A Passion for Seafood

17/04/2026

Cracking little Brixham dayboat scallops from for this evening’s supper.

Dear, sweet, nutritious things - not that much bigger than a Queenie and just as flavoursome 👌🏻

Fresh ? You could have easily eaten them raw, but tonight was a seasonal special. Ozonous, and firm, less is more when cooking…..

Just pan-seared, with burnt butter and in the lard of some delicious treacle cured bacon and Aldeburgh sausage, all on a luscious bed of Sweffling wild garlic mash (just the stems and flowers finely chopped) and some griddled new asparagus 🥰

Lovely little spring supper for two with
😊

15/04/2026

Cod - yes or no ? 🤔🐟

There’s once again a huge amount of confusion surrounding the sustainability of North Atlantic cod following the down grading of its rating to a 5 (must avoid) by for their Good Fish Guide

This message needs clarification, as the issue is complex and the ‘top-down’ one size fits all narrative is not helpful, especially when the media put out overly sensationalist headlines such as ‘ditch the seaside staple’

Yes, undoubtedly there are issues with cod populations, especially with what we call the Southern stock that historically resides in the North Sea, Channel and Celtic Sea. This population is steadily moving North, as sea temperatures increase (basically to follow its cold water loving feed - plankton) and is merging with the more abundant Northern cod populations.

Simply put, because the biomass (volume) of Southern cod is indeed low and under pressure, the overall Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is defined by the lower figure and a 44% reduction in catch has been agreed, which overall, will mean an approach which allows for Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)

Now that reduction in catch amounts to approximately 10,000 tons less fish landed for 2026, which is highly significant. However, that still means 14,000 tonnes of cod can still be landed and enter the supply chain.

Today alone in Peterhead 140 boxes of cod were on the market from just two vessels catching mainly saithe (coalfish /coley). Although the skipper is actively trying not to catch cod, because the Northern North sea is what we call a mixed fishery, (multiple species) it’s not that easy to avoid

So DO continue to eat cod, because avoiding it completely is actually anti-sustainability, meaning that fishing communities and their businesses also have to be sustainable. Perhaps just eat it less often and look at alternatives such as haddock or hake for example, but don’t disregard it completely

Here in Suffolk, our inshore boats still occasionally get a run of Spring cod April/May time which although short lived and not a huge volume, is still an important bonus catch for them. To say don’t eat it without considering local or seasonal nuance is wrong.

14/04/2026

inbound 🇬🇧🐟🦀🦞🦑🦐

31/03/2026

One more sleep 😮👊🏻🐟

Tomorrow’s the day ! From April 1st the guys can officially land bass again and here on the Suffolk Heritage Coast, boats from Felixstowe Ferry, Orford, Aldeburgh, Sizewell, Southwold and Lowestoft will be going afloat, in search of the

I’m looking forward to seeing these gorgeous fish on the slabs again in all their scaley, stiff, silver glory 😊

It’s probably now the most important catch we have here on the East Coast and bass stocks (not sea bass, that’s what refer to the Mediterranean farmed stuff as) are super abundant and very sustainable 👌🏻

The weather looks good for tomorrow, so hopefully we’ll see some landings 🤞🏻🐟🐟

I’ll be popping down to see some of the boys as they land, so keep a look out and see if you can bag an Easter bar for this weekend! Great places to pick one up are .hunt.07 and

Happy hunting ! 🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟

29/03/2026

24/03/2026

Tuesday market at Newlyn - not huge but plenty of variety and great quality 👌🏻



🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟

24/03/2026

Back down Newlyn 😊 Quay Connections visit today, but I always like to get on the market and see what’s been landed 🤔🐟🦞🦑

We’ll be spending the day getting under the skin of the fishing industry and talking to those who work at the coal face, about the realities - challenges and opportunities that fishermen face throughout the year and what it takes to bring fish and shellfish to market. 🐟🦀

Always exciting and always educational to see seafood so fresh and straight off the boat and to hear some of the stories that abound in this most amazing industry 🐟🐟🐟

23/03/2026

The octopus bloom in the SW continues unabated. Here one of the Newlyn crabbers has just landed 2.5 tonnes. It’s a clear and present threat to crab, lobster and scallop populations with the potential for an ecological disaster.

Common European octopus (Octopus vulgaris) are a native species around the southern waters of the UK, but since this time last year, we’ve seen unprecedented numbers across mainly the Southern coasts of Devon and Cornwall.

Of course there is value to them and the markets have doubtless benefitted over the course of the last 12 months, but it does beg the question whether it’s sustainable or not - especially when voraciously, they eat everything shellfish-wise, in sight.

It’s fascinating to see them, but the ongoing invasion poses a real challenge for fishing communities, where crab and lobster especially are the mainstay. 🤔

I’ll be posting about this extraordinary phenomenon on my Substack next month 🐙

20/03/2026

I’m absolutely thrilled to be returning this year to the wonderful Porthminster Beach, for the one and only 🐟

Sadly though, this year I won’t have my dear friend to keep me inspired, as he’ll be away on other duties, however, I’m sure I’ll be in great company with and 🦞

Last year the weather was simply incredible ☀️Keeping everything crossed for Friday May 15th 🤞🏻

So what should I cook - it’s going to be over fire. I’m thinking something whole and flat 🤔🐟

17/03/2026

Well, well well! I’ve been shortlisted in the 2026 for Industry Supporter of The Year ! 😮🐟🦞🦀

It’s an honour and privilege to work in this incredible industry, alongside so many wonderful characters, who I’ve been fortunate enough not just to learn from and collaborate with, but who have also become great friends.

Our UK fishing industry has inspired me to travel, write about, broadcast, promote and showcase everything to do with responsible, sustainable and seasonal seafood production around our shores.

It’s a fascinating and highly rewarding journey and I thank everyone who’s helped and supported me along the way !

If you fancy voting for me you can via the link in my bio or visit the Fishing News website, where there are a whole host of other shortlistees in other categories doing wonderful things for our industry 🐟🦞🦀

The Awards ceremony is in Aberdeen on May 6th

10/12/2025

Fantastic day for our guests attending the latest ‘Getting to Know Farmed Shellfish’ workshop at Billingsgate yesterday 🦪🇬🇧