Why we should support small fishing boats over super-trawlers, Part 1, with Caroline Bennett

Описание: Here's Part 1 of our interview with Caroline Bennett, founder of 'Sole of Discretion', a community interest company that sells fish caught by a collective of small fishing boats in Devon. I talk with her about the sustainability and community benefits of buying from small fishing boats, and the barriers that they face.

Transcript of interview, with links to organisations mentioned in the video: https://www.lowimpact.org/why-we-shou...


In Part 2 we’ll talk more about the life of small fishing boat skippers, and in Part 3 we’ll look at how government quotas benefit super-trawlers and disadvantage the small boats.

We’re interviewing key players in the new economy, to:
a) bring their work to a wider audience
b) try to find ways to co-ordinate their efforts
c) stimulate debate
d) help to build the new economy.

Here’s what we mean by new economy - https://www.lowimpact.org/lowimpact-t...

and low-impact seafood: https://www.lowimpact.org/lowimpact-t...

Lowimpact.org: https://www.lowimpact.org/
Sole of Discretion: https://soleofdiscretion.co.uk/

Hhighlights

1. Small boats' equipment is so light that they can't do the damage that the bigger boats do; plus there are far fewer discards.

2. The smaller boats are more carbon-efficient too. I always assumed that bigger boats have economies of scale. So per kilo of fish caught, you'd have thought they'd be using less fuel. But actually the complete opposite is true.

3. Then there's the social equality issue as well. The small boats are owned by the skippers, whereas with the large boats, it's distant shareholders; and you know that the localisation of the economy is very important.