My Local Catch
My Local Catch was a marine awareness project based in Whitehaven, working with local fishermen using low-impact fishing methods, coastal communities, seafood suppliers, schools and youth groups, to raise awareness of the benefits of locally and sustainably-sourced seafood in the recovery of our seas.
Overfishing is one of the biggest challenges facing our seas, with trawl fishing accounting for more carbon emissions than the entire aviation industry. Two thirds of global fish stocks are classed as "overfished" and around 10% classed as "collapsed". High bycatch rates, habitat destruction and lack of prey contribute to the damage caused to marine ecosystems. But that doesn't mean we have to stop eating fish all together...
Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, My Local Catch aimed to show how small-scale, sustainably caught, seafood can form part of our diet, and help in the recovery of our seas and coastal communities.
Local catch for local businesses
Since 2019, we have been supporting two fishermen in the Barrow area to develop creel potting in West of Walney MCZ as a sustainable alternative to trawling for Dublin Bay Prawns.
We've also been working with communities across West Cumbria to deliver a range of seafood outreach activities including food festivals, cooking workshops, and restaurant support to encourage businesses and consumers to choose local sustainable seafood.
To find out more about creel fishing and it's importance as a small-scale selective fishing method, follow the link below!
Cumbrian creel project
Education & Awareness
The future of marine conservation and sustainable fishing in Cumbria lies with the inspirational young people growing up here - so we're working with schools and youth groups to raise awareness about the need for healthy seas and sustainable fisheries.
From street theatre performances to cooking workshops, and beach days to crabbing and "meet the fishermen", we've been taking local students on a journey from "Fish to Fork" and helping them explore their coastal heritage through a range of activities.
Ocean Connection
The best part about living by the sea is being able to get out on the coast exploring the local wildlife; we worked with local communities to explore sustainable seafood and marine wildlife through a range of events, including rockpooling, snorkelling, beach art, foraging, and our annual festival of the sea at St Bees, which will continue after the project ends!
Marine Monitoring
As well as teaching people about the amazing wildlife in our seas, we're helping to gather data to protect it, through professional seabed surveys, underwater video monitoring, and our regular programme of volunteer-led citizen science days taking place along the Cumbrian coast.
Want to try for yourself?
Here's just a few of the fantastic recipes from our demonstration chefs John Crouch and Emma Donoghue, to help you to cook sustainable seafood from the comfort of your own home, using delicious local seafood caught by wildlife-friendly methods.
What species are we protecting?
Sustainable fishing is an essential tool for protecting our muddy undersea landscape and our incredible local marine wildlife. By reducing pressure from trawl fishing, we are working to protect a whole range of incredible wildlife who rely on the rich subtidal mud.
Here's just a few of the species who will benefit...
Get involved!
Here's a few ways you can support your seas and learn more about sustainable fishing in Cumbria:
Buy local sustainable seafood
- Wherever you can, buy local. Around 80% of fish caught in the UK is exported, and 80% of the fish we consume is imported, so let's give the local economy a boost and support our fishing community- before we lose it.
- Ask your fishmonger for creel/pot-caught, line-caught, or hand-dived seafood, as these methods are selective and have much lower impact on the wider marine ecosystems than trawling or dredging. The more we ask for it, the more businesses are likely to source sustainably.
Volunteer with us
Though in-person events have now finished for My Local Catch, you can still get involved with protecting our coastline through the marine wildlfife survey days which happen every month in West Cumbria, lead by our fantastic Marine Champion volunteers. Follow the link below to find the next event:
You can also get involved in an enormous range of volunteering through Cumbria Wildlife Trust, including work parties at nature reserves, assisting with community events, creating blogs and social media content, and even training to become a marine champion survey leader! To find all the latest information on current volunteering opportunities, follow the links below:
Look out for events near you
In person events have now finished for My Local Catch, but there's still a huge range of events and opportunities to get involved with along the North West coast. Follow the links below to find out what's going on near you!
Lancashire Wildlife Trust events
