So I have a little bit of news. We crazy marine people at Cumbria Wildlife Trust have been playing musical chairs with our projects (no one knows how to have fun like we do), and as of today I am covering the maternity leave of the marine conservation officer for the North West Wildlife Trusts (and pooing myself a little bit about it). Therefore I have handed the reins of the Wild Oceans project over to Miss Nikki Taylor, whose hair is even curlier than mine. Hmmff.
Here's Nikki doing an excellent impression of a fishmonger.
So where have I left the state of seafood in Cumbria? Well, thankfully, not the same as I found it - there have actually been major steps forward during the last year.
Booths, aka 'Cubicles' to my avid readers (hi Mum, Dad), despite more often than not putting their 'catch of the day' as Loch Duart salmon (I would think that farmed salmon counts as a 'catch' only as much as a cow or a sheep does), Booths have engaged with the Marine Conservation Society on fish sustainability supermarket surveys. Booths didn't do that well this year, but they're keen to learn which is absolutely fantastic and for which they should be commended. Go Boothicles, I commend you! I said someone should do it.
Also, a new fishmongers opened in Cockermouth and Fyne Fish may even be, wait for it..... sourcing some fish from the West Coast, hoorah! Be sure to keep the pressure up to make sure they support our local small fishing boats whenever they can. And ignore the sign they have up saying they can get you shark if you want it - I've had a word and anyone who enquires about shark is reported straight to me. Ok for legal reasons I should tell you that is a lie.
We have learned that the people of Cumbria are willing to buy a variety of locally sourced seafood and not be picky about species, but that there are still very few places which sell it, while I have learned that the fishing industry is a little more opaque than I'd hoped, and after all this time there is still much that I don't know. Brilliant.
What I do know, however, is that Nikki will do a fantastic job of finishing the project for me and might even squeeze a few more answers out of this mysterious industry than I have. In the meantime, I insist that you watch Monty Halls and his new series The Fisherman's Apprentice on BBC1. Did you know, for example, the nice little under 10m boats who do the least environmental damage and have the longest family history in fishing (generally speaking) make up the vast majority of our fishing fleet, yet only receive about 4% of the fishing quota, the rest going to a few big organisations with big stinky boats? (Thanks to the Guardian for doing that bit of research for me, although I improved it with 'stinky'). Hmm not good is it. And if you're not interested, then just watch it because Monty is a dish.
And what of me? Don't worry I'll be around. I'll be popping up in all parts of the north west, when you least expect it (or least give a crap, which is maybe now?). You might not even know I'm there (if my events are a flop and no one shows up) but I will be. And I'll be chanting my new mantra '127, 127, 127'. Catchy isn't it? I'll be whispering '127' into your ears while you sleep, in fact I've been flashing it subliminally while you've been reading. '127, 127....'
Find out '127 what?' here: http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/saveourmczs and defintely watch the video of Nick Baker, I'm going to nominate his eyebrows for a BAFTA.
So it's been hard work, I mean fun. But I'm leaving you in very capable hands and would just like to say thank you very much for reading.
Disclaimer: We didn't really decide jobs by a selection process involving musical chairs, there were applications and interviews and everything.
"Hi Lindsay, thanks for coming. To confirm, you are here today to interview for the position of marine conservation officer; this is a temporary position to cover a maternity leave. Let me introduce the other members of the panel *introduces panel*. Now, to explain how the interview will work, in a moment I'll start the music and we will remove one of the chairs..."
