Martin Foulis aboard the Alison Marie. The Alison Marie would ideally have a crew of three but due to prices hitting a low and costs hitting a high, only skipper martin and crew mate Robert work on the boat. Both of the fishermen have big families to support and that is why they keep going. Fishing is an ever-changing industry. Fishermen need to adapt. Conditions in the industry have improved due to sustainable measures.

The fight for fair and sustainable fishing has been a slow process, with little positive media coverage for the environmentally friendly smaller fishermen, whose work is vital for local communities. The job prospects for younger generations of fishermen are currently at an all time low, in recent years, quotas and fuel prices have risen, whilst catch prices have fallen. This project is just a small part of the story of the current fishing industry. This body of work is brought together to present a unique record of daily life and a culture that surrounds fishermen.

Earning a living from fishing in the current climate is a risky business ñ One reason there aren’t many young fishermen in the UK

“Our fishermen need a voice.” A resident of Whitehaven who has undergone deindustrialisation of the mines, turning to the fishing industry, now times are looking hard for Mr. Jackhays' son.

The fishing industry needs to enable future generations to learn from the mistakes of the past and create a sustainable future. We need to look at what is being done to change and to create a future that fishing communities are to survive on. Is their hope for a new relationship between man and the sea? An entire fishing culture is disappearing before our very eyes. Ron Graham states, “This is the end of the line.” This is not just a comment on his long career drawing to a close, but also an entire way of life. Fishing, unlike many professions, is not just a job; it’s an entire lifestyle.

Day at sea are long, the work is hard manual labour, on top of this a fishermen is a business owner

Sean Dennison, on coming from a fishing family, "From a family of fishermen, “You are a fisherman before you are born”

It is horrendously difficult for people to get into the fishing industry, due to increased financial pressure, lack of support in the government and in communities. Fishermen need to be given the chance to see. Work is being done towards sustainable scheme in order to enhance fisheries and create a more environmentally friendly future, but these are still relatively recent changes and need time to grow. We still don’t truly understand the effect of man on nature. Looking to the future fishermen need to understand their target species and the changes that aren’t visible to them on land, in the same way that the public and media need to understand change doesn’t happen overnight. Sean Dennison, skipper of the Queline, states, “you should never judge a book by its cover, and at least make sure you can understand before you judge, the public need to know the true story. Fishermen are becoming more connected with sustainability and have stronger connections than ever before with the environment.” One of the strongest needs of the industry is more communication between governing boards such as; the European Union, the UK government, and actual fishermen. The problem lies in the fact those making...

The Scallop fishery is currently the third most important sector of the UK fishing industry. Scallop diving is the most sustainable way of harvesting, however only 2% of the UK's catch are accounted for in this way. UK Scallops are renowned for their quality throughout the world, but only 40% of scallop’s stays in the UK, the other 60% are exported to other European countries. Emlyn Grieve's boat the three boys, has no by catch and no waste in the harvest of the seabed. Although schemes working towards sustainability, such as V notching are improving things, it is still not physically visible to anyone outside the fishing industry, which makes it hard to change negative views towards the industry. A V shaped notch is clipped into the mature lobsters tale to mark their reproductive age, the lobster is then returned to the sea to continue breeding. Ensuring a future for the next generation of fishermen in Orkney.

James and Sean at work, just off the shore at the port of Kirkwall. 90% of what is caught goes straight back into the sea.

The UK's largest lobster hatchery is located in Orkney, managed by Orkney sustainable fisheries. The aim of the hatchery is to create a sustainable future around the islands, releasing 60,000 juveniles per year.

If there is no voice to communicate the work towards a sustainable future in in shore fisheries, will this be the end of a once thriving industry? As Sean Dennison reflects, “We all have to share the sea.”