Fishing News Awards 2019

The Fishing News Awards presentation evening, held to celebrate excellence across the fishing industry during 2018, will take place at the Doubletree Aberdeen Treetops hotel on Thursday, 16 May, 2019

This is the only awards event dedicated to celebrating achievement, innovation and success in the commercial fishing industry.

Culminating in the announcement of the winners of the prestigious Young Fisherman of the Year and Lifetime Achievement awards, the evening will be hosted by Des Clarke, Scottish comedian, presenter, host of the Capital Breakfast show, and front man for Breaking the News on BBC Radio Scotland.

The category winners, including a new introduction – Service Company of the Year – will be presented with their awards during the evening.

Main Image: Fishing News Awards 2018 winners and finalists together on stage at the end of the presentation evening, during which the overall winner was the whole UK fishing industry.

The celebratory evening will include a drinks reception followed by a superb, locally-sourced three-course meal with wine. The awards ceremony will be hosted by Des Clarke, who will also provide after-dinner entertainment.

Joint Young Fisherman of the Year 2018 winners Ryan Corbett and Haydn McLeod received their awards from Marcus Coleman.

Local representatives of the Fishermen’s Mission will again be at the event, receiving table donations in support of the invaluable, but often unseen, work this charity does across the fishing industry. The generosity of the capacity audience that attended the Fishing News Awards 2018, earlier this year, raised over £2,500 for the Mission.

Already confirmed as category sponsors are Peterhead Port Authority (Demersal Fisherman of the Year), Box Pool Solutions (Lifetime Achievement Award), The Fishmongers’ Company (Sustainability Award), Sunderland Marine (Trainee Fisherman of the Year) and

Chantelle and Peter Williams of Fresh from the Boat with the Independent Fresh Fish Retailer of the Year Award.

Seafish (Young Fisherman of the Year).

Further details about the awards, including nomination forms, sponsorship opportunities and accommodation, are available at:

fishingnews.co.uk/awards

PROCEDURE FOR NOMINATIONS

Nominations are now open for each of our award categories, and can be made online at: fishingnewsawards.co.uk using the secure entry forms.

All nominations need to be received by midnight on Tuesday, 12 February, 2019. Shortlists of those with the most nominations in each of the categories open to public vote will be made available when voting opens on Tuesday, 5 March, 2019. Voting will close at midnight on Tuesday, 18 April, 2019.

Nominations for the Young Fisherman of the Year, Port of the Year, the Sustainability Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award will also be shortlisted. However, a panel of judges drawn from the fishing industry will decide the winners of these four categories, using the evidence provided in support of the nominees.

DES CLARKE TO HOST FNA 2019

Fishing News is delighted to announce that the 2019 presentation evening will be hosted by the acclaimed Scottish comedian and presenter Des Clarke.

Des Clarke is one of the UK’s most exciting performers. He has made a name for himself as both a highly successful comedian and one of television and radio’s star presenters.

Des is a much-loved voice on the airwaves, and can be heard waking up central Scotland every morning as host of the Capital Breakfast show. He also fronts hit comedy series Breaking the News on BBC Radio Scotland.

Des Clarke

His radio work has earned him widespread recognition, winning a British Radio Award and two Scottish Comedy Awards, in addition to nominations in the Arqiva, Celtic Media, Comedy.co.uk and Sony awards. Over the years he has interviewed some of the showbiz world’s biggest names, including Ed Sheeran, Robbie Williams, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Katy Perry.

The past few years have been big for Des. He hosted the live Commonwealth Games closing ceremony to a global TV audience of one billion viewers. After that, he performed live to thousands, providing entertainment and commentary at both the Six Nations Rugby and Scotland international football matches. He has also become one of Scotland’s best-loved panto stars, starring at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow annually since 2012.

It all began for Des when he won a nationwide search to host the iconic Saturday morning show SM:TV Live. This weekly two-hour broadcast showcased his abilities both as a comedian and a presenter, including character sketches and celebrity interviews, and that led to an impressive TV career, with presenting credits ranging from the STV Appeal to Andy Murray Live, Club Cupid, Sportsround and Children in Need.

Stand-up comedy remains Des’ first love, and he performs his own solo shows annually at the Edinburgh Fringe and Glasgow Comedy Festival. He has toured the world with his unique brand of observational humour, appearing on stage in New York, Dubai, Australia and Los Angeles. Des has also received critical acclaim for his comedy, winning Chortle Best Newcomer and the ITV Golden Mic Award.

A high-profile newspaper columnist and after-dinner speaker too, Des Clarke has rapidly established himself as an exceptional all-round performer.

AWARD CATEGORIES

Demersal Fisherman of the Year – Sponsored by Peterhead Port Authority

To be awarded to a UK- or Ireland-based fisherman who has made a clear commitment to the demersal fishing industry in 2018. Skills, determination, leadership ability and adaptability to changes in today’s industry are all important qualities.

Pelagic Fisherman of the Year

To be awarded to a UK- or Ireland-based fisherman who has made a clear commitment to pelagic fishing in 2018. Skills, determination, leadership ability and adaptability to changes in today’s industry are all important qualities. Shellfish Fisherman of the Year

Fish Processor of the Year

This award recognises the UK or Irish fish processor that has shown outstanding support to the commercial fishing industry in 2018. In particular, we are looking for evidence of the use of industry best practice,technological innovation, and excellence of service.

Independent Fresh Fish Retailer of the Year

This award recognises local UK or Irish fresh fish retailers who have shown continued support to the commercial fishing industry in their community, trading from a shop, market stall or travelling van in 2018. Nominees will demonstrate a focus on supporting locally-landed fish, with a good range of species on offer, encouraging consumers to experience some varieties that are more usually exported, and others which deserve to be more popular. Please note this category is not open to national supermarket chains.

Fish Processor of the Year

This award recognises the UK or Irish fish processor that has shown outstanding support to the commercial fishing industry in 2018. In particular, we are looking for evidence of the use of industry best practice, technological innovation, and excellence of service.

The Sustainability Award – Sponsored by The Fishmongers’ Company

The Sustainability Award recognises and rewards outstanding innovation and achievement towards improving sustainability and environmental responsibility within the UK fishing industry. Nominations can be in respect of individuals, organisations, companies or other bodies working in the UK seafood industry. The nominee must demonstrate that during 2018, they made an outstanding contribution to improving sustainable practices within the UK fishing industry through advocacy or innovation. This category will be decided by a panel of industry judges.

Service Company of the Year

This award will recognise a UK or Ireland shore-based company that has provided outstanding service to the commercial fishing industry in 2018. Nominees could range from fueling and icing companies, to box provision, boatyards, chandleries, net-makers, auctions and vessel agents. We are looking for evidence of outstanding customer service.

Fishing Port of the Year

This award benchmarks good practice, recognising excellence in service and amenities found not only in the major ports and harbours throughout the UK and Ireland, but every landing area, regardless of size, in 2018.

New Boat of the Year

This award celebrates innovation in the build and facilities of a new commercial fishing vessel that entered service in the UK or Irish fleets in 2018. This year the category has been split into demersal, pelagic and shellfish vessels.

Trainee Fisherman of the Year

This award will recognise the most outstanding new entrant to complete a commercial fishing training course in 2018. In particular, candidates will demonstrate consistently high levels of application, commitment, co-operation, determination, understanding of the fishing industry, practical skills and safety awareness.

Young Fisherman of the Year – sponsored by Seafish

This category will reward a fisherman, under 25 years old at the end of 2018 and based in the UK or Ireland, who has made a clear commitment to the fishing industry. Skills, determination, leadership ability and adaptability to changes in today’s industry are all important qualities.