England's first grass roots fisher-led community interest company of 47 inshore fishers across the ports of Lyme Bay, Axmouth, Beer, Lyme Regis and West Bay
Key facts
- Applicant name: Lyme Bay Fisherman's CIC
- Type of project: Cooperation activities and marketing
- Project value: £186,000
- Grant awarded: £140,000
- Date awarded: November 2023
About the project
Lyme Bay Fisherman's CIC was formed in 2021 to provide a voice for fishers in the ports of Lyme Bay, Axmouth, Beer, Lyme Regis and West Bay. The group acts as a representative body across the four ports with the aim of seeking support for and advocating for the local fleets.
The CIC was awarded a FaSS grant in November 2022 to deliver a two year vision, with a full time employee dedicated to run the CIC and begin a number of projects.
Since then, they have:
- Developed a website
- Created a seafood trail
- Developed a schools outreach program
- Established local scavenger hunts involving businesses and shops across the four ports
- Produced and published a short film "The Last Custodians"
- Engaged with regulators.
Now, they're looking to help others set up and fund their own CIC and have their voices heard too.
Mandy Wolfe - Lyme Bay Fisherman's CIC, Chief Executive said:
I strongly believe that this grassroots, bottom-up approach is vital to a successful fishing organisation.
I am so grateful to the MMO grants team for their help and support. We thought that our ideas and application met the fund requirements, but being able to pick up the phone along the way and get clear answers was vital to understand a process none of us had worked with before.
Outcomes
- Contribute to maintaining employment for the 47 fisher members of the CIC
- Giving fishers a voice and sharing knowledge
- Increase networking opportunities.
Watch the short film developed by Lyme Bay Fisherman's CIC sharing the voices and stories of fishers in the south west of England:
