0:00:02 > 0:00:06For hundreds of years, small fishing boats have set sail
0:00:06 > 0:00:09to bring home the riches of our coastal waters.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13He's got one! He's caught a monk fish!
0:00:13 > 0:00:15But fishing is changing.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17In recent years,
0:00:17 > 0:00:20many of our inshore skippers have gone out of business.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24Can they survive the threats to their future?
0:00:25 > 0:00:29It's a tricky time, and it's going to be for another few more years yet.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32Marine biologist Monty Halls is going to explore
0:00:32 > 0:00:35the challenges facing our fishing industry.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38But from the inside.
0:00:40 > 0:00:41As Christmas draws near,
0:00:41 > 0:00:46fishermen are under pressure to land their catch before the season ends.
0:00:46 > 0:00:47There's one.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51Couple of days is all we're looking for, but times running out.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55Monty wants to find a new way to support our small boat fishermen,
0:00:55 > 0:00:58by selling direct to the consumer.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02But does the British public care about seafood,
0:01:02 > 0:01:04or the men who catch it?
0:01:04 > 0:01:07People have got to be told what they're going to enjoy.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10We're not a fish-eating nation, are we?
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Will the Cadgwith fishermen be open to a new way of working?
0:01:13 > 0:01:18And will the winter weather allow Monty to put his plans into action?
0:01:18 > 0:01:23There's genuine tension for me, and genuine frustration.
0:01:25 > 0:01:26It ain't very good out there, men.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29It ain't very good out there, at all.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47It's late November in Cornwall.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50On the waters of the Lizard Peninsula,
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Monty and his fishing mentor, Nigel Legge,
0:01:52 > 0:01:54are checking their pots, as they have done since spring.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02- Spider in there?- Spider.
0:02:02 > 0:02:03A littl'un.
0:02:04 > 0:02:09These are the last crabs they will catch this year.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12With such a small boat, and winter storms on the horizon,
0:02:12 > 0:02:14Nigel is bringing his pots in.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Along with nearly 20 percent of the British fishing fleet,
0:02:17 > 0:02:21he is part-time, and unable to work in the winter.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25Though the bigger Cadgwith boats will continue to fish when the weather permits,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28this is the hardest time of year for all fishermen.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30Nige, you've done this many times.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Is it quite a sort of sad moment for you?
0:02:34 > 0:02:39Yeah, I suppose it is a bit sad. I don't really know why.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43I suppose it's just I look forward to doing it again next year.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45And in the summer, when you've got the pots out,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47you've got the boats trips and everything else,
0:02:47 > 0:02:50you've actually got money in your pocket.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53I've actually got to go through now, er...
0:02:53 > 0:02:55December, January, February, March,
0:02:55 > 0:02:59nearly four months, probably, without earning very much money.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01A few weeks ago, Nigel and Monty
0:03:01 > 0:03:04visited the east coast of the United States,
0:03:04 > 0:03:08where they saw a scheme that was helping struggling fishermen
0:03:08 > 0:03:10to get more money for their catch.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15I found America a very inspiring experience.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17More importantly, what about you?
0:03:17 > 0:03:23I think the American one is probably is too complicated,
0:03:23 > 0:03:26but anybody talking to fishermen and fishing boats
0:03:26 > 0:03:29and buying fresh fish is a good thing.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33The community-supported fishery
0:03:33 > 0:03:36works by allowing the fishermen to sell direct to local consumers,
0:03:36 > 0:03:40much like an organic vegetable box scheme.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42But could such an idea work in the UK?
0:03:44 > 0:03:47I think the thing to build on is maybe just letting
0:03:47 > 0:03:51a few more of the local people know about Cadgwith,
0:03:51 > 0:03:53and know about the fishing fleet.
0:03:53 > 0:03:54Yeah...
0:03:54 > 0:03:56If you educate people, and let them know,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59and introduce them to the produce,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02and the way the small boat fleet operates, they'll get interested.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05You only go so far with it, and if they're keen,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08they'll come and buy it. And that's the way it is.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Nigel needs convincing.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17And, if the scheme is to work, so will the rest of the Cadgwith fleet.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39To introduce the idea, Monty calls a meeting with all the skippers.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43I don't particularly feel I've contributed anything
0:04:43 > 0:04:46to the community of Cadgwith and the fishermen in my time here,
0:04:46 > 0:04:49and they've given me so much since I've been here.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53But I think there are some really important lessons from America.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56I really do. I found that trip very inspiring,
0:04:56 > 0:04:59and I found their model of working with the community very inspiring.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02So I've offered a little talk,
0:05:02 > 0:05:05a little chance to do a talk to the fishermen,
0:05:05 > 0:05:07and I just hope someone turns up.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10I'll be crushed if no-one turns up tonight.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14He's got a busy few weeks ahead.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16As well as working on the fish scheme,
0:05:16 > 0:05:21Tam, his girlfriend is expecting their first child before Christmas.
0:05:21 > 0:05:22And wearing the hat.
0:05:22 > 0:05:28People start to arrive. Skippers John Tonkin, Louis Mitchell
0:05:28 > 0:05:31and Danny Philips take their seats. Before long, it's a full house.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36Thank you very much for coming. A community-supported fishery,
0:05:36 > 0:05:40what happens is, local people pay money upfront to the fleet.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44They pay a lump sum to get fresh fish once a week for a set period,
0:05:44 > 0:05:47and when they initially started the project,
0:05:47 > 0:05:49200 people signed up straightaway,
0:05:49 > 0:05:53and they paid 360 dollars each for their three-month period,
0:05:53 > 0:05:57meaning 72,000 dollars were divided between four boats.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Monty and Nigel describe how the fishermen in the US
0:06:01 > 0:06:04generate a much higher value for their catch
0:06:04 > 0:06:05by selling direct to consumers.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08Surely if you get a week of bad weather,
0:06:08 > 0:06:13and they're all rocked up with their handbags and there's no fish...
0:06:13 > 0:06:16That's the reason you need someone to centrally coordinate that.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20We asked that question straight away, and they said, "It's easy.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22"Everyone's on email, and you say, 'No fish this week,'
0:06:22 > 0:06:25- "and they get extra fish the next week".- OK, right.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29Small boats that used this system, their income went up by a third,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32and that system has now spread to 24 different ports
0:06:32 > 0:06:35around the US, and has been really successful,
0:06:35 > 0:06:36and it's only been running two years.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39There we are, and thank you very much for turning up.
0:06:39 > 0:06:40HE LAUGHS
0:06:40 > 0:06:42APPLAUSE
0:06:42 > 0:06:44For the scheme to work in the cove,
0:06:44 > 0:06:46the fishermen would have to work together.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50Local fishmonger, Jonathan Fletcher, sees SOME potential.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54I said to Monty getting a bunch of fishermen around here
0:06:54 > 0:06:57to work in a co-op is like getting a horse to live up a tree,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59but if you persuade them that the returns are there -
0:06:59 > 0:07:01and I believe they are -
0:07:01 > 0:07:06I would like to see a bunch of fishermen like this lot...
0:07:07 > 0:07:08..have a co-op.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12If you can educate people about it,
0:07:12 > 0:07:16and, of course, once they've eaten fresh fish, they're not going to go
0:07:16 > 0:07:21and have any processed fish ever again, really, because it's so good.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23But not everyone agrees.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27Most people, their fish comes in a batter,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30wrapped in newspaper from the fish and chip shop, doesn't it?
0:07:30 > 0:07:34I don't think, personally, it will work, myself.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37I'm quite happy for someone to ring me up and say,
0:07:37 > 0:07:40"Can I buy some fish off you?" "Yeah, fine.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43"If you want to drive out from Helston, and buy some fish off me."
0:07:43 > 0:07:46It'd be fine, but I just can't see it working, really.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50The fishermen are sceptical.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53They will need to be convinced that the local community
0:07:53 > 0:07:55is interested in buying local fish.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14A few miles from Cadgwith is the harbour of Porthleven.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Among the few remaining fishing boats is Jonathan Fletcher's.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20As well as running the fish shop in Cadgwith,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23Jonathan is also a part-time fishermen.
0:08:23 > 0:08:24Of all the people in the cove,
0:08:24 > 0:08:27he was the most interested in the community fish scheme,
0:08:27 > 0:08:30and as he has stopped fishing for the winter,
0:08:30 > 0:08:35Monty has come to talk about taking the concept further.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39Do you think if the demand was created with the right people,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42would they go direct to the fishermen?
0:08:42 > 0:08:45It would pay them to go direct to the fishermen,
0:08:45 > 0:08:49because the fish will obviously be a lot fresher,
0:08:49 > 0:08:51and you know the provenance of it.
0:08:51 > 0:08:56I believe, I really do, that within local communities,
0:08:56 > 0:09:00there are people who would be interested in doing that.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05People need persuading, don't they? It's the old advertising.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09Put it in front of them. "Do you realise this is nice to eat,
0:09:09 > 0:09:11"and you can easily get it, as well?"
0:09:13 > 0:09:16It's crucial that they get local people interested in fish,
0:09:16 > 0:09:19and Jonathan believes the best way to do this
0:09:19 > 0:09:22is show them the quality of the catch.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24I think if you introduce them to a product that's nice to eat,
0:09:24 > 0:09:27and which they consider they can afford,
0:09:27 > 0:09:29then you haven't got a problem.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31You have to get people who are genuinely interested
0:09:31 > 0:09:32in what they eat.
0:09:32 > 0:09:39I did a crab picking demo for the kids at school, over at Mullion.
0:09:39 > 0:09:40And, um...
0:09:41 > 0:09:44..surprisingly, they were really enthusiastic,
0:09:44 > 0:09:47and I'm sort of dipping a spoon in this brown mush inside the crab,
0:09:47 > 0:09:49and saying, "Try that," and they were really up for it.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52"Cor, that's really nice, can I have some more?"
0:09:52 > 0:09:56And when I looked up, half the staff were there, as well.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00For the community-supported fishery to work,
0:10:00 > 0:10:03Jonathan and Monty need to generate more interest
0:10:03 > 0:10:05in the Cadgwith produce,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07and if the people won't come to the fish,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10they will have to take the fish to the people.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13The British public has lost a connection with the sea,
0:10:13 > 0:10:15and the food it provides.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19Much of the produce caught off our shores is sent overseas.
0:10:19 > 0:10:25In 2010, over 400,000 tonnes of seafood were landed in the UK,
0:10:25 > 0:10:28but more than 500,000 tonnes were exported.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31In a few weeks' time, our fishermen's catch
0:10:31 > 0:10:34will be on Christmas dinner tables across Europe.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36But, in recent decades,
0:10:36 > 0:10:38the British have fallen out of love with seafood.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Can anything be done to turn things around?
0:10:41 > 0:10:43We're surrounded by food.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48We live on an island that is surrounded by beautiful seafood,
0:10:48 > 0:10:53and we need to relearn how to access that seafood,
0:10:53 > 0:10:55and how to eat it.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59Marketing and advertising is everything.
0:10:59 > 0:11:04You can't sit here and watch your fish rotting away
0:11:04 > 0:11:07while there are people up the road who might want to eat it,
0:11:07 > 0:11:09and just a bit of lack of information
0:11:09 > 0:11:14means they don't know it's there. It's just basic, isn't it?
0:11:21 > 0:11:26The season may be over for Jonathan and Nigel, but back in Cadgwith,
0:11:26 > 0:11:31the fishermen are taking every chance to get out while the weather holds.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37Today, Monty is joining Tonks and his crewman, Eggy,
0:11:37 > 0:11:40as they go after the cove's main catch, brown crab.
0:11:40 > 0:11:45Monty's hoping to convince them of the merits of the community-supported fishery.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Crab fishing at this time of year is cold, hard work.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02In the winter, hen crabs begin to spawn.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04They become less active, and rarely feed,
0:12:04 > 0:12:07meaning there are fewer crabs for the fishermen to target.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11It is more difficult, and more dangerous than ever,
0:12:11 > 0:12:12and with little reward.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23They work eight strings of Tonks' pots,
0:12:23 > 0:12:26and catch just over 100 kilograms of crab.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28A third of what they were getting in the summer.
0:12:28 > 0:12:34But at this time of year, what they do catch can be sold at a premium.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36So this is a really important period for you, isn't it?
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Yeah. The weeks running up to Christmas,
0:12:39 > 0:12:41you will try and get as much time in as you can.
0:12:41 > 0:12:47There's demand, because crabbing is coming to an end for the year.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49So, catches are tailing off.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52The prices all the way through the winter
0:12:52 > 0:12:57will be better than summer prices, only because of supply and demand.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02Really interesting to think that this store pot here,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05full of crabs, in July would have been worth a certain amount of money,
0:13:05 > 0:13:07but here we are in December,
0:13:07 > 0:13:09and it's probably worth twice that amount of money now.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12And as we go towards Christmas, it will suddenly leap up,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15and so it puts massive pressure on the guys to get out -
0:13:15 > 0:13:18when the conditions might not be ideal -
0:13:18 > 0:13:19to get out and fish.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25As they process the crabs, Monty tackles Tonks
0:13:25 > 0:13:29about the idea of a community-supported fishery.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34You would have a concern of trying to set up kind of like a CSF,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37just cos you don't think the community would get involved?
0:13:37 > 0:13:41I'm sure there would be interest, but it would be...
0:13:42 > 0:13:44..minimal.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49The British are meat and two veg.
0:13:49 > 0:13:50Yeah.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52You know, not...
0:13:52 > 0:13:55We're not a fish-eating nation, are we?
0:13:55 > 0:13:57There is a nucleus of people out there
0:13:57 > 0:14:01that want to eat crabs and fish, for sure.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03How big that is, I don't know.
0:14:05 > 0:14:11If Cadgwith crabbers had to rely on the UK buying our crabs,
0:14:11 > 0:14:13we wouldn't be here.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Tonks is sceptical about local demand.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22But he agrees to sell a few of his crabs to the help with the scheme.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Every week, the Cadgwith boats
0:14:29 > 0:14:32can land up to six tonnes of shellfish,
0:14:32 > 0:14:35and they need local merchants to reach the wider market,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38but a community fishery could get them a better return,
0:14:38 > 0:14:41for a small percentage of their catch.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Take her away.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51Medium cod. Four point eight.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Danny Philips is the cove's only full-time netsman.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59The fish he lands is of the highest quality, and sell for a premium.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01A bit of mackerel.
0:15:01 > 0:15:06- His catch is collected and delivered to top chefs across Cornwall.- 11.9.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10The seas off the Lizard Peninsula are rich in marine life,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14and a wide variety of fish ends up in Danny's nets.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18Beautiful, aren't they? They fish are bloody beautiful.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22This lovely range of fish that Danny's just brought in,
0:15:22 > 0:15:28you've got gurnard, mackerel, pollock, bream, lovely red mullet.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31And it's all seasonal. It's all just turned up offshore.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34A lot of these species weren't being caught when I first got here,
0:15:34 > 0:15:39and that's what we should be tapping into, that we buy seasonal produce.
0:15:39 > 0:15:44However, many of the fish caught are of little or no commercial value.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46What we need to do is,
0:15:46 > 0:15:48fish which I haven't got a very good market for,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51- like these big ballan wrasse, then- I- eat them.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54They might be the tastiest of things,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57but we haven't got a market for them.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Now and again, you can sell a few, but there's plenty of it out there,
0:16:01 > 0:16:03and they're lovely big, big fish.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07To try and prove that there is interest in local seafood,
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Monty will team up with Nigel and Jonathan
0:16:09 > 0:16:11to take a sample of the cove's produce
0:16:11 > 0:16:13to a Christmas market in nearby Helston.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21The British public is very conservative when it comes to fish.
0:16:21 > 0:16:2660 percent of the seafood we eat comes from only five species -
0:16:26 > 0:16:30Cod, haddock, salmon, tuna and prawns.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33The problem isn't that the fish aren't out there -
0:16:33 > 0:16:36Cornish fishermen land over 100 different species -
0:16:36 > 0:16:40but only a handful are considered commercially valuable.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43The rest are used for bait, or thrown back into the sea.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48For a community-supported fishery to work,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51people have to take whatever fish has been landed that week.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55So a lot will depend on the tastes of local people.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57Will they buy in to such a scheme?
0:16:58 > 0:17:00MUSIC: "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen"
0:17:01 > 0:17:03It's nearly Christmas.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06In the town of Helston, a few miles from Cadgwith,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09the annual Christmas market is underway.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11This is an opportunity to introduce the cove's produce
0:17:11 > 0:17:15to the local people, and find out if there really is potential
0:17:15 > 0:17:17for the community-supported fishery.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Nigel and Jonathan man the stall,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24offering passers-by samples of Cadgwith crab.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Bless you, thank you.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29Monty entertains the crowds with a run through
0:17:29 > 0:17:32of some of the species caught by the cove's fishermen.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34That's a bream, that's a cod.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38Have a guess how many eggs that lays in one year.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42Nine million, nine million eggs.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46Al this fish comes straight from Cadgwith, from one boat, in one day.
0:17:47 > 0:17:48It's working.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51Children and adults alike are fascinated
0:17:51 > 0:17:53by the range of species on display,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56and everyone is eager to taste the free samples.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59Put it in your mouth. It's crab, you like crab.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02- Mmmm!- If I could buy it fresh I would buy it fresh,
0:18:02 > 0:18:04if not from the supermarket.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06It's quite underestimated, I think, fish.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08It's beautiful, especially fresh.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12Nigel and Jonathan encourage people to sign up
0:18:12 > 0:18:14for more information about the scheme.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17They want to get these people to come to Cadgwith,
0:18:17 > 0:18:19and learn more about their local fishermen.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23They hope that by reconnecting people with their fishing fleet,
0:18:23 > 0:18:26they can create a new market for their catch.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29Yeah, it's very encouraging, People are very positive.
0:18:29 > 0:18:30I think we'll get a good show,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33if all these people turn up in a couple of weeks.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35Once we've got them there, we can chain them up
0:18:35 > 0:18:38till they get interested in the stuff, and promise to buy it.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42It's what's called being "vertically orientated".
0:18:42 > 0:18:44That's a business term I learned years ago.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48With more and more people adding their names to the list,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51even Nigel is impressed with such a positive response.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Yeah, it's surprising how friendly they are,
0:18:54 > 0:18:56and chatty, to be quite honest. Unbelievable.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59There's an awful lot of people out there that haven't got a clue.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03It's a good idea to get everyone, especially little ones, interested,
0:19:03 > 0:19:08and understand how important it is for us to look after the fish.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10And that's how it eats things.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14It swims up to them with its mouth closed, and then it goes, "Whoomph!"
0:19:14 > 0:19:17So Nige, Jonathan, did you enjoy the evening?
0:19:17 > 0:19:19Yeah, it was very good. Very good.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23More interest than I thought this would have, to be quite honest.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26People were very enthusiastic, I have to say.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Lots of them were very interested in coming to Cadgwith,
0:19:29 > 0:19:31and having a look around the boats,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33and trying a bit of fish, in a fortnight's time.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36But just amazing the amount of people
0:19:36 > 0:19:38don't know any of this exists.
0:19:39 > 0:19:44The night is a success, and has proved that there are people
0:19:44 > 0:19:48who might be interested in buying fish direct from Cadgwith.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51But getting people's names is one thing.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Getting them to part with their money is another.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02Cadgwith is a cove, open to the wind and waves,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05with no harbour wall to protect the boats.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08On average, the fishermen lose about three months of fishing
0:20:08 > 0:20:10each year to bad weather.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14But they're always on the lookout for a chance to go to sea.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18If we see a window to shoot away, or to go out hauling, we'll take it.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21You've got to, cos that's how it is in the winter,
0:20:21 > 0:20:24with the weather, and working off the beach.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28Today, Monty is heading out with Louis Mitchell and Dominic Goldsack.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34We're going to do gill nets today, which we shot away yesterday.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38Hopefully catch a few cod, and a lot of pollock,
0:20:38 > 0:20:40and anything else, really.
0:20:40 > 0:20:45So, basically, you're just picking up what's out here at the moment.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48- You're not specifically targeting? - No, we're not.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Cos we shoot for the weather, like.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54If you see a good weather window, then we're off outside.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Is this quite a lean time of the year?
0:20:56 > 0:20:58I suppose finishing up, it can be.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Although it might be lean,
0:21:00 > 0:21:04the prices are up, so it sort of counterbalances each other.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08So you can have not a lot of fish, and make good money.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13With fewer chances to get out to sea,
0:21:13 > 0:21:18Louis and Dom need to maximise the return for whatever fish they catch.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22Monty believes the community fishery idea could be the answer.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28This is one of the real beauties of the small-boat fishery, I think.
0:21:28 > 0:21:29It's this opportunistic...
0:21:29 > 0:21:32You get a little window of opportunity, and you head out,
0:21:32 > 0:21:35and you're not quite sure what you're going to catch.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39And that for me, as a consumer, I find really attractive.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42I just don't know what the boat is going to bring in.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45There's a bit magic and mystery in that.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47I hope that is something we can harness
0:21:47 > 0:21:50for the community-supported fishery idea.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Louis is open to the idea.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59You happy with the concept of the CSF, Louis?
0:21:59 > 0:22:02Yeah, the more people who are actually connected
0:22:02 > 0:22:05to where their fish comes from, the better it's going to be.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09In the United States, Monty saw how this idea
0:22:09 > 0:22:13had not only encouraged consumers to buy more fresh fish,
0:22:13 > 0:22:18it was also generating a much-needed boost for the fishermen's income.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21The Cadgwith skippers face similar problems to those in America.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25Falling revenues and government legislation are making it
0:22:25 > 0:22:28increasingly difficult for them to do their job.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31To survive, they have to be resilient.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34To be a fishermen you have to have a certain mentality, you know.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37You get knocked down but you keep coming back again.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39They don't give up, they just keep going.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42They're just different type of people.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44They just keep having a go at it.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48That's the way fishermen are. They just will not lie down.
0:22:52 > 0:22:58# And his shelter was a stable
0:22:58 > 0:23:03# And his manger was a stall... #
0:23:03 > 0:23:06The people of Cadgwith, and the surrounding villages,
0:23:06 > 0:23:08enjoy a celebration,
0:23:08 > 0:23:12but there are few annual events that draw a crowd like tonight's.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14It's a very special day, in a very special place.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17It's the turning on of the Christmas lights in Cadgwith.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21And I'm turning them on, which is a great honour. Right now, here we go.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to turn the lights on.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27It means the world, really.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Also, it's lovely to stand on a fishing boat.
0:23:30 > 0:23:31Those of you who know me,
0:23:31 > 0:23:34it's fantastic to stand on a fishing boat and not feel sick.
0:23:34 > 0:23:35It's quite a novel concept.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38I have scribbled down a couple of important things
0:23:38 > 0:23:39I'd really like to say.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Monty has something else to celebrate this evening.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44I've just had a baby.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46CHEERING
0:23:46 > 0:23:51Her name's Isla Grace. She's a little mite. She's 8 pounds, 14 ounces.
0:23:51 > 0:23:57I'm so, so pleased that my little girl is not only a Cornish girl,
0:23:57 > 0:24:00but she's a Cadgwith girl, as well.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02CHEERING
0:24:02 > 0:24:08Cadgwith is unique and special. It's a magic, magic place.
0:24:08 > 0:24:13I sincerely hope and pray that when Isla, my little girl,
0:24:13 > 0:24:18grows up to my age, and comes back here in 45 years' time,
0:24:18 > 0:24:21there are still fishing boats on this beach,
0:24:21 > 0:24:23because that's what this place is all about.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25APPLAUSE
0:24:26 > 0:24:29- ALL:- Three, two, one.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:24:38 > 0:24:45# Jesus, Lord at Thy birth... #
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Thank you very much!
0:24:47 > 0:24:51# Jesus, Lord at Thy birth. #
0:24:51 > 0:24:54Monty has invited the fishermen and the rest of the community
0:24:54 > 0:24:57to join him in celebrating his new arrival.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02- Congratulations.- Thank you.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06It's a big night for me, because we're wetting the baby's head.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08The boys have all come out to the pub,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11and we're having a rum or two,
0:25:11 > 0:25:15as tradition demands, in a nautical fashion.
0:25:15 > 0:25:16Hoo!
0:25:17 > 0:25:19For hundreds of years,
0:25:19 > 0:25:21this pub has been at the heart of the community.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24Hello, Isla. Wake up.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Don't say that. Oh, my God.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30Coochie-coochie-coochie-coo!
0:25:30 > 0:25:33'A pub is the sort of place where you just talk about the week
0:25:33 > 0:25:36'and have a pint or two, and it is the focal point
0:25:36 > 0:25:39'of the, sort of, cove'
0:25:39 > 0:25:43and it's an old tradition, a nice, old tradition,
0:25:43 > 0:25:46some like it more than others.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49'In the case of whether it's a birthday or a funeral
0:25:49 > 0:25:52'the answer tends to be, "We'll go and have a couple of pints." '
0:25:52 > 0:25:57And if we start singing, well, hard luck on everybody else.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01# Fill up your glasses and let us be merry
0:26:03 > 0:26:08# For to rob and to plunder it is our intent. #
0:26:13 > 0:26:16To take the community-supported fishery to the next stage,
0:26:16 > 0:26:19local consumers now need to commit to the scheme.
0:26:20 > 0:26:25Today, Nigel, Jonathan and Monty have also enlisted
0:26:25 > 0:26:28the culinary skills of fisherman's wife Sarah Stephens.
0:26:28 > 0:26:33Shall I just outline what we're going to try and do?
0:26:33 > 0:26:36The plan is a for a fish "throw down",
0:26:36 > 0:26:39an idea borrowed from the United States
0:26:39 > 0:26:41designed to show people where their fish comes from,
0:26:41 > 0:26:44how to process it and how to cook it.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49- I think we'll get, hopefully, 30, 40 people.- Brilliant, yeah.
0:26:49 > 0:26:50If fewer people turn up
0:26:50 > 0:26:53then we have to cram more information into these people
0:26:53 > 0:26:56and use them as messengers out into the community,
0:26:56 > 0:26:59- so that they have enough enthusiasm about it.- To go forth!
0:26:59 > 0:27:04Yeah, disciples, go forth and multiply our sales.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07The people from Helston who were interested in getting fish
0:27:07 > 0:27:10direct from the cove have all been invited.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Hopefully the throw down will persuade them to sign up
0:27:13 > 0:27:14for a delivery of fresh fish.
0:27:14 > 0:27:19I think the whole idea of doing this is to spark a bit of interest,
0:27:19 > 0:27:21we've already seen the interest in Helston, it was amazing.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23That market! Mobbed, weren't we?
0:27:23 > 0:27:25But then to close, we'll do this thing
0:27:25 > 0:27:30about who's interested in having a live crab next week,
0:27:30 > 0:27:32and whatever the boats are catching,
0:27:32 > 0:27:35and then we'll try and do something next Wednesday
0:27:35 > 0:27:37where we actually do a pick-up.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48The visitors see everything the coves has to offer,
0:27:48 > 0:27:50from how the fishing boats work
0:27:50 > 0:27:53to getting hands-on with the catch of the day.
0:27:55 > 0:27:56Oh!
0:27:56 > 0:28:00Nigel persuades people to commit to the scheme.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03They agree to pay £10 upfront for a delivery of a live crab
0:28:03 > 0:28:06and whatever fish is caught that week.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08For the customers this is much better value
0:28:08 > 0:28:10than a conventional shop.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14The main point of all this is just making fresh fish
0:28:14 > 0:28:19really available to the person on the street, you know,
0:28:19 > 0:28:20and making it user-friendly,
0:28:20 > 0:28:24and to not be frightened of it or different species of it.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27Don't always do as you're told, go and try different things,
0:28:27 > 0:28:30because it's all good, so, yeah, I think it will be great,
0:28:30 > 0:28:32but it's a growing thing,
0:28:32 > 0:28:35it's not something that's going to happen overnight.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39Local food experts and entrepreneurs have also been invited
0:28:39 > 0:28:40to see what they make of the idea
0:28:40 > 0:28:43and whether it could be a viable business model.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46I absolutely do believe that there are people out there
0:28:46 > 0:28:49crying out for that freshness, that quality,
0:28:49 > 0:28:52the variety, to know that it's local,
0:28:52 > 0:28:53to know who's caught it.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56That's a huge part of the market at the moment.
0:28:56 > 0:28:58Oh, my God!
0:28:58 > 0:29:01Around 70% of our sea food is imported.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04The fish on our supermarket shelves and dinner tables
0:29:04 > 0:29:06can travel huge distances.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10But, by using schemes like a community-supported fishery,
0:29:10 > 0:29:14the food miles clocked up by our fish could be significantly reduced.
0:29:14 > 0:29:17There's a lot of people out there
0:29:17 > 0:29:19who want to buy local, good, sustainable food,
0:29:19 > 0:29:21and know where it comes from.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25It's really hard to make that choice because there aren't the options,
0:29:25 > 0:29:28I think 93% of all food shopping is done in the big four supermarkets.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30When you've got that situation,
0:29:30 > 0:29:32you've no idea where your food is coming from
0:29:32 > 0:29:35but it's there and it's convenient.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39Cadgwith is a perfect example of a cove, a fairly rare cove,
0:29:39 > 0:29:41that still has a viable fishing fleet
0:29:41 > 0:29:45and it's part of the community and the people live here,
0:29:45 > 0:29:48I think that's the way it has to go.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51Cadgwith could be just the beginning.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53If the scheme works here,
0:29:53 > 0:29:57it could be rolled out to fishing villages all over Britain.
0:29:57 > 0:30:02We have a co-op of growers that supply our 40,000 customers
0:30:02 > 0:30:05and I think to have a cooperative or an affiliation, anyway,
0:30:05 > 0:30:08of fishermen working from a particular area,
0:30:08 > 0:30:13all subscribing to the same sustainability practices,
0:30:13 > 0:30:15would be a great way to go,
0:30:15 > 0:30:17I would have thought it would have a huge appeal.
0:30:17 > 0:30:22Yeah, no, we could deliver thousands of fish boxes every week.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27With just over a week to go until Christmas
0:30:27 > 0:30:29and with more than 30 orders to fill,
0:30:29 > 0:30:34everything is falling into place, all they need now are some fish.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44'And the shipping forecast issued by the Met Office,
0:30:44 > 0:30:47'Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Biscay, west or southwest
0:30:47 > 0:30:49'becoming cyclonic later except in Biscay,
0:30:49 > 0:30:51'seven to severe gale nine,
0:30:51 > 0:30:53'occasionally storm ten,
0:30:53 > 0:30:57'perhaps violent storm 11 later in Plymouth and Biscay.'
0:30:59 > 0:31:01A winter storm rolls in off the Atlantic.
0:31:01 > 0:31:05High winds and rough seas are battering the country
0:31:05 > 0:31:09and the cove is exposed to the full force of the weather.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12The Cadgwith skippers are forced to move their vessels
0:31:12 > 0:31:14out of harm's way.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17There's a bit of weather coming in, like proper weather coming in
0:31:17 > 0:31:20and the boats have to be dragged up into the village,
0:31:20 > 0:31:22tucked away into the alleys, up the hill,
0:31:22 > 0:31:25because there's real security within the village,
0:31:25 > 0:31:27if they're on the beach they'll get washed away.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30Louis Mitchell is the first to make the call...
0:31:30 > 0:31:34I'm not leaving my boat there, I'm coming up here.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36They usually follow behind.
0:31:37 > 0:31:41This the first time for the year, so we got gear up first,
0:31:41 > 0:31:44get rid of all the junk but it's fairly efficient
0:31:44 > 0:31:48when it's all sorted out, and everything else.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50A couple of hours and it's all sorted.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53As the smallest vessel in the cove,
0:31:53 > 0:31:56Nigel's boat, Razorbill, will be dragged into village first.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59Occupational hazard, really,
0:31:59 > 0:32:02but what a difference it is now compared to the summer.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08You know, we'll do this pretty often, especially this time of year,
0:32:08 > 0:32:10but we nearly got caught out last night,
0:32:10 > 0:32:11sea was up past the boats.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16With the smaller boats safely tucked away,
0:32:16 > 0:32:19the fishermen set to work on moving the bigger vessels.
0:32:21 > 0:32:22Louis takes charge.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38I've known years when we do it once a week,
0:32:38 > 0:32:41the last three or four years, we've been quite lucky.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44Once a year, twice a year.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49You know, it is the worst of it now.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59With all the boats off the beach and tightly packed into the village
0:32:59 > 0:33:03there will be no fishing from Cadgwith for the time being.
0:33:03 > 0:33:04And with more bad weather forecast
0:33:04 > 0:33:08the chances of getting out before Christmas look slim.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21The fishermen aren't the only ones who need to get out.
0:33:21 > 0:33:26Plans for the community-supported fishery are now in serious jeopardy.
0:33:26 > 0:33:31After weeks of hard work, there are orders to fill,
0:33:31 > 0:33:35but with the boats stuck on the shore, no fishing means no fish.
0:33:40 > 0:33:46So there's genuine tension for me and genuine frustration that now,
0:33:46 > 0:33:51this point of all points, with literally a week to go,
0:33:51 > 0:33:54this comes in and I can't get out and fish
0:33:54 > 0:33:58and I can't provide the fish for the members of the local community
0:33:58 > 0:34:00who've suddenly become very interested
0:34:00 > 0:34:02in supporting the fleet here.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09It's intensely frustrating and annoying.
0:34:23 > 0:34:28It's been three days since the Cadgwith fleet last to put to sea.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31Offshore, huge container ships brave the storm
0:34:31 > 0:34:34in one of Britain's busiest shipping lanes.
0:34:34 > 0:34:36The waters off the Lizard can be treacherous
0:34:36 > 0:34:39and, over the years, the violent winter storms
0:34:39 > 0:34:42have claimed many ships and many lives.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48Though the Cadgwith boats cannot fish in this weather,
0:34:48 > 0:34:51many of the fishermen have gone to sea in even worse storms
0:34:51 > 0:34:54as members of the local lifeboat crew.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56Nigel, and his father before him,
0:34:56 > 0:35:00unfailingly answered the calls of ships in distress.
0:35:02 > 0:35:06One terrible night, and one terrible storm,
0:35:06 > 0:35:09remains with Nigel above all others.
0:35:09 > 0:35:12The night of the Penlee lifeboat disaster.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15Normally it took us two hours to get to Newlyn,
0:35:15 > 0:35:17well, it took us five hours that night.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24It was poor! I mean, she was banging and jumping out of the sea.
0:35:26 > 0:35:32Just thick, green water was sort of mast level going through her,
0:35:32 > 0:35:35and it was frightening, it was frightening.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39On the evening of the 19th December, 1981,
0:35:39 > 0:35:41a ferocious storm hit Cornwall.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46The Union Star, a cargo ship, lost engine power.
0:35:47 > 0:35:52At 8:12pm the Penlee lifeboat, The Solomon Browne, was launched,
0:35:52 > 0:35:55manned by eight lifeboat men from the fishing town of Mousehole.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59In strong winds and waves up to 60 feet high,
0:35:59 > 0:36:04the lifeboat tried in vain to rescue those aboard the Union Star.
0:36:05 > 0:36:09That night, all hands were lost from both vessels.
0:36:09 > 0:36:1116 people perished.
0:36:12 > 0:36:17It was gusting up 100 mile an hour, which was a hurricane, basically.
0:36:19 > 0:36:26But lots have been out in worse than that, we eventually got there
0:36:26 > 0:36:29and we didn't find anybody, of course.
0:36:32 > 0:36:36This storm continues to rage,
0:36:36 > 0:36:37day after day.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48Back in the cove, the sun may be shining
0:36:48 > 0:36:54but the wind and the sea continue to confine the fishermen to the beach.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57No-go today, isn't looking very good outside there, look.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02You can usually tell when a coaster goes down through
0:37:02 > 0:37:04and his bow comes 40ft out the water, like, you know
0:37:04 > 0:37:06it ain't going to be no good for you...
0:37:09 > 0:37:12..and it's looking like that out there now!
0:37:12 > 0:37:14HE CHUCKLES
0:37:14 > 0:37:18It's probably as long a spell of bad weather as we've had
0:37:18 > 0:37:22for quite a while, quite a while.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26They've been proper gales, you know.
0:37:26 > 0:37:31The sea hasn't been massive but it's day in, day out.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33It's enough to stop you, what with the wind on top of it.
0:37:33 > 0:37:38So, yeah, it is, obviously it's not exceptional
0:37:38 > 0:37:42but it's as long a spell as we've had for a long time.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44Soon the fish markets will be closing for Christmas,
0:37:44 > 0:37:46and if the fishermen can't get out,
0:37:46 > 0:37:48they will not be able to make
0:37:48 > 0:37:51the final, high-value landings of the year.
0:37:52 > 0:37:56A couple of days would do it go out and get through the gear once more,
0:37:56 > 0:37:59pick up what we've got in the store pots, we'll make a week's work.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01Yeah, a couple of days is all we're looking for
0:38:01 > 0:38:03but time's running out.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10Yes, it ain't very good out there, it ain't very good out there at all.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18The delivery deadline for the community-supported fishery
0:38:18 > 0:38:21is also approaching fast.
0:38:21 > 0:38:25The success or failure of the idea hangs on a break in the weather.
0:38:32 > 0:38:36For over a week the fishermen have been unable to get out,
0:38:36 > 0:38:39as low pressure systems sweep in off the Atlantic.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46But finally, there is a break in the weather.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49While the conditions are far from perfect,
0:38:49 > 0:38:52the beach comes to life and the fishermen rush to get out to sea.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56There's a weather window, just a couple of days probably,
0:38:56 > 0:38:58so the fleet's mobilising
0:38:58 > 0:39:01and out of all the days' fishing I've done in the cove
0:39:01 > 0:39:03this is probably the most significant,
0:39:03 > 0:39:04the one that's coming up now...
0:39:06 > 0:39:10..because it provides fish and crab for the community-supported fishery.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14That's great news, I'm delighted.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18With orders to meet, Monty is heading out with Danny Philips
0:39:18 > 0:39:19and his crewman, Perry.
0:39:19 > 0:39:23As soon as the weather broke, Danny shot his nets away
0:39:23 > 0:39:26Now it's time to see what he's caught,
0:39:26 > 0:39:28but Monty has bad memories of this boat.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32In the summer, a violent bout of sea sickness laid him low.
0:39:32 > 0:39:37I'm out on Scorpio, and me and Scorpio have got a bit of previous.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39I think I lay there being sick, I lay there being sick,
0:39:39 > 0:39:42I lay there being sick and it's a lumpy day as well.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45This will be my last trip out on Scorpio
0:39:45 > 0:39:48and one of Danny's last fishing trips before Christmas,
0:39:48 > 0:39:51so it will be interesting to see how I get on today.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54This, for me, will hopefully slay a few dragons.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56There's one!
0:39:56 > 0:39:58Pollock.
0:39:58 > 0:39:59Oh, lovely.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02- That is good, tasty stuff! - Yeah, beautiful.
0:40:10 > 0:40:14This time of year, I guess, is quite challenging, isn't it, Danny?
0:40:14 > 0:40:17- It is, yeah. - Challenging in every respect.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19But, also, it's quite good fun.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21Yes, I suppose so.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23All depends on your definition of "fun".
0:40:25 > 0:40:27Do you go a bit stir crazy when you're not fishing?
0:40:27 > 0:40:29Well, sometimes. Yeah...
0:40:29 > 0:40:33I know you're sort of born to fish, aren't you, really?
0:40:33 > 0:40:36If it's a neap and I'm supposed to be out there and it's blowing,
0:40:36 > 0:40:37I do get agitated.
0:40:37 > 0:40:39I don't mind it blowing on a spring tide.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48Oh, lovely!
0:40:50 > 0:40:52Although Danny is using carefully-placed gill nets
0:40:52 > 0:40:57to specifically target high-value species, like red mullet and bass,
0:40:57 > 0:41:01he inevitably catches a range of less valuable fish as well.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04And some that are of no commercial value at all.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06It's all part of this thing
0:41:06 > 0:41:09about getting people to eat species they wouldn't normally eat.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11That's right, yeah.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13Without realising, you stick that in batter
0:41:13 > 0:41:16and you wouldn't know the difference, would you?
0:41:16 > 0:41:18The big ones of these, that's what we want to eat.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20- The big wrasse?- Yeah.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24What Danny and Perry are doing is as the fish are coming out the nets
0:41:24 > 0:41:29they're obviously sorting it into species with value, market value,
0:41:29 > 0:41:33and this is just bait, but what you're looking at there...
0:41:34 > 0:41:39..is a beautiful fish bouillabaisse, a fish stew,
0:41:39 > 0:41:41but we chuck all that stuff away
0:41:41 > 0:41:44and that's one of the things I think we need to address.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49Danny was very sceptical
0:41:49 > 0:41:52about making a direct link with local consumers.
0:41:52 > 0:41:53But he has agreed to sell
0:41:53 > 0:41:57a selection of his less valuable catch to the scheme.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59The chaps in Helston, when they have the fish this time,
0:41:59 > 0:42:01you are actually going to sell it to them?
0:42:01 > 0:42:04Yeah, the idea is they've put money down ahead, beforehand.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06And they've done that, have they?
0:42:06 > 0:42:09Yeah, as an investment in the fleet, basically,
0:42:09 > 0:42:12and for that we give them one lot of fish
0:42:12 > 0:42:16but the way it would work is they would put down a much larger lump sum
0:42:16 > 0:42:18and, once a week, they'd get a drop off of fish.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20Quite often in March,
0:42:20 > 0:42:24when there is a lot of fish around prices drop really bad,
0:42:24 > 0:42:27we get really low prices, but it doesn't seem to alter in the shops,
0:42:27 > 0:42:31so, that would be quite a good time for us then to sell to them.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34That's part of the beauty of it, I think.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38In that you've got a guaranteed price all year for 15% of your catch,
0:42:38 > 0:42:4010% of your catch, you know.
0:42:42 > 0:42:44Yeah, it could work.
0:42:45 > 0:42:49With all the fish gutted and stowed, Danny heads back to the cove,
0:42:49 > 0:42:53and, this time, Monty is still standing.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55I think he's got over all that now.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00Unless he's on some very good medication.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03No signs of him dying today, anyway.
0:43:05 > 0:43:10Just finishing up now, but the nice thing about the CSF
0:43:10 > 0:43:12is the fish that we caught today,
0:43:12 > 0:43:17several of them will go into the CSF pot, as it were.
0:43:17 > 0:43:21and the beauty of that is they go in at a slightly inflated price
0:43:21 > 0:43:24from what would normally be paid.
0:43:24 > 0:43:26So this, I think, times like this,
0:43:26 > 0:43:31is when the CSF really kicks in and maybe has a bit of proper value.
0:43:33 > 0:43:38Danny's premium fish will soon be on restaurant tables across Cornwall,
0:43:38 > 0:43:42but a selection of this catch will go straight to the local community.
0:43:42 > 0:43:46By selling direct, it means a better price for everyone.
0:43:46 > 0:43:51The whole concept of the CSF, of course, is that direct link -
0:43:51 > 0:43:54there isn't a massive logistical chain involved in these fish.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57So Danny for these normally you'd be getting?
0:43:57 > 0:44:01This time of year perhaps they would be up £2.50-£3 a kilo sort of thing.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03£3 a kilo, yeah.
0:44:03 > 0:44:08So with CSF thing, we'll do £4 a kilo for Danny,
0:44:08 > 0:44:11so that's the idea. That little extra bit of value
0:44:11 > 0:44:14because it's going straight to the consumer, so £4 a kilo, Danny?
0:44:14 > 0:44:18- If you can get £4 a kilo for them, I'd be delighted.- Brilliant!
0:44:18 > 0:44:19Very good!
0:44:27 > 0:44:32While the other fishermen continue to make the most of the weather window,
0:44:32 > 0:44:33Nigel is busy on shore.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37During the winter, he makes traditional willow
0:44:37 > 0:44:38or withy lobster pots.
0:44:40 > 0:44:43This was once an essential part of a fishermen's life
0:44:43 > 0:44:46but, today, few pots make it to the sea.
0:44:46 > 0:44:48Most are bought by tourists as souvenirs.
0:44:51 > 0:44:54I can see you're working at real speed there,
0:44:54 > 0:44:58you're not hanging about and was speed of the essence
0:44:58 > 0:45:01because huge numbers of these were required, I assume?
0:45:01 > 0:45:03These were the pots, weren't they?
0:45:03 > 0:45:05Well, these were the pots, these were the lifeblood.
0:45:05 > 0:45:08If you didn't make pots...
0:45:08 > 0:45:11OK, they might be romantic and artistic now,
0:45:11 > 0:45:14- but, years ago, you had to make them to make a living.- Yeah.
0:45:14 > 0:45:20So, yeah, speed. Two men in those days would make six pots a day,
0:45:20 > 0:45:23I can sort of do three a day on my own
0:45:23 > 0:45:28but I aren't under the sort of pressure they was under,
0:45:28 > 0:45:31you know, I like it up here in the shed on my own,
0:45:31 > 0:45:34perhaps with the music on, and a cup of coffee,
0:45:34 > 0:45:40- but they were doing it for survival. - Yeah. Yeah.- No romance whatsoever.
0:45:40 > 0:45:44Withy pots have been made in Cadgwith for hundreds of years.
0:45:44 > 0:45:48But with the introduction of steel and plastic pots in the 1960s
0:45:48 > 0:45:50almost made this skill obsolete.
0:45:53 > 0:45:57I did used to detest making pots, I really did,
0:45:57 > 0:45:59and when plastic and steel came along,
0:45:59 > 0:46:03I was just so happy and pleased and I couldn't wait fast enough
0:46:03 > 0:46:07to throw this in the corner and just forget about it, to be quite honest.
0:46:07 > 0:46:12To help him through tough times, Nigel started making pots again
0:46:12 > 0:46:14and now he is hopeful that someone from the cove
0:46:14 > 0:46:16will learn this dying craft.
0:46:16 > 0:46:18But if they don't,
0:46:18 > 0:46:21this could be a link to the past that is lost forever.
0:46:28 > 0:46:34I do need now to have a youngster to actually take it on,
0:46:34 > 0:46:37because it would be a shame if it was lost.
0:46:39 > 0:46:43Some elements of Cadgwith have remained unchanged for centuries.
0:46:43 > 0:46:46But its fishermen have always moved with the times,
0:46:46 > 0:46:50embracing new technologies and new techniques.
0:46:52 > 0:46:53Over the years,
0:46:53 > 0:46:57small-boat fishermen have worked to perfect their operation at sea.
0:46:57 > 0:46:59But times are changing
0:46:59 > 0:47:02and they now need to improve how they operate on shore -
0:47:02 > 0:47:04they need to find new markets,
0:47:04 > 0:47:09sell the story of the fish they catch, and maximise their returns.
0:47:15 > 0:47:17It's a few days before Christmas.
0:47:17 > 0:47:20The last day of the Cadgwith fishing season has arrived,
0:47:20 > 0:47:22and the cove's fishermen
0:47:22 > 0:47:24are bringing in the final catch of the year.
0:47:25 > 0:47:31This a momentous trip for me because it's probably my last trip
0:47:31 > 0:47:33out of the cove on a boat...
0:47:33 > 0:47:35er, which is very sad.
0:47:36 > 0:47:38The other reason it's an important trip is
0:47:38 > 0:47:43Tonks has got store pots out here and we're going to go to the store pots
0:47:43 > 0:47:47and get about 30 or so big cock crab for the community-supported fishery.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01Tonks, ideally if we can have some cock crabs,
0:48:01 > 0:48:04kind of medium size, that would be ideal, about 30 or so.
0:48:04 > 0:48:05No problem.
0:48:09 > 0:48:10Is that big enough?
0:48:10 > 0:48:12That's perfect, actually.
0:48:12 > 0:48:14I think one of the things people are going to face
0:48:14 > 0:48:16is they're not used to cooking crab,
0:48:16 > 0:48:19so I'm worried they won't have a big enough thing. That's perfect.
0:48:19 > 0:48:22Yeah, anything that size and that size, mate, will be absolutely ideal.
0:48:22 > 0:48:24So shall I whack them in this bongo?
0:48:24 > 0:48:27Yeah, put them in your bongo and keep count!
0:48:27 > 0:48:32As part of their fish box, each customer will get a live crab.
0:48:34 > 0:48:38By selling into the scheme, Tonks will receive 20% more
0:48:38 > 0:48:41for a small portion of his catch,
0:48:41 > 0:48:44but the customers will still be paying a lot less
0:48:44 > 0:48:46than they would in the shops.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49- No, you know, more is good, isn't it?- Oh, it is, of course.
0:48:49 > 0:48:55On how big or small the scale, it doesn't matter, every little helps.
0:48:55 > 0:48:56Yeah.
0:48:56 > 0:49:00The majority of crabs caught in Cadgwith will go to Europe,
0:49:00 > 0:49:03but with many countries facing recession,
0:49:03 > 0:49:06small-boat skippers like Tonks are feeling the effects.
0:49:06 > 0:49:10Developing new, local, markets could help them in the future.
0:49:10 > 0:49:13And, Tonks, the stuff you're doing at the moment,
0:49:13 > 0:49:16this is going to France, Spain, to the continent?
0:49:16 > 0:49:17Yeah, the continent, somewhere.
0:49:17 > 0:49:20That's a nice thing for me and I imagine for you, as well,
0:49:20 > 0:49:23that that's actually going to be eaten by a local person.
0:49:23 > 0:49:25Yeah, for sure. Wonderful, wonderful!
0:49:25 > 0:49:29I do wish more people would do it.
0:49:32 > 0:49:37With the whole catch aboard, they head back to the cove.
0:49:37 > 0:49:40This is the last time Monty will make this journey.
0:49:57 > 0:50:02That is genuinely the end of my fishing in Cadgwith,
0:50:02 > 0:50:05it's the last time I'll come around the corner of the cove,
0:50:05 > 0:50:07the last time up on the beach.
0:50:10 > 0:50:12Very sad, really.
0:50:12 > 0:50:15It just feels like yesterday I was wandering down here
0:50:15 > 0:50:18and, interestingly, amazing how the preconceptions I had then
0:50:18 > 0:50:24have changed so radically due to being exposed to this fleet
0:50:24 > 0:50:27and this group of people.
0:50:27 > 0:50:29Very sad, really.
0:50:37 > 0:50:40With their seafood now in high demand on mainland Europe,
0:50:40 > 0:50:44the Cadgwith fishermen land their catch just in time.
0:50:47 > 0:50:49There you go, chaps! Merry Christmas!
0:50:49 > 0:50:50Thank you very much.
0:50:50 > 0:50:54Yeah, it's all right. Quite pleased with that.
0:50:54 > 0:50:56HE CHUCKLES
0:50:56 > 0:51:01Fishing may be over, but Monty still has work to do.
0:51:01 > 0:51:03The customers who signed up to the scheme
0:51:03 > 0:51:05will collect their fish in Helston this evening.
0:51:05 > 0:51:08But first, the catch needs to be processed.
0:51:08 > 0:51:10Right, Fletch, here's the fish.
0:51:10 > 0:51:13It's a veritable paella
0:51:18 > 0:51:20With a range of species on offer,
0:51:20 > 0:51:23some are filleted and others are left whole.
0:51:29 > 0:51:31We've got prepped fillets there,
0:51:31 > 0:51:34in that case, we'll put a bit of ice on it.
0:51:34 > 0:51:39Well, what I may do is put whole fish in one and fillets in the other.
0:51:39 > 0:51:41Really delighted with what we've got,
0:51:41 > 0:51:44and I think it's a lovely way of doing it,
0:51:44 > 0:51:47you get fillets if you're not feeling that adventurous,
0:51:47 > 0:51:50but you get a whole fish if you're feeling a little bit more...
0:51:50 > 0:51:54"let's get stuck in," because that's actually what we want to push.
0:51:54 > 0:51:56It's not so much the fillets, it's the whole fish
0:51:56 > 0:51:58and this different range of species.
0:51:58 > 0:52:02And get people to explore the sorts of fish we're catching.
0:52:05 > 0:52:08The fish are ready, all they need now are the customers.
0:52:10 > 0:52:12Literally just set up
0:52:12 > 0:52:16and the first customer of the community-supported fishery in the UK
0:52:16 > 0:52:19has just turned up, bang on time.
0:52:19 > 0:52:22- That's impressive, good time keeping. - Nice to meet you.
0:52:22 > 0:52:24You too, thank you very much.
0:52:24 > 0:52:28This is one of the best deals I've ever had in my life
0:52:28 > 0:52:33- and I hope you're venture is good. - Thank you very much!
0:52:34 > 0:52:38Basically, we've got a tub full of crab there,
0:52:38 > 0:52:40and you get one crab, and in here we've got fish fillets
0:52:40 > 0:52:44or in there it's kind of a lucky dip and we'll give you a fish
0:52:44 > 0:52:47that you've probably never had before, the whole fish.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50- I can choose, can I?- You can choose. - I think I'll go for the experience.
0:52:51 > 0:52:54This is probably the cheapest fish we get any money for,
0:52:54 > 0:52:56that's a bib or a pouting.
0:52:56 > 0:52:59Everybody goes for cod,
0:52:59 > 0:53:02that thing will out-taste a cod any day.
0:53:02 > 0:53:04I think it's a great idea! I really hope it takes off.
0:53:04 > 0:53:08I really hope that, certainly, the people of Cadgwith get behind it,
0:53:08 > 0:53:12and if we can do it local to home then, yeah, great.
0:53:12 > 0:53:13I've got small haddock.
0:53:13 > 0:53:15Oh, I'll have a haddock. I'll have a haddock.
0:53:15 > 0:53:17Yeah, I'll have some haddock, please.
0:53:17 > 0:53:19I think it's really beneficial -
0:53:19 > 0:53:21there's all this produce caught locally
0:53:21 > 0:53:24and it supports the local communities on the coast
0:53:24 > 0:53:27and it's giving us the opportunity to buy that great food locally.
0:53:27 > 0:53:29What could be better?
0:53:29 > 0:53:31It's been a success.
0:53:31 > 0:53:34Local people have bought sustainably-caught fish
0:53:34 > 0:53:36- from- their- fishing fleet.
0:53:36 > 0:53:38A broken link has been mended.
0:53:39 > 0:53:43The recurring comment I've heard all night as people have come up is,
0:53:43 > 0:53:45"How can this be carried on?"
0:53:45 > 0:53:48And their delight at the fact that they're actually helping
0:53:48 > 0:53:52the fishermen and they're helping the fishing boats.
0:53:52 > 0:53:55I think it's going very well, I think there's potential here
0:53:55 > 0:53:58to change people's eating habits a little bit.
0:53:58 > 0:54:00If we can convince them to eat what's being caught
0:54:00 > 0:54:05rather than us trying to catch what we think they want to eat,
0:54:05 > 0:54:09we might even convince the Great British public to eat more fish.
0:54:09 > 0:54:13Well, I was a bit sceptical to start off with, I've got to say.
0:54:13 > 0:54:16But I think we've sort of crossed a bridge,
0:54:16 > 0:54:20OK, it's only 30 or 40 people, but like a snowball effect,
0:54:20 > 0:54:24people now know they can get fresh fish and it will help everybody -
0:54:24 > 0:54:28the fishermen and the normal fishmongers and everybody, really.
0:54:28 > 0:54:32It's a great sight, you know, to see this,
0:54:32 > 0:54:35the culmination of the faith that Nige has shown in the scheme
0:54:35 > 0:54:38and Jonathan and the fishermen of Cadgwith,
0:54:38 > 0:54:43and the support that their local community has shown in that fleet.
0:54:43 > 0:54:45Terrific.
0:54:45 > 0:54:49If schemes like this were to take root around our coast,
0:54:49 > 0:54:52they could offer a lifeline to our inshore fishing fleet
0:54:52 > 0:54:56and provide consumers with local, fresh seafood.
0:54:56 > 0:54:59It's a small first step on a long journey.
0:55:05 > 0:55:10For Monty, though, his time in the cove is at an end.
0:55:15 > 0:55:17For the past eight months,
0:55:17 > 0:55:19he has lived and worked as a Cornish fisherman.
0:55:19 > 0:55:23He's experienced the rewards.
0:55:23 > 0:55:25Beautiful little lobster, look.
0:55:25 > 0:55:29And the perils of Britain's most dangerous job.
0:55:29 > 0:55:31Try not to spew over the fish!
0:55:31 > 0:55:34Monty has seen the challenges that all fishermen face.
0:55:34 > 0:55:38From the inshore skippers to the deep-sea trawlermen.
0:55:38 > 0:55:42He has experienced first-hand the hard work
0:55:42 > 0:55:46and dedication that goes into this most challenging of occupations.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49I'm told I'm being a total lightweight.
0:55:49 > 0:55:52Though he arrived as an apprentice,
0:55:52 > 0:55:57- Monty has earned his place among the fishermen of Cadgwith Cove. - That's a keeper.
0:55:57 > 0:56:00I just never thought he was going to do what he's done.
0:56:00 > 0:56:03No, I would give him a job tomorrow.
0:56:03 > 0:56:06He's all right, yeah, fine.
0:56:06 > 0:56:09I think he dealt with everything quite well.
0:56:09 > 0:56:12We all enjoyed having him, he was good entertainment, really.
0:56:13 > 0:56:20He done very well, really. Give him a silver star, I think.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24Well, Nige, I'm back to my world now.
0:56:24 > 0:56:27Thank you for looking after me and I've learned heck of a lot.
0:56:27 > 0:56:32Well, I think you've learnt a bit, it hasn't been no problem, really.
0:56:32 > 0:56:37Look after Tam and the baby and you'll be fine, that's the world now.
0:56:38 > 0:56:40I expect you'll come back occasionally.
0:56:40 > 0:56:43Oh, we will. You're going to struggle to get rid of me now.
0:56:43 > 0:56:45All right, Nige. Thanks very much, mate.
0:56:45 > 0:56:47Right, well look after yourself.
0:56:47 > 0:56:49I certainly will. Much appreciated. Cheers.
0:56:51 > 0:56:54I really had my bleak moments during the course of this experience
0:56:54 > 0:56:57and it was always Nige that picked me up.
0:56:59 > 0:57:03I really would have struggled without his constant and unflagging support
0:57:03 > 0:57:05and enthusiasm for what I was trying to do.
0:57:05 > 0:57:09Fishermen face a difficult time ahead.
0:57:09 > 0:57:12Increasingly strict Government and European policies,
0:57:12 > 0:57:15tighter financial margins and a lack of young crew
0:57:15 > 0:57:17mean the future for Cadgwith Cove
0:57:17 > 0:57:21and the British fishing industry as a whole hangs in the balance.
0:57:21 > 0:57:24Whether some people like it or no, the smelly fishing boats
0:57:24 > 0:57:29with all this smelly equipment, that is what this place is.
0:57:31 > 0:57:35We are still here, so we must be doing something right,
0:57:35 > 0:57:39we might be hanging on by the skin our teeth at times,
0:57:39 > 0:57:40but we're still here.
0:57:40 > 0:57:43We're completely surrounded by coastline,
0:57:43 > 0:57:46I mean, if we haven't got a fleet of fishing boats,
0:57:46 > 0:57:48well, then that's the end of it, really.
0:57:48 > 0:57:52That's the end of Britain as we know it, I think.
0:57:54 > 0:57:55My overriding sensation
0:57:55 > 0:58:01as I drive away and I look at Cadgwith in my rear view mirrors
0:58:01 > 0:58:04is this isn't some quaint representation of the past.
0:58:07 > 0:58:12It's a potential sustainable fishing model for the future
0:58:12 > 0:58:17And we as a nation and as local communities must support our fleets
0:58:17 > 0:58:21because otherwise they will disappear.
0:58:25 > 0:58:29# Away down Rio
0:58:29 > 0:58:33# So fare thee well My pretty young girl
0:58:33 > 0:58:36# For I'm bound for the Rio Grande
0:58:36 > 0:58:41# Then away, then away
0:58:41 > 0:58:45# Away down Rio
0:58:45 > 0:58:49# So fare thee well My pretty young girl
0:58:49 > 0:58:53# For I'm bound for the Rio Grande. #