0:00:07 > 0:00:09We may live in a digital age...
0:00:11 > 0:00:14..but a surprising amount of British trade is still done the
0:00:14 > 0:00:16old-fashioned way...
0:00:16 > 0:00:18INDISTINCT BIDDING
0:00:19 > 0:00:21..at traditional auctions.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Now's your time to get a bargain.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27These sales may feel like throwbacks to a bygone age...
0:00:28 > 0:00:31..but for the buyers and sellers who flock to them,
0:00:31 > 0:00:34they're still the best way to conduct business.
0:00:34 > 0:00:361,600, blow your nose and bid again.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40We'll be visiting the UK's most dynamic traditional markets...
0:00:42 > 0:00:47..selling everything from pigs to cattle, sheep dogs to ponies...
0:00:49 > 0:00:51..fish to veg.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55And discovering how they are the heartbeat of rural life.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58There'll be bargains to be had today.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00- 4.50.- Best part of being at an auction.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05Today, we're on the stunning south Devon coast,
0:01:05 > 0:01:08home to a world-famous fish market.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12We'll be meeting the auctioneers in the hot seat...
0:01:12 > 0:01:14Lovely fish, isn't it? Best quality on here.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16The sky's the limit for prices.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19If they need something, they'll buy it at a loss if they have to.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22And following the fortunes of three buyers and sellers...
0:01:22 > 0:01:24Since I was probably 12-years-old,
0:01:24 > 0:01:27I've been going down to the auction and trying to make a buck.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30..as they experience all the excitement...
0:01:31 > 0:01:33I've got 8.50. 8.60? 8.60.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37..and tension...
0:01:37 > 0:01:38No, me.
0:01:38 > 0:01:39- 7.50?- He went to 7.50, did he?
0:01:39 > 0:01:40You went to £7.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42..as the hammer falls.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44200.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55We're in Brixham, Devon.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00At the heart of this picturesque fishing town is the world-famous
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Brixham fish market.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07It's been going for well over 100 years,
0:02:07 > 0:02:10but it's now experiencing the biggest boom in its history.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12How much for those?
0:02:14 > 0:02:15£15 for each.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22This fish, here, was probably caught yesterday afternoon.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24They've got a sparkle in their eyes.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29I consider myself extremely lucky that I can buy my fish here.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34It's one of England's biggest fish auctions.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38Around 11,000 tonnes of fish were sold here last year.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43Everything from mullet to mackerel, sea bass to scallops.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Battling to achieve the best possible price for the fish here are
0:02:48 > 0:02:51auctioneers John Rogers and Todd Crombie.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Morning, boys.
0:02:57 > 0:02:58Brixham market has gone from
0:02:58 > 0:03:01strength to strength in the last few years.
0:03:01 > 0:03:02It doesn't seem to be easing up.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05If anything, it's getting more
0:03:05 > 0:03:07busier and busier as the years progress.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11Behind Brixham's current boom is a
0:03:11 > 0:03:14huge increase in international trade.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18Last year, we broke all our records and made £30 million worth of fish.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21We're on, you know, to beat all port records again this year.
0:03:22 > 0:03:23Beautiful lobsters.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28We've actually topped the million pound for a week
0:03:28 > 0:03:31and it was all, like, big celebrations and that is,
0:03:31 > 0:03:36but this year, our best ever week is just short of £2 million,
0:03:36 > 0:03:40which is silly money, isn't it? It's Monopoly money, so...
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Yeah, it's been brilliant.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48And it's great news for the whole town as nearly everyone in Brixham
0:03:48 > 0:03:52has some connection to the fishing industry and the market.
0:03:52 > 0:03:53The fishing port really in Brixham, I mean,
0:03:53 > 0:03:57it's a massive amount of people that's employed through here.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01There's a lot of people that depend on the market side, the boat side,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04then you've got the restaurants and all the other fish businesses that
0:04:04 > 0:04:05expand from that.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15John and Todd are on the market floor from 5am every day checking
0:04:15 > 0:04:17- what's for sale.- Nice crabs.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21They'll make good money today.
0:04:21 > 0:04:22Absolutely love this job.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25I don't suppose there's many people
0:04:25 > 0:04:28who can say they look forward to going to work, but I do.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30I rarely take holidays.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32I'd work all the time if I could.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34And if you can get top price for your fish, you know,
0:04:34 > 0:04:37you're happy with yourself, you know the boat's going to be happy and
0:04:37 > 0:04:41the fishermen are going to be happy, so you can walk into a pub on...
0:04:41 > 0:04:43With your head held high, really, at the end of the day.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Morning. All right, mate?
0:04:49 > 0:04:51All right, son? You all right?
0:04:51 > 0:04:55It's 6am and today's auction gets under way with the traditional
0:04:55 > 0:04:58ringing of the bell.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00BELL RINGS
0:05:01 > 0:05:03Sales! Sales!
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Right, what would you like for the large plaice, then?
0:05:08 > 0:05:102.50 on the large plaice.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Seven and two pieces left.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14£11.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16Warmer autumn weather has meant lots of boats out fishing and there's
0:05:16 > 0:05:20been no market over the weekend, so this Monday morning,
0:05:20 > 0:05:24there's a bumper quantity of fish for sale, over 100 tonnes.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Supply and demand, and obviously
0:05:26 > 0:05:28there's a lot of supply at the moment,
0:05:28 > 0:05:30with it being quiet weather.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34Everything that floats out, every port's got fish being landed to it,
0:05:34 > 0:05:36including the continent.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39But fish can only command a top price when it's fresh,
0:05:39 > 0:05:42so John and Todd need to sell all of it today.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44I've got 8.50, 8.60?
0:05:44 > 0:05:46To help them get through it all quicker,
0:05:46 > 0:05:48they run two auctions in parallel.
0:05:48 > 0:05:5240, 50, 60... 80, 90. £96?
0:05:52 > 0:05:5411 for that piece?
0:05:54 > 0:05:55£12, one, twos or threes.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59John will sell all the prime, which is the big fish.
0:05:59 > 0:06:04You know, the soles and the monk and, you know, all that side of it.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07£5. £5, 5.10. 5.10, 5.20, 5.30.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Todd sells all the day boats.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12They're the boats that go out daily.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15A lot of the small buyers prefer that because it's just the small
0:06:15 > 0:06:16pieces for their shops.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19There are 50 buyers registered to bid at Brixham.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22There's various types of buyers.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Everybody's looking for different things.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26On Todd's side, little shops and stuff,
0:06:26 > 0:06:28they're all looking for, you know,
0:06:28 > 0:06:32that really fresh fish which has only been caught the previous day.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37The bigger buyers are looking for more bulk stuff, really.
0:06:39 > 0:06:40The bigger companies, I mean,
0:06:40 > 0:06:45they will spend up to a good £200,000 to £300,000 a day.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49And you could get your little man with a van
0:06:49 > 0:06:52and his bill might be 20 quid a day.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Someone who's hoping to get a top price
0:06:57 > 0:06:59for his fish at today's auction
0:06:59 > 0:07:03is trawler fisherman, Alan Scales, skipper of the Ann Marie.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06There's been a lot of fish about all week,
0:07:06 > 0:07:09so a lot of the buyers have got a lot of fish in stock.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Prices are going to struggle a bit today, I think.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15For the fishermen, like Alan, who supply the market,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18auction day actually begins the evening before.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29Alan and his crew on the Ann Marie are one of 50 small day boats and 23
0:07:29 > 0:07:31larger vessels which call Brixham home.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39I've fished all round the country over the years and landed in
0:07:39 > 0:07:40different places.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44The feeling of when you come back to Brixham is just there,
0:07:44 > 0:07:46there's something that grips you.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Anyone that's been here will know what I mean.
0:07:53 > 0:07:59I started fishing full-time at 15, 40 years ago now.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03I went down to the harbour as a kid about nine-years-old,
0:08:03 > 0:08:05just wandering around, getting in everyone's way.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10I was interested in absolutely everything about the boats,
0:08:10 > 0:08:12so I knew that that was what my life was going to be.
0:08:14 > 0:08:15He and his crew have arrived back
0:08:15 > 0:08:17into harbour after a full day trip at sea.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21But there's no time to relax, as they need to get their catch
0:08:21 > 0:08:24unloaded and into the market ready for the morning's auction.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31So, this week, we've got approximately 110 boxes of
0:08:31 > 0:08:35cuttlefish and 70, 80 boxes of mixed fish.
0:08:36 > 0:08:37That normally takes us...
0:08:39 > 0:08:43..three quarters of an hour to land, if everything goes OK.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46In total, they've caught just over six tonnes
0:08:46 > 0:08:49of 18 different species of fish.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52It's a buzz when you've had a good landing.
0:08:52 > 0:08:53When you don't have a good landing,
0:08:53 > 0:08:57when you're trying to earn a living for five or six crew,
0:08:57 > 0:09:02it does get you down because you feel so responsible for those crew.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04When it's really, really good,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07then you get a pat on the back from them and everything's good.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09MUSIC PLAYS
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Alan and his crew on the Ann Marie are hoping this catch will net them
0:09:19 > 0:09:22enough to earn a decent wage for their trip.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26They've been seeking out a particular type of fish they hope
0:09:26 > 0:09:28will guarantee them a good price at the auction.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32This time of year, cuttlefish is our main target species.
0:09:34 > 0:09:35Every year is different.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38We can't plan, we just go out,
0:09:38 > 0:09:42reports from other boats that are already out, the general feeling.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46We hunt it down, look for it, and over a period of six or seven days,
0:09:46 > 0:09:50then we sort of pin it down to a particular area.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Cuttlefish are not actually fish at all
0:09:55 > 0:09:57but molluscs like squid and octopus.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02They're cooked and eaten in a similar way, but unlike squid,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05cuttlefish have a hard internal bone.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11They're particularly abundant in the English Channel in the autumn,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14but they've never been popular on UK plates,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17so the vast majority caught here are exported.
0:10:19 > 0:10:20Cuttlefish mainly goes to the
0:10:20 > 0:10:23European market - Spain, Italy, France.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28But this particular year, the Chinese market has happened,
0:10:28 > 0:10:33so there's been a lot more demand for our cuttlefish,
0:10:33 > 0:10:36so the price has been up a lot better on that.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39The rising price of cuttlefish is one of the key factors behind
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Brixham's current boom.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45Most of the fish Alan's caught on this trip are cuttlefish,
0:10:45 > 0:10:48so he's hoping the price stays high at the auction.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51There's a lot at stake, as a bad price could mean Alan and
0:10:51 > 0:10:55his crew won't get paid at all for their four-day trip.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57We don't know what the price is going to be at the end of it all.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03It's an auction, so that means it's auctioned every day.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05There is no guarantee that we're going to get a good price.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09We could come in at the end of a week and not make the expenses of
0:11:09 > 0:11:15the daily running of the boat. With your fuel, insurance, the food,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18all the other things that come with that,
0:11:18 > 0:11:20it's approximately £2,000 a day.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25And the risks aren't just financial.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Fishing is one of the UK's most dangerous jobs,
0:11:28 > 0:11:32with fishermen standing a one in 20 chance of being killed at work.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36There's lots of risks at sea.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41Obviously, weather is one particular thing we have to keep an eye on.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Old wrecks that we could tip the boat over.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48Obviously, you could lose your life and lose the life of all your crew.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52You have to be very, very wary and respect the sea.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00Alan's hoping this morning's auction will make the risks worthwhile.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03I would hope to think that we would make somewhere in the region of
0:12:03 > 0:12:04about £20,000.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06That would be a good result for us.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10But the good weather that's helped them catch larger fish could
0:12:10 > 0:12:12actually make selling them more difficult.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16The problem is if everyone catches lots and lots of fish,
0:12:16 > 0:12:21then the market gets flooded with fish and then the buyers of our fish
0:12:21 > 0:12:23struggle to sell it.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25£6, 6.50. 60?
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Do all the fives, you could take them all home.
0:12:28 > 0:12:29Another number three, then.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Did somebody say 5.50? 12.10, 12.20?
0:12:32 > 0:12:3412.10. At 12.10.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40Alan has just over six tonnes of fish for sale at today's market.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44The next few hours will determine whether or not he and his crew will
0:12:44 > 0:12:47make enough on it to earn a wage for their four-day trip.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51The huge amount of fish that's come in overnight from the Ann Marie and
0:12:51 > 0:12:54all the other boats has been sorted.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57The auctioneers will group together several boxes of the same size and
0:12:57 > 0:13:01species, and the bidders offer a price per kilo for each lot.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03Not overoptimistic today.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05They're just starting to sell our soles now,
0:13:05 > 0:13:07so we'll have a listen out and fingers crossed.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Hopefully, it will be a bit better today.
0:13:10 > 0:13:11Right, now, the fours.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Fours there now. How much for those?
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Lovely fish, isn't it? Best quality on here.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19£7? £7. 7.10? Ten, 20? 20, 30? £10 by Brixham.
0:13:19 > 0:13:2210.10? £10, Brixham.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26- Which piece, Nige?- Alan's Dover soles have been sold as part of a
0:13:26 > 0:13:31group averaging around £10 per kilo, £2 less than a month before.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33He's made just under £1,500 for them.
0:13:33 > 0:13:40Right, number two tubs. 1.20. I've accepted 1.10.
0:13:40 > 0:13:41£1?
0:13:41 > 0:13:44Alan's catch is going under the hammer lot by lot.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47There's nothing he can do but wait.
0:13:47 > 0:13:48Ones, twos and threes.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Ten?
0:13:51 > 0:13:54Prices so far aren't quite what he was hoping for.
0:13:54 > 0:13:5726.
0:13:57 > 0:13:58At 10.70.
0:13:58 > 0:14:0010.70 again.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04They've just sold our monk and the price has been much the same as the
0:14:04 > 0:14:08other boats, so it's been OK, but not a brilliant price.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14There's a long way to go to reach the £20,000 target that will ensure
0:14:14 > 0:14:16Alan and his crew get a decent wage,
0:14:16 > 0:14:19but he still has his big cuttlefish haul to go.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Will it bring in the big bucks he was banking on?
0:14:26 > 0:14:30The daily dramas taking place at the market are just the latest chapter
0:14:30 > 0:14:31in its long history.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37Fish has been auctioned here for over 100 years and fishing has been
0:14:37 > 0:14:39the town's lifeblood for over a thousand.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45So-called Brixham trawlers were among the world's first deep sea
0:14:45 > 0:14:47fishing vessels, allowing fishermen
0:14:47 > 0:14:49to go further and deeper than ever before.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Been a fishing town for many a year.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56Back in the 18th century, really, it all starts from the sailing
0:14:56 > 0:14:59smacks right up till now, so all the modern fleet that we have.
0:15:02 > 0:15:067.1.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08Right, number two.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10I've got £3 by Ocean. 3.10?
0:15:10 > 0:15:13But the auction isn't stuck in the past.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17A £20 million upgrade in 2011 has made it one of the world's most
0:15:17 > 0:15:19hi-tech selling operations.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Boats unload their catches at the market quay.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27These are graded overnight on a computerised conveyor belt that
0:15:27 > 0:15:30weighs and sorts each fish.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33A one is a large and a five is a small,
0:15:33 > 0:15:37so the bigger the fish, usually, the more the money.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41The data is fed to electronic pads for the auctioneers
0:15:41 > 0:15:45and digital displays that keep everyone updated on prices.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47We sell them with an electronic pad now.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50We used to do the pen and paper, but obviously,
0:15:50 > 0:15:54we've moved on from that now, which is a lot easier.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57And that, mate, is the four kilos.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Me and John, obviously, we're not too computer minded,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03so it was a bit daunting when it all started for us,
0:16:03 > 0:16:08but we've rose above it and, you know,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11me and John are coming into the 21st century slowly.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15£6. That is 1.2 kilos. Obviously, he has.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26One of the very few regular female
0:16:26 > 0:16:29buyers is local fishmonger, Tracy Beer.
0:16:32 > 0:16:37I'm looking for the fish to be clear eyes, bright skin, just vibrant.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Do you want that?
0:16:39 > 0:16:41What, the brill? What size is it? Is it a three?
0:16:41 > 0:16:43You see mackerel and it's shining,
0:16:43 > 0:16:46you know that's lovely and that's going to sell all day in my shop.
0:16:46 > 0:16:502.20 on the number two plaice. I've got £2, £2.10.
0:16:50 > 0:16:55MUSIC PLAYS
0:16:59 > 0:17:03Tracy's fishmonger's shop is five miles up the coast in Paignton.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06I love my shop.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09I'm very passionate about it.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11No-one dresses my window but me.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19I've got a really nice relationship with a lot of my customers.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21You know, we're friends, really.
0:17:21 > 0:17:22- Thank you very much, my love.- Bye.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24Thank you, bye.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Unlike most of the buyers and sellers at Brixham market,
0:17:27 > 0:17:29Tracy's new to the game.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32I've been a fishmonger full-time for a year.
0:17:32 > 0:17:37Prior to that, I was training with the previous owner
0:17:37 > 0:17:40and myself and my husband bought the shop a year ago.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42There used to be four fishmongers here.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45Now Tracy's shop is the only one.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48The change of being a store manager to a fishmonger,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51running a business and running the shop,
0:17:51 > 0:17:56something that was completely new to me, was really hard work.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57Found it very stressful.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00I was trying to learn so much and take so much in
0:18:00 > 0:18:02but still keep that business going.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07I think the toughest part is the
0:18:07 > 0:18:10early mornings and it's such a long day.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Obviously, I'm up at half past four in the morning and I'm actually
0:18:13 > 0:18:16doing two to three hours at market buying fish
0:18:16 > 0:18:19before my day even really begins.
0:18:19 > 0:18:20I'm just cold all day.
0:18:21 > 0:18:22You know, your hands are in ice.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24You get home from work and you smell of fish.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29But despite the difficulties, she wouldn't be anywhere else.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31I'm so passionate about it now.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34Before, I wouldn't even have a fish on my plate with a head on it.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37You know, I'd be like, "Not a chance!"
0:18:37 > 0:18:40But now, going to market, seeing all these wonderful fresh
0:18:40 > 0:18:44fish that our fishermen bring in just excites me. It's lovely.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48I'd never tried turbot before until I started going to market
0:18:48 > 0:18:51and it's amazing. So there's varieties of fish out there that
0:18:51 > 0:18:53you can get from your fishmonger
0:18:53 > 0:18:55which you won't be able to get in your supermarket.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00I'm really hoping that people start to use their fishmonger
0:19:00 > 0:19:04and not supermarket. It's fresh, filleted for you in store.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08OK, Scott, do you want me to skin it for you?
0:19:08 > 0:19:10- Yeah.- Do you want it skinned?
0:19:13 > 0:19:17The daily auctions at Brixham market are vital to Tracy's business.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20It's really important to know where the fish is from.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22Customers ask. I know it's going to be fresh,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25I know that that fish was possibly swimming the day before.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29When I'm there, I can choose what fish I want, I can see it.
0:19:29 > 0:19:30Brixham is...
0:19:30 > 0:19:32It's the world-famous Brixham fish market.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34It makes a massive difference to my shop.
0:19:34 > 0:19:3720 minutes back from market and I'm ready.
0:19:37 > 0:19:42MUSIC PLAYS
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Back at the auction, she has a long list of fish to find,
0:19:48 > 0:19:52including plaice, cod and lemon sole.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56I go down, I have an idea of what I need that day for my shop.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59If I can get that fish at market, that's a good day.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03Obviously, getting it at the right price is important.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06I've got overheads, so if I'm buying some fish,
0:20:06 > 0:20:08I need to know that I can double that, so, you know,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11obviously if I'm getting a little bit more, even better.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13I need to buy fish daily.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15That bass mix, then. £7.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17I've got £7. 7.10? £7...
0:20:18 > 0:20:21And she has just a few hours before she needs
0:20:21 > 0:20:25to have it back at her shop and be ready to open at 8:30.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27You know, you can go to market and be really disappointed.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29You just look and think, "Is that it?
0:20:29 > 0:20:31"Oh, my God, what am I going to do?"
0:20:33 > 0:20:35- £7?- Yeah.- I've got £7.
0:20:36 > 0:20:41For Tracy, being one of a handful of women in a very male environment
0:20:41 > 0:20:42took a bit of getting used to.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45When I first went, I didn't know anybody,
0:20:45 > 0:20:47so, to me, it was quite daunting.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49And there's all these men, you know,
0:20:49 > 0:20:51I didn't see any women and I was like, "Crikey," you know?
0:20:51 > 0:20:53But they made me feel so welcome.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56She done well when she first started, Trace.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59I mean, to walk onto that Brixham market with 50 buyers.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03When anybody starts down here, they will run you up.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05They will make you pay for your fish.
0:21:05 > 0:21:077.50. At 7.50, bought.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09- No, me.- 7.50.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11- He went 7.50, did he?- You went £7.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13It's all right, I wanted the fives anyway.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15- Don't argue with the auctioneer.- No.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19Tracy's edging her way into the action at Todd's day boat auction.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24A buyer will position themselves next to a box they're after,
0:21:24 > 0:21:27hoping no-one else muscles in to drive up the price.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31Like a game of poker in woolly hats and wellies.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33The auction is all about if you need that box,
0:21:33 > 0:21:35you will just bid on it until you get it.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39I will start the price off and they'll try and knock me down.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41But I'll try to batter them back up again.
0:21:41 > 0:21:438.90, £9?
0:21:43 > 0:21:458.90.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47And Tracy's off to a flying start.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50- No, 1.70?- 1.70 by D&S.
0:21:50 > 0:21:51Once they've won a box,
0:21:51 > 0:21:55the buyer puts a tally with their shop or company's name on it.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59Tracy's is D&S, after the previous owner of her fishmonger's shop.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02Just bought some red mullet. It sells really well in the shop.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04Looks nice and bright as well.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07She's a woman on a mission.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11- £8 for that bass.- Seven for the fives.
0:22:11 > 0:22:16I'll go £7.60? 1.10? 1.50, 1.60?
0:22:16 > 0:22:19- Yeah. Yeah.- And she's not taking any prisoners.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22I need them.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25- Tracy, 1.5.- Yeah.
0:22:26 > 0:22:27We've got plaice.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31That's one of my bestselling fish. It's really nice sea bass.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35Whiting, we've got some pollock.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38My white fish, I have to have white fish in the shop.
0:22:38 > 0:22:39And cod.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42But there's one top-selling fish
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Tracy still needs to get her hands on.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48- No lemon sole?- I've got off lemon today.- Have you?
0:22:48 > 0:22:50Lemon sole is a lighter,
0:22:50 > 0:22:54more yellowy colour than Dover sole and tends to live in deeper waters.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57It's proving to be a slippery customer today.
0:22:58 > 0:22:59But Tracy's not about to give up.
0:23:01 > 0:23:02Is there any there?
0:23:03 > 0:23:05MUSIC PLAYS
0:23:10 > 0:23:13The scale of Brixham auction reflects a national story.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Fish is a seriously big British business.
0:23:16 > 0:23:21We spend over 6 billion a year on seafood with 22% of us popping down
0:23:21 > 0:23:24to our local fish and chip shop every week.
0:23:24 > 0:23:29Fishing brings in over £600 million a year to our economy and employs
0:23:29 > 0:23:31around 30,000 people.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35And it's not just us Brits who are tucking in.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39We export around 440,000 tonnes of fish a year.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44You know, our fish is sought-after from all over the world - Dubai,
0:23:44 > 0:23:47places like that, because it is such high quality.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52A whopping 70% of the fish that comes to Brixham market ends up
0:23:52 > 0:23:56abroad in Europe, Japan, China and the USA.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02£4.10, 4.10.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07And one of the biggest exporters at the market is Brixham's very own
0:24:07 > 0:24:09Mr Big, Sean Perkes.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18He and his brother, Ian, run one of the largest fish wholesale and
0:24:18 > 0:24:19export businesses in the area.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22There's three brothers in the family.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24My eldest brother and I run the fish side of it.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26My middle brother, Graham, he's the boat owner.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30Ian speaks five different languages in one conversation.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34He's only speaking to somebody in Swindon!
0:24:41 > 0:24:44Ian and Sean's business is directly opposite the market.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47See, I think we're the only exporter that's actually based in Brixham.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52On a daily basis now, we export to
0:24:52 > 0:24:56France, Belgium, Holland, Germany,
0:24:56 > 0:24:57a little bit to Spain.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59All around France from Paris to Nice.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02The world is a small place now with the transport.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05I could buy that fish at six o'clock in the morning and at 6.30,
0:25:05 > 0:25:07it's ready to go on the lorry.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Somebody will be eating that tomorrow in France.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17The quality of fish we get here, the water's deep and it's cold,
0:25:17 > 0:25:20you know, and the products that we get and we see on a daily basis,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23you can't see anywhere. It's just perfect.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Like a lot of the people working in the fishing industry here,
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Sean is Brixham born and bred.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34The whole community of Brixham is, you know,
0:25:34 > 0:25:36we're very, very close-knit.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38I've lived here all my life.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40I can't see me living anywhere else.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43Where else would you want to be? It's got everything here.
0:25:43 > 0:25:44You know, we've got the best sea
0:25:44 > 0:25:46fish in the world here on our doorstep.
0:25:47 > 0:25:52I'm the fifth generation in my family that's still involved in
0:25:52 > 0:25:56the fishing industry from fishermen to fish packers, from wholesalers,
0:25:56 > 0:25:58we go back hundreds of years.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03My grandfather used to have a fish shop on the quay
0:26:03 > 0:26:04in the late '60s, '70s.
0:26:04 > 0:26:10My great-grandfather had a fish stall by the Golden Hind.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13On my mother's side, we've traced it back to the 1500s.
0:26:13 > 0:26:14Fish hawkers in Brixham.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17It's phenomenal, really, when you see that.
0:26:17 > 0:26:18MUSIC PLAYS
0:26:23 > 0:26:25But Brixham's no longer a small-scale fishing town.
0:26:26 > 0:26:31Sean and his older brother, Ian, supply over 60 businesses worldwide.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33Their reputation depends on them
0:26:33 > 0:26:35delivering the freshest fish every day.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39And they have just a few hours to secure the best at the market and
0:26:39 > 0:26:41get it on the road to their customers.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Fives. Last group of fives.
0:26:44 > 0:26:45Ones and twos there now.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47How much for those?
0:26:47 > 0:26:50They've got a huge order of monkfish to fill today.
0:26:52 > 0:26:53- 80?- Ten for the right price.
0:26:53 > 0:26:5760? 70?
0:26:57 > 0:26:59- Yeah.- 70. 80?
0:26:59 > 0:27:03Sean can't be outbid if he's going to satisfy his customers.
0:27:03 > 0:27:0610.70. 80? 80. 90?
0:27:06 > 0:27:09- £11.- £11. Ten?
0:27:12 > 0:27:14And he's got what he was after.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18Monks, we've got a really good order on, so we've bought about 600,
0:27:18 > 0:27:19700 kilo of monk.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22Some of them will get filleted, some of them will get sent whole.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27With the clock ticking and a lot more orders to make,
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Sean's focused on securing the best quality fish.
0:27:30 > 0:27:328.60. 8.70?
0:27:32 > 0:27:34- Yeah.- 8.70, 80?
0:27:35 > 0:27:40So imagine turbots and the brills, that will all make good money today.
0:27:40 > 0:27:41Bass, that will make good money.
0:27:41 > 0:27:46Squid, there's quite a lot of squid here, so we'll see how that goes.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Every day on the auction, you're battling against, sometimes,
0:27:51 > 0:27:55some very good friends, but you've got to switch off and say,
0:27:55 > 0:27:58"OK, yeah, we'll have a pint later, but at the moment, I need this fish
0:27:58 > 0:28:01"and you're not having it, I'm having it and that's it."
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Unfortunately, that does cause rows.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06But it is good banter, you know?
0:28:06 > 0:28:09A lot of those blokes that are still there I've grown up with.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12I've been doing it 30 odd years.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15Then you've got people like this, here, that, you know,
0:28:15 > 0:28:18he's older than the walls around us.
0:28:18 > 0:28:19HE LAUGHS
0:28:19 > 0:28:24It does sometimes get a bit heated down there, but, you know,
0:28:24 > 0:28:26they certainly wind each other up a few times.
0:28:26 > 0:28:27What did he say?
0:28:30 > 0:28:33John, I've grown up with and known since we could walk.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35His house was exactly opposite mine,
0:28:35 > 0:28:38so we've grown-up together and been big mates ever since.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42I've known him all my life from when he used to be selling on the vans to
0:28:42 > 0:28:43where he is now.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47And he's quite a character, as everybody knows.
0:28:47 > 0:28:48PHONE RINGS
0:28:48 > 0:28:50Hooray!
0:28:53 > 0:28:54Fives.
0:28:55 > 0:28:56WHISTLING
0:29:00 > 0:29:02But now's not the time to mess about
0:29:02 > 0:29:04as the auction is moving on to squid.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08It's kept separate from the rest of the fish because of its
0:29:08 > 0:29:10characteristic black ink that could
0:29:10 > 0:29:13certainly play havoc with a white coat.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18Sean and his brother, Ian, are after a lot of it today
0:29:18 > 0:29:21as they have a huge order to send to Europe.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24Well, we'll be looking to buy
0:29:24 > 0:29:28two, 2.5 tonnes today, I would think.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31Hopefully. We'll know in five minutes.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35There's a bumper amount of squid up for sale today, but only the very
0:29:35 > 0:29:36best quality will do.
0:29:38 > 0:29:39Looks the same to the untrained eye.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45We have to go through, just to be a bit particular on quality.
0:29:45 > 0:29:50Because we're sending a lot of this to Spain and France and Italy,
0:29:50 > 0:29:52which is a two-day delivery service.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54So... Especially on a Monday,
0:29:54 > 0:29:57we've got to be very careful on what we're looking at.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59If the fish that arrives isn't up to scratch,
0:29:59 > 0:30:01it could ruin their reputation.
0:30:04 > 0:30:05No.
0:30:05 > 0:30:06This isn't good enough for us.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09By the time that got there, it would be no good at all.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11We find, at this time of year,
0:30:11 > 0:30:15the squid when it's in the same trawl as the cuttlefish, obviously,
0:30:15 > 0:30:19the cuttlefish will attack it and you get little nips taken out of it
0:30:19 > 0:30:23which, again, is not good enough for us.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27They've only got a few hours before
0:30:27 > 0:30:29their squid order needs to be en route to Europe.
0:30:30 > 0:30:35But being the big fish in a small town sometimes has its advantages.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38They've tracked down a catch from a boat they know they can trust.
0:30:40 > 0:30:41What boat's this?
0:30:43 > 0:30:45Over here, John.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49Now they just need to get enough of it to fulfil their massive order.
0:30:49 > 0:30:53- 50.- 60?- 4.50, Perkes.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58So, that's one lot in the bag at £4.50 a kilo.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01Shall we say 80? 80 by Walker.
0:31:01 > 0:31:0390? 3.90 by...
0:31:04 > 0:31:05..Perkes. £4.
0:31:07 > 0:31:08To Perkes, 3.90.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11Go on that. You finished?
0:31:11 > 0:31:14Bingo! The Perkes brothers have secured enough squid to keep their
0:31:14 > 0:31:16European customers happy.
0:31:18 > 0:31:19Yeah, it's been all right.
0:31:19 > 0:31:20Been a good day so far.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24Good showing of squid, soles...
0:31:25 > 0:31:27Bit of bass. There's a couple more bits I need,
0:31:27 > 0:31:29maybe some scallops up there.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31You get a bit of a feel for it.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34You think it's good. Sometimes it'll come back and bite you in the
0:31:34 > 0:31:39backside, but, you know, that's part of being in an auction.
0:31:40 > 0:31:41As long as the...
0:31:44 > 0:31:49..stuff you make more profit on is greater than the mistakes.
0:31:49 > 0:31:54INDISTINCT BIDDING
0:32:01 > 0:32:04Next up for sale is the cuttlefish caught by trawler boat skipper,
0:32:04 > 0:32:09Alan Scales. He and his crew targeted it on their last trip,
0:32:09 > 0:32:11hoping it would be the key to netting a tidy profit.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18- Auctioneer, John, kicks off the bidding.- Right.
0:32:18 > 0:32:19Where you like on the number one. £4.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22And it looks like there's a fair bit of interest.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25Nice, aren't they? How much for those?
0:32:29 > 0:32:3196, 97.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33Yeah? 97, 98.
0:32:35 > 0:32:3898, 99. 298, Coomes.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42I think we'll have, uh, Alan's boat.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45Alan's cuttle sells for £2.98 a kilo.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48And with a catch of over 4,500 kilos,
0:32:48 > 0:32:53he's made nearly £14,000 on the cuttle alone.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57He may come close to his £20,000 target for the trip.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59But to find out, he'll need to call
0:32:59 > 0:33:01into the office to get his overall total.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07- Morning, boys.- Good morning, Al.
0:33:07 > 0:33:08Morning, Al.
0:33:08 > 0:33:10All right? How we get on, then?
0:33:10 > 0:33:14- You're all right. OK.- Yeah.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16£20,363.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18- Oh, that's all right. - The cuttle's gotten £2.98.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20Yeah.
0:33:22 > 0:33:23Well, got me target.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25I was aiming for £20,000, so.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27- Well, there you go, then.- Yeah. - We aim to please, eh?
0:33:27 > 0:33:29Yeah. OK.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32- All right, mate...- Lovely job, thank you, mate.- Cheers, bye.- Bye.
0:33:32 > 0:33:34It's a huge relief for skipper, Alan.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38With around £12,000 after the running expenses of the boat have
0:33:38 > 0:33:42been paid, it means he and his five man crew will take home a decent
0:33:42 > 0:33:44wage from this trip.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47Today's auction hasn't been that bad considering the amount of fish
0:33:47 > 0:33:48that's been landed.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51We've ended up with a reasonable price.
0:33:51 > 0:33:52The crew will be happy.
0:33:52 > 0:33:54The future is looking good.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58Probably for nine months this year
0:33:58 > 0:34:01already that we've had excellent prices.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03The buyers have been doing well. The boats have been doing well.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05And everybody is happy, happy.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08I mean, you know, if you could have that every day of the week,
0:34:08 > 0:34:11everybody's life would be good but, unfortunately,
0:34:11 > 0:34:12it doesn't work that way, so.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17But not everyone at Brixham's after cuttlefish and squid.
0:34:17 > 0:34:21Fishmonger Tracy's been at the auction for an hour and a half but
0:34:21 > 0:34:23she's still in search of the lemon
0:34:23 > 0:34:25sole she knows her customers will want.
0:34:25 > 0:34:29The success of her fishmonger shop depends on keeping them happy.
0:34:30 > 0:34:31I'm looking for lemon sole.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38I found a small box just over there.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41There's only about four, five fish in there.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44Just so I've got some for the day, I've got to have lemon sole.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47Right. The lemon sole mix.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50- £2.50.- Yeah.- I've got £2.50. £3.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52- Yeah.- 3.10 now, 3.20?
0:34:53 > 0:34:58- Yeah.- She really wants this fish. - £5, 5.10?
0:34:59 > 0:35:02But only at a price that will make her a profit.
0:35:02 > 0:35:0560, 70. 5.70?
0:35:05 > 0:35:065.80.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15- No, I just got outbid on them.- Um, they just bid me up, bid me up.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19I won't make any money on them. So, it's pointless me getting them.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23At £5.80 a kilo, it was out of Tracy's price range.
0:35:23 > 0:35:24But she's determined.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27She's tracked down another box of lemon sole.
0:35:27 > 0:35:29And this time, she's not going to be beaten.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31They're going over there now.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36There is four kilos, mate.
0:35:36 > 0:35:37Right, now then, mixed lemon's, then.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40- £4.- £4.50. I've got £4.
0:35:41 > 0:35:43- 4.20?- Yeah.
0:35:43 > 0:35:44- 40, 50?- Yeah.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50- 60, 70?- 5.10.- Yeah.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52£5.20. 6.10 at 5.10.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57Sold to the lady in the woolly hat.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02There's not that much lemon sole on market.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05So, obviously, the less there is, the higher the price is going to be
0:36:05 > 0:36:07because there's guys here that all want lemon sole,
0:36:07 > 0:36:09so it's going to push the price up.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11I have a limit where I can go.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14And I will stop because or else I'm not going to make any money.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16I did go in at £4.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19I paid £5.10.
0:36:19 > 0:36:21Little bit more than I wanted to.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24But I will still make a decent margin on those.
0:36:24 > 0:36:25Everyone loves lemon sole.
0:36:25 > 0:36:29Especially from Brixham market.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32MUSIC PLAYS
0:36:38 > 0:36:41Tracy came to today's auction with an ideal shopping list.
0:36:41 > 0:36:46And after spending around £450, she's managed to tick it all off.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50That's me done.
0:36:50 > 0:36:52Ready to go back to the shop.
0:36:52 > 0:36:53Exhausted.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01Within a few hours, Tracy's catch is on display in her Paignton shop,
0:37:01 > 0:37:05ready to tempt in her customers, including the hard-won lemon sole
0:37:05 > 0:37:07which takes pride of place in her window.
0:37:07 > 0:37:09If you'll forgive the pun.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14The fisherman go out, they work very hard.
0:37:14 > 0:37:18Our local waters are bringing these lovely fish and to take them into my
0:37:18 > 0:37:20shop, in my window, for my customers,
0:37:20 > 0:37:21what more can you ask for?
0:37:28 > 0:37:32Fish wholesaler and exporter, Sean, had a lot more fish to buy today to
0:37:32 > 0:37:34keep his customers satisfied.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36Top of my head, we probably spent, I would say,
0:37:36 > 0:37:39somewhere in the region of £30-35,000 today.
0:37:39 > 0:37:45We've bought squid, octopus, cuttlefish, fresh local bass,
0:37:45 > 0:37:47quite a bit of turbot, actually.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49Probably 200-300 kilo of turbot.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52Brill, probably couple of hundred kilo of brill.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54A lot of that is for the UK.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59And scallops, we've probably got about 60-70 boxes of scallops.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03So, all in all, pretty good day, really.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05The biggest challenge for his business is to get
0:38:05 > 0:38:08the best fish as quickly as possible.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10But with such a bumper amount at today's market,
0:38:10 > 0:38:13it's taken longer than usual.
0:38:13 > 0:38:15It's now, where are we? Half past ten.
0:38:15 > 0:38:21So, we've been here on the auction for four and a half, five hours.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23But we wanted to hang on to this.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25We've got a sale for this in the south of France.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27When the customer receives that,
0:38:27 > 0:38:30it's still going to be in top notch condition,
0:38:30 > 0:38:34purely because it's all hook and line.
0:38:34 > 0:38:35And it has been looked after.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38As soon as it's caught, it's chucked into slurry ice.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40And I know that. I know the skipper.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43I know the owner of the boat, and I know that he looks after it well.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46Hence it's worth me hanging on till the end.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49Paying a little bit more but it's worth it for peace of mind
0:38:49 > 0:38:51and customer satisfaction.
0:38:51 > 0:38:55Most of the fish I've bought already from the auction started at six is
0:38:55 > 0:38:57already packed. It's all ready to go.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01We've just got to go to the office, make up the labels
0:39:01 > 0:39:03straight onto the lorry and gone.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06It's been one of the market's busiest days,
0:39:06 > 0:39:10but thankfully, John and Todd managed to sell it all.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13Nearly £400,000 worth of fish.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17It's always busy on the Monday, nine times out of ten.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19But, you know, sometimes it can be exceptional.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22That was a big old market.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26The night shift was still grading fish well after the market started.
0:39:26 > 0:39:28You know, it's that busy.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31But if you're standing there shouting for five hours,
0:39:31 > 0:39:33you're ready to come upstairs for a cup of tea.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42Sean's prized prime fish heads out
0:39:42 > 0:39:45of Brixham on huge trucks to be shipped
0:39:45 > 0:39:47overnight and unpacked in Europe tomorrow.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54But it's not all international for Sean.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56The final delivery couldn't be more local.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00It's to yet another member of the Perkes family involved in the
0:40:00 > 0:40:03Brixham fish trade, his wife, Sarah, who runs a beach-front restaurant.
0:40:05 > 0:40:09Well my wife was a... She's an ex police officer.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12And the hours were just getting horrendous for her and this
0:40:12 > 0:40:16opportunity arouse. We didn't know what it involved, to be honest.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19And we were pretty unsure but, you know,
0:40:19 > 0:40:22we hit the road running and it's been really successful for us.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26You know, we've got a great name, a good following.
0:40:26 > 0:40:27We do things simple.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30The key for everything is to make the fish the star.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33MUSIC PLAYS
0:40:44 > 0:40:46It's a beautiful location.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49A lot of my friends are fishermen, and they come in in the middle of
0:40:49 > 0:40:50the summer and they'll pass us and
0:40:50 > 0:40:52they'll honk the horn as they come past.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55And the holiday-makers love it, you know.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58If you came down in August, this would be packed already with people
0:40:58 > 0:41:00eating breakfast and having a few drinks.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06You can smell them cooking already.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10Smells... Smells like fish to me.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12- Good morning, everybody. - Good morning.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14How are we?
0:41:14 > 0:41:16- Good, thank you.- Have you missed me?
0:41:17 > 0:41:18No. Did you call me?
0:41:19 > 0:41:22Everything here that we're eating today
0:41:22 > 0:41:25was everything that was on the market this morning.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28This is turbot caught yesterday.
0:41:29 > 0:41:35To see people enjoying what I enjoy and to see it from the market to the
0:41:35 > 0:41:36plate, it's phenomenal.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39You know, to see people enjoying it.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41You know, you know you're doing something right.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46All right there?
0:41:46 > 0:41:50MUSIC PLAYS
0:41:59 > 0:42:03Today's auction may be finished, but at Brixham fish market,
0:42:03 > 0:42:05tomorrow is another day when the
0:42:05 > 0:42:08buyers and sellers will back to do it all again.
0:42:10 > 0:42:15I'm very passionate about my fish and I'm very determined for that
0:42:15 > 0:42:18shop to still be there in another 30 years.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20OK, that's £18.08, Scott.
0:42:20 > 0:42:21Thank you.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24I will fight for that shop.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28I will make sure that shop is successful.
0:42:28 > 0:42:29Whatever it takes.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33I've been at sea now for 40 years. How much longer, I don't know.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36But, I love fishing so much, I don't know.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38They'll probably carry me off in a box.
0:42:42 > 0:42:43It's a good living.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46You know, we're surrounded by nice people, nice surroundings.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50The industry is a good industry if you're prepared to put the work in.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54And auctioneers, John and Todd, will be ringing the bell at 6am tomorrow
0:42:54 > 0:42:56with more fish to sell.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59The market in Brixham now has been going to strength to strength
0:42:59 > 0:43:01really, at the end of the day.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03They're a great bunch down there, really.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05You know, might call them a few names now and again.
0:43:05 > 0:43:06But, yeah, I love it.