Next Generation of British Fishermen Learn the Ropes in Cornwall

Published: 17 August ‘2025 | The English Chronicle Desk

At a small training hut near Newlyn Harbour in Cornwall, a group of aspiring fishermen are immersing themselves in the age-old craft that has sustained coastal communities for generations. Over the course of a two-week intensive program, around a dozen students are learning everything from knotwork and chart plotting to navigation and sea survival, equipping them with the skills required to embark on a career at sea.

While many participants follow family traditions, others are embracing fishing as a completely new path. Elliot Fairbairn, 28, originally from London, paused his work as a groundworker to take the course. “I’m not from a fishing family – I just like a challenge,” he explains. “It makes you feel good doing a hard job. I think that’s what’s getting lost these days – people want an easy job, easy money, and they don’t understand what it takes to be successful. Sometimes you’ve got to put in the work.” Fairbairn already has a berth lined up on a ring-netter boat for the following week.

Among the younger recruits is 17-year-old Oscar Ashby, balancing his A-Level studies at Truro College with work in Cornwall’s main hospital. Drawn by the opportunity to work outdoors and learn practical skills, Ashby describes fishing as “one of the last jobs that is like being a hunter-gatherer – everything else is really industrialised.”

The course, run by the charity Seafood Cornwall Training, was oversubscribed, with only half of applicants able to secure a place. Clare Leverton, manager of the program, emphasizes that students gain not only technical expertise but also practical guidance on entering the industry. “We’re trying to give them a foot in the door. By meeting tutors, skippers on the quay, and vessel managers, they start to understand who they need to talk to in order to get jobs,” she explains.

Attracting young entrants is increasingly urgent as the UK fishing workforce continues to shrink. Over the past 30 years, the number of professional fishermen has halved from roughly 20,000 to 10,000, and the average age now stands at 55. Mike Cohen, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, notes the impact of an aging workforce on the industry’s sustainability.

The decline is compounded by tensions over post-Brexit EU agreements, which allow European vessels continued access to UK waters. Cohen explains that for new entrants operating smaller boats, access to the most productive coastal areas is increasingly limited, creating additional pressure on those just starting their careers. The government maintains that it remains committed to supporting the British fishing industry while safeguarding UK waters.

To bolster recruitment and support for young fishermen, the Cornwall Fish Producers Organisation has helped establish the Young Fishermen Network. Skipper Tom Lambourne, 29, who helped create the group, stresses the importance of community among newcomers. “There’s never been a collective for young fishermen. For a youngster entering the industry, being part of this network – knowing there are other young people in the same position – is invaluable,” he says.

While fishing contributes a modest 0.03% to the UK’s GDP, generating an economic output of approximately £483 million in 2021, studies suggest each active fisherman supports around 15 additional jobs within the broader seafood supply chain. Beyond economics, the profession represents a vital thread in the fabric of the nation’s identity, culture, and coastal heritage. As these trainees prepare to take their first steps into the profession, they carry the responsibility of preserving a centuries-old way of life for the generations to come.