Meet the fishermen: Ryan, Cornish hake

Ryan Davey is the skipper of the Cornish hake fishing vessel, Stelissa, based in Newlyn, Cornwall.

He’s been a fisherman for just under two decades, and more recently moved up the ranks to become skipper of his vessel.

As skipper, he spends most of his time in the wheelhouse navigating and operating the nets. He’s responsible for his crew, their safety, and working within quota limits.

Sustainability for Ryan and his crew is just as much about safeguarding seafood for future generations, as it is about protecting livelihoods. 

As hake fishermen, they can be out for days at a time, whatever the weather and often with no or poor signal - meaning it is difficult to contact those back home.

Once the hake has been hauled, they head back to shore as quickly as possible, as the iced fish must remain fresh for consumers.

The obvious challenges aside, fishing is a way of life and is at the heart of the community in Newlyn. Ryan and his crew couldn’t imagine doing anything different. 

Hake for future generations

As an MSC certified fishery, his vessel and the other boats in the fleet have to make sure enough hake are left in the seas for the population to be healthy. They also ensure the surrounding marine habitats are not unnecessarily damaged and that the fishery is well-managed.

This helps to protect and keep the oceans full of life for future generations. 

What does it take to catch sustainable hake?