Advertise on podcast: Fathom: getting below the surface of the UK fishing industry.

It’s been a while, but we are back with a brand new episode! Chris Ranford catches up with Mike Cohen, NFFO CEO, after a year off from the fathom mic - they talk the good, the bad, and the ugly of the past 12 months.

In the lead-up to polling day, Fathom has produced a flash series detailing the key priorities for the UK fishing industry. With few references to fishing in the main parties’ plans, Chris Ranford, Fathom’s co-host and Chief Executive of the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation sits down alongside Mike Cohen, the CEO of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations to lay out the action they would like to see from the incoming government. In this mini-series finale, Chris and Mike pull the pieces of the puzzle together, consolidating the topics covered in episodes one to four with a call for a national fishing strategy. Could a nationwide strategy transform the piecemeal approach we’ve seen to date, to provide a joined-up, logical approach to planning that ensures the long-term growth and prosperity of the industry?  Find the CFPO’s election manifesto here: https://cfpo.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CFPO-manifesto-2.pdf The fourth series of the Fathom podcast has been produced by the Cornish Fish Producers' Organisation (CFPO) with funding from The Seafarers' Charity.

In the lead-up to polling day, Fathom has produced a flash series detailing the key priorities for the UK fishing industry. With few references to fishing in the main parties’ plans, Chris Ranford, Fathom’s co-host and Chief Executive of the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation sits down alongside Mike Cohen, the CEO of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations to lay out the action they would like to see from the incoming government. Most seafarers are aware of the risks to their safety involved in their professions. How these risks are managed is an important area for the next UK government to consider. Top down approaches have left fishermen with the impression that measures being introduced to safeguard them are instead proving to be obstacles preventing them from doing what they do best: catching fish.  After the attempted, controversial introduction of a new medical certificate requirement by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) recently, more than ever, fishermen are looking for government departments to work together and listen to the industry. In this episode, Chris and Mike discuss the need for a fundamental reform of how health, safety and welfare regulations are developed and managed in the fishing industry.  Find the CFPO’s election manifesto here: https://cfpo.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CFPO-manifesto-2.pdf The fourth series of the Fathom podcast has been produced by the Cornish Fish Producers' Organisation (CFPO) with funding from The Seafarers' Charity.

In the lead-up to polling day, Fathom has produced a flash series detailing the key priorities for the UK fishing industry. With few references to fishing in the main parties’ plans, Chris Ranford, Fathom’s co-host and Chief Executive of the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation sits down alongside Mike Cohen, the CEO of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations to lay out the action they would like to see from the incoming government. In our third instalment, Fathom considers the importance of the next government pursuing fair, representative marine spatial planning policies to guarantee a viable future for the UK fishing industry and its ability to continue to produce seafood. In recent years the use of space in the sea by fishing fleets has become contested with the introduction and expansion of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), offshore wind infrastructure and underwater cables. The NFFO and SFF published a report titled ‘Spatial Squeeze’ in 2022, which highlighted the cumulative effect MPA’s, cables and offshore renewables are having on the fishing fleet's ability to harvest food from the sea.  There’s a concern that fishermen’s voices are being ignored as increased jostling for space around our coasts ensues. Indeed, this is not just a practical issue of fishermen having access to the sea to carry out their livelihood. It also speaks to an increasing sense that fishing as an economic activity is becoming deprioritised. In this episode, Chris and Mike discuss the importance of making fishing a statutory consultee to ensure it is engaged at the earliest stage of marine planning.  Find the CFPO’s election manifesto here The fourth series of the Fathom podcast has been produced by the Cornish Fish Producers' Organisation (CFPO) with funding from The Seafarers' Charity.

In the lead-up to polling day, Fathom has produced a flash series detailing the key priorities for the UK fishing industry. With few references to fishing in the main parties’ plans, Chris Ranford, Fathom’s co-host and Chief Executive of the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation sits down alongside Mike Cohen, the CEO of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations to lay out the action they would like to see from the incoming government. In this second instalment, we explore the future of fisheries management. Over the course of the last parliament, the government has developed and begun to roll out one of the biggest overhauls in fisheries management and decision-making in decades, following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy. The idea behind Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) is to replace the EU’s top-down system with one that invites collaboration between fisheries managers and fishermen themselves.  If a new government takes charge from July 5th, what do they do with the ambitious timetable set out in the joint fisheries statement, as well as the design and implementation of FMPs? Mike and Chris offer their view.  Find the CFPO’s election manifesto here: https://cfpo.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CFPO-manifesto-2.pdf The fourth series of the Fathom podcast has been produced by the Cornish Fish Producers' Organisation (CFPO) with funding from The Seafarers' Charity.

In the lead-up to polling day, Fathom has produced a flash series detailing the key priorities for the UK fishing industry. With few references to fishing in the main parties’ plans, Chris Ranford, Fathom’s co-host and Chief Executive of the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation sits down alongside Mike Cohen, the CEO of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations to lay out the action they would like to see from the incoming government. The first episode tackles the topic of fishing as a part of food security. Much has been made during the course of the General Election 2024 campaign about the value of energy security through domestic production in reducing reliance on imported energy – critical in the context of unstable global markets. Similarly – though not as well emphasised – in recent years we’ve seen the impact of global supply chain disruptions and soaring food prices trigger the need for a strategy to keep the population fed with inexpensive, nutritious, sustainable food. This episode poses the question; do our politicians recognise the role fishing plays in bolstering our food security?   Find the CFPO’s election manifesto here. The fourth series of the Fathom podcast has been produced by the Cornish Fish Producers' Organisation (CFPO) with funding from The Seafarers' Charity.

For episode 5, Fathom headed to the launch event organised by the first-ever Young Fishermen Network, here in the UK. We speak to young fishermen Will Jaycock, a 20-year-old 3rd generation fisherman from Looe whose heart is set on a sustainable future for fishing, and 28-year-old Tom Lambourn from Newlyn who only decided to pursue fishing full-time after graduating from university. Also featured are the CFPO’s Chris Ranford, and Matilda Phillips in her new role as Network Coordinator. This episode broadcasts some of the unconventional and refreshing ways in which the Young Fishermen Network are bringing young fishermen together, to talk fishing gear, life at sea and the future of fishing. The view is simple, young fishermen need to feel like they are a part of something, in a profession with a viable future. In this episode, Tom and Will talk about how welcoming it has been to meet up with other young people who fish, and offer their vision for how a young people's network can develop the relationship between older generations and mentors, and strengthen the relationship between fishing communities and ports across the UK. CFPO Chief Executive Chris Ranford, and co-ordinator of the Young Fishermen Network Matilda Phillips, tackle the issue of retaining young fishermen already in the industry while ensuring new generations of fishermen are coming through. They reveal the practical nature of bringing people into commercial fishing with more meetups, career events at schools, and active social media platforms offering behind-the-scenes information for young people.  Listen and learn how the network is developing future leaders of the industry, and hear from young fishermen themselves on being closer to the decision-making processes determining their future on the seas.  The fourth series of the Fathom podcast has been produced by the Cornish Fish Producers' Organisation (CFPO) with funding from The Seafarers' Charity.

Fathom’s back with its first episode of 2024. A new jingle isn’t the only thing we’ve refreshed on the podcast as Charlotte Scotland from the CFPO takes her maiden voyage in the host’s chair. In this episode, Charlotte is joined by CFPO CEO Chris Ranford, economist Jim Plunkket-Cole, and Edd Hind-Ozin from Defra. They unpack the key findings of the CFPO-commissioned  ‘Value of Seafood to Cornwall,’ report and discuss ways it will benefit the fishing industry.  But let’s take a step back and first ask: where did the report in question come from? A strategic review by the CFPO in 2021 identified four pillars of focus to support the Cornish fishing fleet in the post-Brexit and post-COVID landscape. A series of small-scale pilot projects that aligned with these priorities ensued. Soon after, it became apparent that evidence proving the economic importance of Cornwall’s seafood sector was needed to fulfil the vision set out in the strategy and attract longer-term investment. This is where the report comes in! In the episode economist Jim Plunkket-Cole, who co-authored the report with the former chief economist for Seafish, Hazel Curtis, reveals some of the startling statistics that illustrate how uniquely critical Cornwall’s fishing industry is to the economy and Cornish communities. Meanwhile, Edd Hind-Ozan, Defra's Head of Fisheries Social Science and a member of the report's advisory group, offers his view on how this research should be deployed to shape future policies and address the challenges confronting the Cornish fishing fleet. The fourth series of the Fathom podcast has been produced by the Cornish Fish Producers' Organisation (CFPO) with funding from The Seafarers' Charity. LINKS: Read the full report The True Value to Seafood in Cornwall Infographic 

In this third episode of the fourth series, CFPO CEO Chris Ranford and guest co-host Charles Blyth, the Risk, Safety & Training Lead at the NFFO are joined by Julie Carlton, Seafarer Safety & Health Manager at the MCA as we revisit medicals ahead of the fast approaching November 2023 deadline. Fathom kicked off this series at the start of the year with a broad look into the world of health and safety at sea and shared insights and issues to be aware of for the year ahead from fishing safety experts. This episode focuses in on the most significant issue within the fishing industry at present: the requirement for every fisherman to be in possession of a ML5 or ENG1 medical certification by November this year. Medicals have become the talk of many coastal communities in recent months. The requirement has come into force as part of the ILO188 Working in Fishing Convention, which has set common worldwide standards for health, safety and working conditions at-sea. With growing concern, and some confusion, about what the medicals entail and why they are needed, we brought on Julie Carlton from the MCA to help us answer some of the most frequently asked questions Chris and Charles have been getting from fishermen. We cover the who, where, when, what why of medicals in the fishing industry, as well as getting into the detail of the getting an appointment ahead of the November deadline and what the MCA are trying to do to address that, the requirements for Grandfather rights and the flexibility of the medicals in terms of meeting the deadline and conditions required to pass. If you have any concerns or questions, you can get in touch with Charles at the NFFO at [email protected] or find details or contact the MCA directly. The fourth series of the Fathom podcast has been produced by the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation (CFPO) with funding from The Seafarers’ Charity. LINKS Find how to apply for your medical certificate here More guidance from the MCA on medicals can be found hereYou can also get support and advice from Seafit, an initiative jointly run by Fishermen's Mission and Seafarers Hospital Society helping to connect fishermen to both physical and mental health services.

In this second episode of the fourth series, CFPO CEO Chris Ranford and guest co-host David Stevens, skipper of the Crystal Sea and Chairperson of Fishing into the Future, are joined by Hannah Fennell, Head of Orkney Fisheries Association; Fiona Taylor, Head of Sea Fisheries, Policy and Grants at DAERA; and Robbie Fisher, Head of Domestic Fisheries Sustainability and Devolution,at DEFRA. The episode picks up on the development of new Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs), with the guests reflecting on what they learnt about the U.S. co-management system on a recent exchange trip to the Gulf of Maine. The fourth series of the Fathom podcast has been produced by the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation (CFPO) with funding from The Seafarers’ Charity.  What can we learn from the rest of the world as we embark on one of the largest overhauls of fisheries management in the UK in decades? 43 FMPs that seek to replace the Common Fisheries Policy are in development, with the UK looking to change what’s seen by some as a top-down system in the E.U. in favour of a more collaborative approach. Across the pond, the United States has a well-established co-management model. Last year, The Fishmongers’ Company Fisheries Charitable Trust funded an exchange trip with fishers and managers from all corners of the U.K. to the Gulf of Maine to learn more about how the industry, managers, and scientists work together to collect data and make collaborative management decisions.  In this episode, we explore the values and principles that underpin the U.S. system and the investment and education that goes into making co-management work. We consider how possible it would be to translate this approach to the U.K.’s new framework, taking into account the differences between the U.K’s four nations. Robbie and Fiona also give us an update on the development of FMPs, with Hannah and David providing an industry perspective on what they would like to see from the co-management approach included.  The episode is a really useful insight into how the future of fisheries management may look, with the exchange trip and the innovative, cutting-edge ideas that came out of it likely to play an influence in establishing the U.K’s new framework.

For the premiere of the fourth series, CFPO CEO Chris Ranford and guest co-host Clive Palfrey, from Seafood Cornwall Training, who is Fathom’s in-house specialist on all things safety, are joined by Charles Blyth, the Risk, Safety & Training Lead at the NFFO. It’s been over two years since Fathom has recorded a safety-themed episode, and given the ever-shifting nature of health & safety regulation and new requirements on the horizon, it’s a really important topic to start on and a must-listen for anyone working onboard fishing vessels!  The fourth series of the Fathom podcast has been produced by the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation (CFPO) with funding from The Seafarers’ Charity.  The new MCA code for fishing vessels under 12m, which was implemented in September 2021 and new regulations emanating from ILO188 has caused some apprehension as to what exactly fishermen need to do to remain compliant with the law. In this episode, Charles and Clive are on hand to help disentangle some of the complexities and answer some frequently asked questions arising from these new regulations, specifically focusing in on three areas: medical examinations, lifting equipment and enclosed spaces. In regards to medical examinations, by November 2023, all fishermen will be required to hold a medical certificate, not just those out at sea for more than 72 hours. We’re taken through the two different options open to fishermen: the ENG1 which is regarded as a higher grade medical but can only be undertaken by an MCA-approved doctor, or the ML5, which is only applicable to inshore fishermen. We compare the benefits, shortfalls, practicalities and costs involved. Listen in to find out which one is more likely to suit you! The conversation then pivots to safety, with our guests speaking to their experience travelling around quaysides and noticing an endemic of unmaintained lifting equipment. There’s a reminder of the importance of regular, close inspections and maintaining a proper paper-trail of all your machinery. Imminent changes to the rules around enclosed spaces are also discussed, with a focus on accessing support to stay ahead of compliance as the rule changes come into force in May. The entire episode is a must-listen health & safety checklist, with the main message from our guests that fishermen should  get themselves sorted now and to speak to organisations that can provide help. Seafit is one such organisation that can provide advice if you’re concerned about your health ahead of a medical examination. While broader advice about what you need to do to stay ahead of compliance and the grants available to help you do just that can be found by contacting the NFFO. 

The Fathom podcast has partnered with The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) to produce a series of informative and highly topical episodes, focusing on the challenges and opportunities facing UK fishermen in the post-Brexit landscape.  In our fifth and final episode of the series, NFFO CEO Barrie Deas and CFPO CEO Chris Ranford are joined by a series-record number of guests who include: Nathan de Rozarieux, a fisheries consultant and fisherman operating out of Cornwall, Merlin Jackson, a former inshore fisherman operating from the Thames estuary and currently a fishing liaison to the offshore wind industry and Colin Warwick, retired fisherman and chair of Far and Large Offshore Wind (FLOW). Our panel were on hand to help us explore the issue of spatial squeeze, giving an insight into how marine space has been swallowed up over the past twenty years, the concerning reality of future competition for space and what can be done now to ensure fishing grounds are protected. “Spatial squeeze” is a concept that has become more prevalent in marine terminology over the past couple of decades. It refers to the increasing competition for space in the seas around our coasts, acknowledging the effect that new infrastructure such as offshore wind farms and marine protected areas are having on ever-shrinking fishing grounds.  The episode was timed with the release of a report by the NFFO. The report sought to reconcile local and regional snapshots of marine projects to date,  and show predictions of further developments to create a national picture of spatial squeeze from past to present and how impending plans will see future space used. Barrie kicks things off with the report’s daunting prediction that in the best-case scenario, we will lose a third of our fishing grounds and in the worst, up to a half.  We then hear from Merlin and Colin who provide an overview of how we got here, with Merlin suggesting that the planning and licensing process was set up so that by the time fishing communities received an opportunity to contribute their thoughts or concerns on new offshore wind farms, it was too late to do anything about it. Similarly Colin argues that there isn’t a level playing field with the absence of any statutory requirement to consult fisheries in the same way as other statutory consultees on new marine developments.  Nathan gives us some insights on a project he worked on with energy developers and the Crown Estate, who own virtually all of the seabed in UK waters. This virtual planning exercise sought to explore how coexistence between offshore wind and fishing could work. Nathan’s conclusion was that there was a chasm between what was theoretically and practically possible in terms of fishing inside an offshore wind farm, and the practical difficulties were not being taken into account in the planning process. The final part of the discussion centred on what the fishing community needed to do to ensure the survival and growth of the industry into the future. Here, there was broad agreement on exerting pressure on the government, the MMO and the Crown Estate to make both a cultural and statutory shift that would give fishermen a seat around the table in marine spatial planning. To do this, our panel agreed that there needed to be a concerted effort from the community to garner support from the public to the same degree as the Brexit campaign, and to build a recognition that food security needed to be taken as seriously as energy security.

The Fathom podcast has partnered with The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) to produce a series of informative and highly topical episodes, focusing on the challenges and opportunities facing UK fishermen in the post-Brexit landscape. In this fourth episode, NFFO CEO Barrie Deas and CFPO CEO Chris Ranford are joined by Lewis White and Robbie Fisher from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) who provided some inside insights into the upcoming bass Fisheries Management Plan (FMP). The episode kicks off with Lewis and Robbie explaining why bass was chosen as a front-runner for this FMP, given its importance to the industry and the progress needed in updating current rules. They give some background to Policy Lab, the organisation tasked to engage with the industry to get a broad view of what needs to be included in the FMP, which will begin in the summer. Lewis and Robbie have already visited a number of fishing communities to carry out some initial groundwork.  There’s a lot of interest in understanding what will be included in the FMP. In fact, it was a major topic of discussion in our last episode with themes like: flexibility for bass fishermen, issues of unavoidable bycatch, support for young fishermen and entitlements coming up. Lewis assures us that nothing will be left off of the table but also emphasised that there are no easy fixes in terms of overcoming the current challenges.  The episode also considered how the FMP would operate alongside the European Union’s management practices. Robbie was keen to stress that cooperation in managing bass stocks would still be a high priority but that implementing our own management plans would enable us to more effectively target the specific domestic challenges the UK faces.  Perhaps most importantly, our DEFRA officials highlighted the many pathways to involvement in the consultation process for the bass FMP. They were eager to note that the overarching principle behind the engagement was that it would be an open process. As well as a survey to register interest in the consultation, which you can find here, you can also email Policy Lab at: [email protected] to find out more. In the Autumn some collaborative workshops will bring stakeholders around the table, to discuss the findings of the initial engagement which will then be put together in a report sent to DEFRA. While drafting the new FMP, DEFRA will then continue to check-in with regional fisheries management groups and others. A consultation on the draft plan should then be in place by next Autumn. Tune in to the whole episode to learn more about consultation for the FMP: what will be in it, who will be a part of the process, when it will be ready and how it will all work! 

The Fathom podcast has partnered with The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) to produce a series of informative and highly topical episodes, focusing on the challenges and opportunities facing UK fishermen in the post-Brexit landscape. In this third episode, NFFO CEO Barrie Deas and CFPO CEO Chris Ranford are joined by Newlyn-based fisherman Andrew Pascoe as Fathom embarks on a series-first – a discussion centred around just one species of fish.  This episode takes a granular look at all of the past, present and future issues with sea bass, which is timely given that it is a frontrunner for a new fisheries management plan. DEFRA is currently seeking the industry’s views on this, and you can find out how you can get involved using this link.   Bass is a financially lucrative and reported by fishermen to be a widely available species. But due to a considerable amount of catch restrictions, and limits to catch authorisation, it has often been a subject of contention.  In this episode, Andrew and Barrie discuss entitlements, and whether it looks like there might be some flexibility on the horizon now bass will have its own fisheries management plan.  We hear from Carl Davies, a fisherman working out of Conwy in Wales who spoke about the challenge he faced when stock levels of sea bass dropped, while also getting inundated with paperwork after upgrading his vessel. Carl would like to see “mini-entitlements” to be given so that inshore vessels, which are dependent on following seasonality, are provided with more options.  Mike Warner from A Passion for Seafood, based in Suffolk emphasises the importance of being able to use all methods available to catch bass when they’re in abundance and would like to see an up to date management procedure to that effect. Current rules are having a disastrous impact on east-coast fisheries and coastal communities, according to Mike, with new entrants struggling to find a way in.  Listen in to hear Barrie and Andrew’s response to these comments and questions in our bumper bass episode. And in the next episode, we’ll also be getting DEFRA to respond to some of these concerns.  LINKS Fisheries management plan consultation 

The Fathom podcast has partnered with The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) to produce a series of informative and highly topical episodes, focusing on the challenges and opportunities facing UK fishermen in the post-Brexit landscape. In this second episode, NFFO CEO Barrie Deas and CFPO CEO Chris Ranford interview two Defra policy officials about a new piece of fishing legislation.  In this episode, we tackle the draft Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS), which is open for consultation from UK fishermen until 12th April. Not sure what the Joint Fisheries Statement is, or why it matters? You’re not alone!  Following the UK’s exit from the EU, fisheries management has undergone a number of big changes as we replace EU law with our own. In 2020, the UK Fisheries Act was passed in parliament. Then, in February this year, Scottish, Welsh, English and Irish fishing authorities drafted a Joint Fisheries Statement. This detailed document outlines exactly how the Fisheries Act will be delivered across these four authorities. Feedback on the draft document is now being sought from fishermen and other industry members as part of an open consultation.  To help break down this complex document, we are joined by Anne Freeman and Robbie Fisher from Defra. Hosts Barrie Deas and Chris Ranford ask them all the important questions - how can fishermen provide feedback on the JFS? What does the document actually mean for fisheries management? Will grassroots fishing communities be properly represented? Will the JFS be more flexible and adaptable than the unpopular Common Fisheries Policy that it replaces?  The Joint Fisheries Statement will affect all fishermen across the UK - so we encourage you to tune in, get clued up, then submit your thoughts to the consultation!  LINKS  CFPO digest on the Joint Fisheries Statement Read the draft Joint Fisheries Statement here  Joint Fisheries Statement government consultation - send in your views here