Fish to Fork -the government funding helping Yorkshire's sea ports sell fish locally

On the food front we are rediscovering the art of vegetable gardening and tweaking many an old recipe whilst in lockdown. Initiatives have sprung up, namely, farm to fork and fish to fork where produce is sold directly from the farm or boat.

I would like to think that our current predicament will make fish to fork more popular as we are blessed with a bountiful coastline.

Bridlington fish market is opening a few days a week to supply locally, nationally and internationally as are other ports in the UK.

I am told this is on a supply and demand basis and at present, it is only in its infancy until a wider market is allowed to open up.

The perishable nature of fresh fish limits the area and method of delivery.

In Cornwall, the ‘quay to kerb’ and ‘call4fish’ ventures cater for local demand and are hoping to provide national coverage being supported by the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisation.

The Government has granted £10m in support of our small-scale fishers and £1m to support the selling of catches locally.

Promising signs are appearing in mainland Europe and in Yorkshire several businesses are catering for the demand for fresh fish.

North Sea fish and fish from other areas is available from:

Gary of Holmfirth Fish Ltd in West Yorkshire.

Rob of Zuvu Fresh Fish and Sea Food at Tickhill in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

Andrew of Cross in York, North Yorkshire, who sits on various committees promoting fish sales.

Neil of Priestly in Bradford and Liam of Tarbett in Leeds and Wetherby.

I have spoken to all these firms and they supply a combination of safe physical distancing collections, local deliveries and online sales.

So, I can paint a positive picture for all you ‘fish lovers’ out there.

And as I can’t get out to fish I have been remembering some of the amusing things that have happened to me over the years.

The time I fished all day for a lovely bass off Spurn Point only to see a very happy fox trotting away with my bass back to the sand dunes.

The day I took my friend Shaun and his son wreck fishing off Bridlington and while the adults drew a blank his son caught a huge lobster.

When I was fishing in Dimlington with two rods cast out. Whilst tending one I saw the other swamped by a huge wave and pulled out to sea. I dashed in after it and another wave went over my head, filling my waders leaving me drenched. It was sunny so I decided to carry on fishing until I was dry enough to drive home.