THE forward-thinking initiative of a collaborative group of Cornish sardine fishermen operating across Newlyn, Mevagissey, Falmouth, and Plymouth has been rewarded with one of the most prestigious categories at the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) UK’s annual awards.

The Cornish Sardine Management Association (CSMA) of Newlyn won the MSC UK Ocean Leadership award for proactively introducing a scheme to safeguard plentiful, sustainable catches for many years.

The future of the five centuries-old Cornish sardine industry looks set fair for generations to come, thanks to the forward-looking actions of the CSMA which represents a fleet of 15 vessels operating out of Newlyn, Mevagissey, Falmouth, and Plymouth. The fishery achieved MSC certification in 2010 and was recertified in 2017 and again in 2022.

In 2023, the association initiated a self-sampling scheme which sees skippers submit detailed weekly catch data. This is shared with scientists at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, providing them with key insights on stocks, size and age distribution as well as mortality rates and migration patterns. Armed with this data they can make well-informed decisions on catch limits, helping to prevent overfishing and secure the long-term future of the Cornish sardine population.

After receiving the award at a ceremony hosted by comedian and environmental economist Dr Matt Winning at art gallery and museum The Box in Plymouth last night (Wednesday, October 16), Gus Caslake, chairman of the Cornish Sardine Management Association, said: “It’s all about collaboration between our skippers and processors as a closely linked up organisation from sea to plate. The award is a testament to the work the guys do on the ground catching the fish and processing the highest quality Cornish sardines you can get. The award will help us to demonstrate that we’re catching and handling the fish in a sustainable manner.”

Tom Pascoe, skipper in the Cornish sardine fishing fleet, took time from fishing to attend the awards and came to the stage to talk about life as a fisherman.

He said: “This season’s fishing has been the best we have had for some time.”

Lisa Bennett, MSC UK & Ireland Senior Fisheries outreach manager, added: “The Cornish Sardine Management Association have shown fishers everywhere how they can contribute vital data to the science regimes that govern their fisheries. By building a strong partnership with Cefas, the CSMA are playing an active role in the ongoing management of the sardine stocks. They exemplify innovation and a future focussed approach.”

The success of the Cornish sardine fishery was further recognised in the Product of the Year category, which was voted on by the British public, and saw Tesco Finest Cornish Sardines in Tomato Sauce win the award.