The Source

The UK’s seafood industry is currently suffering after both the impact of Covid 19 on the hospitality sector and also Brexit-related issues which have tragically obstructed seafood exports to Europe. However that is not the entire problem. The government and news media have recently portrayed this as an overnight ban, but it is important to be aware of the whole story. 

Fishing waters are graded according to their water quality; A, B, and C; with A being excellent. Most of our fishing waters are grade B. This means that the shell fish, such as Muscles, oysters, scallops, cockles and clams have to be purified before they can be sold on. As members of the EU we were able to sell on unpurified shell fish quickly which could then be purified at plants in the EU. But now we are a third country our food standards no longer align and legally we are not allowed to export unpurified fish. Some fishing companies have purification plants but many do not. The consequence of this is that many fishing companies and fishermen, some of whom have been fishing for years and years will go out of business. It is not an overnight ban and the government should have been prepared. This issue certainly requires more intensive and detailed reporting and also more transparent action from the government.

I think the conversation has now moved on from whether one voted for Brexit or whether one didn’t vote for Brexit and the conversation is now more urgent and is about asking our government what are they going to do about it and when are they going to do it.

What we can do to help is buy local, buy seasonally, buy sustainably and above all buy British and truly love and support our fishing industry by buying more seafood and cooking it at home.

My new second book For The Love Of The Sea: A Cook Book To Celebrate The British Seafood Community And Their Food is educational, informative and entertaining in a really accessible way.

Over forty passionate people from the British seafood community have contributed both a recipe and a story about what the sea and what British seafood means to them and highlights the hard work and dedication of the men and women who work in the British fishing industry, as well as those who support them including the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Marine Stewardship Council.

Among the businesses and individuals featured are Dee Caffari MBE, a British sailor and the first woman to sail solo and non-stop in both directions around the globe; Ashton Fishmongers, one of the largest fish retailers in the country; L. Robson & Sons, producers of the legendary traditional oak-smoked Craster Kippers in Northumberland; Cornwall’s National Lobster Hatchery; and Kames Fish Farming, the oldest family-run fish farm in Scotland famous for its Scottish Steelhead Trout. The book also features a foreword by Marcus Coleman, the Chief Executive of Seafish which works with businesses and the government to support the UK seafood sector.

Recipes in For The Love Of The Sea include luxurious roast turbot with samphire and clams, a classic cod fish and chip supper, Morrocan spiced langoustines, mussels with seaweed, a crispy homemade whiting burger, salmon en croute and lots more. From the kitchen novice to the keen home cook, there’s a dish for everyone and a wonderful range of fish and seafood that takes in popular British staples alongside hidden gems brought to light by experienced and knowledgeable fishermen and women.

In recent years the brilliant variety of our native species has been overshadowed by imports and exotic fish on the supermarket shelves. This book aims to encourage everyone to fall in love with British fish and seafood again, making the most of our rich coastal waters and highlighting the skills and passion of those in the industry. It also champions sustainability and shines a light on women who take up this dangerous profession but whose voices are not always heard. There is a strong emotive thread that runs throughout this book that also showcases the rich heritage, tradition and culture in a very vibrant UK industry that should be shared and celebrated. This is a celebration of British seafood. Enjoy!

For The Love Of The Sea is being published on the 12th April 2021 by Meze Publishing and is available to pre-order from my website www.jennyjefferies.co.uk

A proportion of profits from For The Love Of The Sea will be donated to the RNLI.* 

*22% of the net profits will be paid in support of the RNLI. Payments are made to RNLI (Sales) Ltd (which pays all its taxable profits to the RNLI, a charity registered in England and Wales (209603), Scotland (SC037736), the Republic of Ireland (20003326), the Bailiwick of Jersey (14), the Isle of Man and the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney, of West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ).