Blog: Oceans

Where were you when you heard the news? I was sitting in a very chilly train station in Edinburgh, cursing a delayed train, unable to extricate myself from Twitter to go get a restorative coffee, when the news came through: Members of the European Parliament, those elected but often-maligned creatures, had voted overwhelmingly in favour of radical, progressive reform of Europe’s fish laws.

At a time when we’re all concerned about what goes into our food, the phrase "it's not what it says on the tin,” has never been more appropriate. Our latest investigation into one of the most powerful and influential fishing industry bodies in the UK has exposed a clique of foreign fishing barons, including companies linked to illegal and destructive fishing.

Yesterday morning in chilly Brussels I joined small scale fishermen and Greenpeace campaigners who had travelled from all over Europe to demonstrate together outside the European Council Building. We were there to remind ministers to put the health of our oceans first, in the reform process of the European laws that govern our seas.

Phil Lockley is a small-scale, artisanal fisherman from Cornwall. He works from one of the most beautiful ‘rivers’ of Cornwall, the Helford River, as part of a small fleet of 18 vessels, each measuring under 10m in length.

Rarely do I need an alarm clock. My winter day begins without prompting at 05.00hrs GMT; a routine shared by countless other European artisanal fishermen who prepare for their day of work.

I willingly and lovingly hunt for fish and shellfish. It’s not just a job. To many it is a way of life.