned through CommSave and £250,000 with the Kernow Credit Union. The default rate is 0.25%. The maximum loan is
£50,000 with a number of claims possible the largest project supported could be around £140,000.