By Barbara Cossins.
Here in Dorset we’re so lucky to live in a beautiful part of the world. Not one motorway in the whole county and surrounded by the stunning Jurassic coast.
The fishing industry is something I know very little about but in the last few years I’ve been learning more from our Dorset fishermen and fish sellers. In fact, I’ve been on the most exciting journey with the Love Local Trust Local food awards, as I hear the wonderful stories of our very own Dorset shellfish and fish producers.
When Covid first struck, the fishing industry were one of the most inspiring for me. Not only were they already struggling with the UK having just come out of Brexit, they were suddenly left with no borders open at all.
Never an industry to fall at the first hurdle, they started selling straight off their boats, getting rid of the middle man and rebuilding their businesses with a different supply chain. Innovation at its simplest and best, it was about survival.
We don’t eat enough fish from our own waters despite having some of the best fish and shellfish in Europe. In fact, we export most of it, almost 75 per cent to Europe for them to enjoy instead.
What is total madness is that most of what we eat in the UK is then imported fish?! What is wrong with us? We must be the laughing stock of Europe for letting this happen.
Did you know that, just in our Dorset waters, we catch wild sea bass, Dover sole, plaice, Pollock, mackerel and, of course, our very own Portland crab and lobster and pool bay oysters. What a mouth-watering selection that is. Let’s try and eat more of it whenever we can.
In fact, an even wider range of seafood can be sourced from the waters of Dorset, more than 40 species in total. If our Dorset fishermen are allowed to fish and return with their catch daily, then they can offer us the freshest fish of the highest quality. Something none of us should take for granted and all of us should enjoy.
Let’s celebrate our seafood and eat local. Dorset fishermen are simply the best.
Barbara Cossins is founder of Love Local Trust Local; www.thelangtonarms.co.uk; www.rawstonfarmbutchery.co.uk; www.lovelocaltrustlocalawards.co.uk