Coastline Magazine

COASTLINE THE MAGAZINE OF NORTH & WEST CUMBRIA

FISHERIES LOCAL ACTION GROUP

NORTH & WEST

- CUMBRIA -

FISHERIES LOCAL ACTION GROUP

2015

North & West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group| 1

CONTENTS Whitehaven Marina..................4 Educating the Community...........8 Maryport Inshore Rescue..........10 Harbour Youth Project..............12 Fishing Apprenticeships............14 Safety at Sea .........................16 Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway..17 Maryport Ice Plant...................18 The Inn at Ravenglass..............20 Lake District Coast Aquarium....22 Cave at the Wave...................24

Photography by Brian Sherwen

Designed and Published by The Guide Media Group

Haig Pit Mining Museum......... 26

BOB METCALFE CHAIR

2 | www.cumbriaflag.org.uk

PAUL CROOKS

PROGRAM MANAGER

SUSAN CROOKS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

NORTH & WEST CUMBRIA FLAG

T

he North and West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) is an organisation dedicated to supporting the sustainable development of the ‘fishing communities’ of North & West Cumbria.

FLAG operates along the coastal strip from Bowness on Solway in the North to Millom in the South, with the aim of helping and developing smaller communities where fishing is in decline.

FLAG is funded by the Marine Management Organisation and the European Fisheries Fund. By December

2014 just under £1.5million of grants had been issued. These grants have helped fund community projects, supported local fishermen and the local fishing industry, contributed to coastal development and in some instances have changed lives.

This booklet offers a brief look at some of the projects that FLAG funding has made possible and the impact they have had on those involved.

North & West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group| 3

“AT THE MOMENT WE HAVE 40 RESIDENT BOATS WITH 10 NEW ONES HAVING JOINED US OVER THE WINTER. WE’RE HOPING TO ACCOMMODATE MORE VISITORS THIS YEAR.” Simone Morgan, Manager at The Whitehaven Marina

FUNDING BREAKDOWN TOTAL BUDGET

EFF

NATIONAL

PRIVATE

£1,045,152.56 £70,000(6.7%) £70,000(6.7%) £905,152.56

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Whitehaven Marina

W

ith an additional 140 berths, new pontoons, updated lock gates, landing stage for cruise liners and new offices, FLAG funding has dramatically changed the face of the marina, not just for the people who sail through it but for the people that work there.

Simone Morgan, Manager Whitehaven Marina said:

at

“Whitehaven has two festivals this year and we will be promoting places in the marina for visitors. When Whitehaven last hosted a big festival we were turning people away because there weren’t enough berths.

“At the moment we have 40 resident boats with 10 new ones having joined us over the winter. We’re hoping to accommodate more visitors this year.”

North & West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group| 5

“THEY’VE CREATED A REALLY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT FOR US TO WORK IN. IT’S ALSO MADE IT EASIER FOR US TO SELL THE MARINA” Simone Morgan, Manager at Whitehaven Marina

6 |North | www.cumbriaflag.org.uk & West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group

Whitehaven Marina

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s for the staff at Whitehaven Marina, their lives have been completely changed by FLAG Funding. Manager at Whitehaven Marina Simone Morgan explained: “We were in a Portakabin for five years before we were able to move into our offices. They’ve created a really different environment for us to work in. It’s also made it easier for us to sell the marina.

“We take visitors and potential customers onto the balcony which overlooks the marina; it’s so lovely up there and there’s a great view.

“We’re inviting all residents to use it this summer as well, it’s something for everyone.”

FUNDING BREAKDOWN TOTAL BUDGET

EFF

NATIONAL

PRIVATE

£1,045,152.56 £70,000(6.7%) £70,000(6.7%) £905,152.56 North & West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group| 7

“GONE FISHING WAS A GREAT WAY FOR LOCAL PEOPLE TO LEARN THE HISTORY OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY” Claire Winter-Moore, Marketing & Promotions officer at The Beacon

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he Fisherman’s Tale project and The Beacon’s Gone Fishing project were granted funding

by FLAG to educate West Cumbrian communities about the local fishing industry. Both projects worked with local schools, the Lake District Aquarium, local fishermen and Chef John Crouch to help children discover more about their local harbours. few children had actually been to the harbour. The funding has allowed us to open the eyes of the children that live in and around Maryport to the industry on their door steps.”

Nicola Woolley, coordinator for the Maryport Extended Schools Partnership and the Fisherman’s Tale project, said: “This project was about educating the local community and getting children to think about where they live. At the start of the project a lot of the children didn’t even realise that the harbour was still used by fisherman and very

FUNDING BREAKDOWN

While The Fisherman’s Tale project worked primarily with 12 schools in Maryport and its surrounding areas Fisherman’s Tales

TOTAL BUDGET

EFF

NATIONAL

PRIVATE

£8,520.70

£3,110.35(36.5%)

£3,110.35(36.5%)

£2,300

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Gone Fishing & Fisherman’s Tale

Gone Fishing offered lifelong learning opportunities to adults as well as children.

sessions and crafts. Primary school children also benefitted from trips to the local aquarium.

Claire Winter-Moore, Marketing & Promotions Officer at The Beacon said: “The project was very popular with people of all ages. School children got involved with the activities, food

“The project was free entry, which meant we could appeal to the wider community. Gone Fishing was a great way for local people to learn the history of the fishing industry in Whitehaven.”

The Beacon’s Gone Fishing

FUNDING BREAKDOWN

TOTAL BUDGET

EFF

NATIONAL

PRIVATE

£105,807.35

£32,123.66(30.36%)

£32,123.66(30.36%)

£41,560.03

North & West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group| 9

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LAG has helped fund Maryport Inshore Rescue’s brand new lifeboat station.

The old station was lacking the most basic necessities. The new station is much bigger with space for the lifeboat, tractor and Landrover as well as crew changing rooms, showers, toilets and kitchen.

Station Officer, Mike Messenger, said: “We were really struggling with the old 10 | www.cumbriaflag.org.uk

building. We had to build a temporary structure next to it to house the tractor.

Our tractor actually attaches to our lifeboat which meant we had to connect them for every call out which cost us five minutes.

“Now we have a modern, purpose built station which means we can store the tractor and lifeboat together and save precious minutes.”

Maryport Inshore Rescue

“WE CAN STORE THE TRACTOR AND LIFEBOAT TOGETHER AND SAVE PRECIOUS MINUTES.” Mike Messenger, Station Officer

FUNDING BREAKDOWN TOTAL BUDGET

£318,444

EFF

NATIONAL

£23,722(7.96%) £23,722(7.96%)

PRIVATE

£271,000

North & West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group| 11

O

utdoor sport provider, The Harbour Youth Project, aim to develop and explore coastal sport and recreation with young people. Their funding from FLAG has been used to expand the variety of activities they can offer, such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing and paddle boarding.

Gina McCabe from the Harbour Youth 12 | www.cumbriaflag.org.uk

Project said: “We do a lot of activities outdoors and usually go into the lakes but we want to start using the resources on our doorstep.

“We have a number of students who regularly participate in recreation after school and we’ve been working with primary schools and secondary schools to introduce new young people to our activities.

Harbour Youth Project

“THE REAL CHANGE IS THAT IT’S ENABLED US TO GET YOUNG CHILDREN INVOLVED IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITES EARLIER” Gina McCabe, The Harbour Youth Project

“The real change is that it’s enabled us to get young children involved in recreational activities earlier.”

FUNDING BREAKDOWN TOTAL BUDGET

EFF

NATIONAL

£19,801.41

£6,930.49 (35%)

£6,930.49 (35%)

North & West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group| 13

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LAG funding has enabled the creation of a North & West Cumbrian Apprenticeship Programme through Whitby and District Fishing Industry Training School and has also funded the role of a local training coordinator.

Bob Davies the area coordinator for Cumbria, spends most of his time pairing apprentices with a skipper that suits their learning style and can aid and encourage their education. Bob said: “I see a major difference in the apprentices from their first day with the skippers to when they come out of their time; they are more confident, they don’t need instructions, they just get on with their job. They have so much more confidence in their abilities.”

Whitby Fishing School is dedicated to continuing the training of fishermen and it’s a message that has stuck with their apprentices, Bob explained: “One of our past apprentices is currently training new trainees.”

“ONE OF OUR PAST APPRENTICES IS CURRENTLY TRAINING NEW TRAINEES.” Bob Davies, Area Coordinator for Cumbria, Whitby Fishing Schools

14 | www.cumbriaflag.org.uk

Fishing Apprenticeships

FUNDING BREAKDOWN TOTAL BUDGET

EFF

NATIONAL

PRIVATE

£42,259

£12,623.30(29.87%)

£12,623.30(29.87%)

£17,012.40

North & West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group| 15

Safety Training

“IT’S MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. WE’VE BEEN DOING THESE COURSES FOR ABOUT 12 MONTHS AND SO FAR WE’VE HAD 250 TICKETS THROUGH”

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Mark Walley, Finance Director, Whitehaven Fishermens co-operative

LAG funding has helped many fishermen from Whitehaven and the surrounding areas attend local safety training courses.

Teaching them the four basics they must be trained in before going out to sea; sea survival, fire fighting, first aid and safety. They’ve also started courses on using a 16.5M Skipper.

we’ve been doing these courses for about 12 months and so far we’ve had 250 tickets through. Before the funding we had to get a minimum number of people to sign up before a company would even consider coming to do a course or we’d have to go over to the North East for courses which was much more expensive.

Mark Walley, Finance Director at Whitehaven Fishermens co-operative said: “It’s made a huge difference,

“Now we can put on more courses, even if we only have ten people interested, we can still put on a course.”

FUNDING BREAKDOWN TOTAL BUDGET

EFF

NATIONAL

£28,279.73

£8,483.92 (30%)

£8,483.92 (30%)

16 | www.cumbriaflag.org.uk

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway

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he Ravenglass Railway Museum is based in a former railway station and signal box. The museums collections comprise of working small gauge railway locos and rolling stock, (some unique and potentially national significance) models, archival and pictorial images. However, the museum has not been refurbished since it opened in 1976. The FLAG grant has enabled the Eskdale Cumbria Trust who run the museum to renovate the old museum and bring it up to date.

Rachel Bell, marketing manager for Lake District Estates, said: “The museum hasn’t been updated since the 1970s. We’ve done a lot of research ahead of the refurbishment and people will appreciate an updated museum. The refurbishment will encourage people to come back and stay for longer.

“The museum will now tell the story of the local port, sea fishing, the local Roman story and there will be space for local exhibitions.

“The preservation society are busy looking through the archives with local volunteers for material for the museum.

This has also given more opportunities for volunteers to get involved.

“The museum will add value to the attraction, encourage visitors and educational visits. It’s helped to bring the community together and hopefully our visitors will be attracted to local businesses as well.”

FUNDING BREAKDOWN TOTAL BUDGET

EFF

NATIONAL

PRIVATE

£149,236.99

£37,118.50(24.87%)

£37,118.50(24.87%)

£374,999.99

North & West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group| 17

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s well as improving the training of local fishermen FLAG has also funded projects to improve the quality of their catches by funding an ice plant at Maryport. In order for fishermen to be able to offer the best fish and get the best price, care must be taken to reduce spoilage at all stages. Spoilage begins as soon as the fish dies, so it may begin before the fishermen lift the fishing gear out of the water. The new ice plant at Maryport, which produces 3.5 tonnes of ice per 18 | www.cumbriaflag.org.uk

Maryport Ice Plant

“THE OLD ICE PLANT WAS OUT OF DATE AND EXPENSIVE TO RUN. THE NEW ICE PLANT IS WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP GOING; THE FISHERMEN TAKE THE ICE OUT TO SEA WITH THEM AND KEEP THE FISH FRESHER FOR LONGER” John McAvoy, Director of Maryport Fishing Company

day, allows fishermen to take crates of ice out to sea with them to keep their catches fresh.

Director of Maryport Fishing Company John McAvoy said: “The old ice plant was out of date and expensive to run. The new

ice plant is what we need to keep going; the fishermen take the ice out to sea with them and keep the fish fresher for longer which increases the value of the catch.

It allows our sailors to take care of their catch.”

FUNDING BREAKDOWN TOTAL BUDGET

EFF

NATIONAL

PRIVATE

£42,259

£12,623.30(29.87%)

£12,623.30(29.87%)

£17,012.40

North & West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group| 19

“WE ARE FULFILLING FLAG’S DREAM. WE SPECIALISE IN LOCALLY LANDED FISH THAT COMES FROM SUSTAINABLE SOURCES.” Andy Chase, Head of Marketing Pennington Hotels

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ew fish resturant The Inn at Ravenglass has become a firm favorite with both locals and visitors. A restaurant that is dedicated to selling only locally sourced fish. The FLAG grant helped them prepare and refurbish the kitchen and market the restaurant.

Andy Chase, Head of Marketing at Pennington Hotels, said: “We are fulfilling FLAGs dream; we specialise 20 | www.cumbriaflag.org.uk

in locally landed fish that comes from sustainable sources.

“So far it has been a big success. We get one simple reaction to the fish restaurant: ‘It’s fantastic!’ People travel from all over to eat at The Inn at Ravenglass and we now have a fish special on the menu at our other restaurants.”

Steve Hallett, one of the fishermen that supplies the Inn at Ravenglass,

The Inn at Ravenglass

said: “It’s had a massive effect on my business. I’m busier and selling more fish; it’s really something.”

“I supply fish to hotels and restaurants all over the Lakes but having a local seafood restaurant has helped raise

my profile. When I’ve been in the Inn I’ve taken pictures of the specials boards and of the dishes and put them on social media. I’ve promoted the Inn and they’ve promoted my business, we’ve worked as a partnership.”

FUNDING BREAKDOWN TOTAL BUDGET

EFF

NATIONAL

PRIVATE

£66,428.05

£13,285.20(20%)

£13,285.20(20%)

£39,857.65

North & West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group| 21

“THE FLAG FUNDING WAS CRUCIAL IN ENABLING US TO GO AHEAD WITH SUCH MAJOR WORK WHICH HAS HELPED US MOVE FORWARD.” Mark Vollers, Director of The Lake District Coast Aquarium

FUNDING BREAKDOWN

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TOTAL BUDGET

EFF

NATIONAL

PRIVATE

£164,848.79

£39,547.22(23.99%)

£39,547.22(23.99%)

£118,641.66

The Lake Disstrict Coast Aquarium Maryport

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LAG funding has allowed The Lake District Coast Aquarium to build a display extension Sea Lab and a conservatory for the Harbour café.

The Sea Lab will be highly informative and include an educational series of open plan displays,a lobster hatchery, a jelly fish life cycle exhibit and a public use stereo-microscope. It will also create a facility well suited to the needs of schools and higher education students that come for work experience and project work.

Director of the Lake District Coast

Aquarium, Mark Vollers said: “We hope to be able to allow the public access to the Sea Lab by Easter. The Sea Lab will help attract visitors back to the aquarium, as they know there is something different to see and do. It will allow us to broaden the range of sea life on display.

“The FLAG funding was crucial in enabling us to go ahead with such major work which has helped us move forward. We can’t compete with national attractions but if what we do is high quality and good value for money then people will keep coming back.”

North & West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group| 23

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he Wave Centre at Maryport was granted funding for a unique attraction. Cave at the Wave is an indoor experience that replicates caving and pot holing. It gives visitors the opportunity to explore an indoor caving complex featuring a challenging system of caves, slides, climbs, crawls, drops and ball pools.

The Cave allows people to experience caving without the sharp edges, cold, damp atmosphere and potential dangers of real life exploring.

Martin Horne from Carlisle Leisure said: “The purpose of the Wave Centre is to bring tourists and visitors to Maryport which is what our Clip ‘n’ Climb wall does but we want to keep the momentum going and keep moving forward. We’ve continued to build around the adventure theme and create The Cave.

24 | www.cumbriaflag.org.uk

“We’ve only just opened but so far the response has been amazing. The funding from FLAG has allowed us to really push the boat out and produce a really high quality attraction.”

The Cave at The Wave

“WE’VE ONLY JUST OPENED BUT SO FAR THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN AMAZING. THE FUNDING FROM FLAG HAS ALLOWED US TO REALLY PUSH THE BOAT OUT AND PRODUCE A REALLY HIGH QUALITY ATTRACTION.” Martin Horne, Carlisle Leisure

FUNDING BREAKDOWN TOTAL BUDGET

EFF

NATIONAL

PRIVATE

£88,000

£17,600 (20%)

£17,600 (20%)

£52,800

North & West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group| 25

H

aig Colliery Mining Museum is a recently renovated museum dedicated to the mining history of the coast.

FLAG funding allowed the museum to expand on their depiction of the towns industrial history through the use of interpretation boards and panels in the new visitor centre.

26 | www.cumbriaflag.org.uk

Manager of Haig Colliery Mining Museum, Pam Telford, said: “The inerpretation boards help to show the broader horizon of the Coast. They show the history of fishing in this area, from the haaf nets to shrimping.

“The interpretation boards have added to the visitor experience. It allows visitors to gain a richer understanding of the area’s history. The boards show the coast as the heritage coast with information about Marchon, the fishing history and the mining history.”

Haig Colliery & Mining Museum

FUNDING BREAKDOWN TOTAL BUDGET

EFF

NATIONAL

PRIVATE

£488,868.07

£45,953.60(9.4%)

£45,953.60(9.4%)

£39,6960.87

North & West Cumbria Fisheries Local Action Group| 27

NORTH & WEST CUMBRIA

FLAG

FLAG AREA

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FLAG operates along the coastal strip of North & West Cumbria and has recently extended its boundries to include Bowness on Solway in the North and Millom in the South.

Our development strategy and programme priorities have beens approved by the Marine Management Organisation.

The 4 priority themes designated within the development strategy:

Wigton

Aspatria

LAG is a local action group dedicated to supporting the sustainable development of the ‘fishing communities’ of North & West Cumbria.

Membership is free and open to any organisation or individual who shares our vision and supports the FLAG Development Strategy.

Silloth

Bothel

Maryport

Workington

Cockermouth

ALLERDALE

Keswick

Whitehaven

Egremont

COPELAND

1.Adding value to the activities of the fishing industry.

Ravenglass

2.Provide opportunities for economic diversification.

3.Increase the sustainability of the fishing industry and communities.

4.Empowering the fishing community.

NORTH & WEST

- CUMBRIA -

FISHERIES LOCAL ACTION GROUP

27 Lowther St, Whitehaven, Cumbria Telephone 01946 67182 www.cumbriaflag.org.uk Follow us on Twitter @cumbriaFLAG

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Millom