The newly reinstated Fishing News Awards presentation evening will take place in the Hilton Treetops Hotel, Aberdeen on Thursday 26 May 2016, reports David Linkie.
Above: James West and Sandy McLeman receive their joint Young Skipper of the Year Award in 2008…
The high-profile function is the only awards event dedicated to celebrating achievement, innovation and success in the fishing industry.
Culminating in the announcement of the recipients of the prestigious Young Fisherman of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement presentations, the awards evening will be hosted by the chef and co-presenter of Sunday Brunch, Simon Rimmer.
The Fishing News Awards evening was previously one of the highlights of the year, before Fishing News came under new ownership in 2008.
… since when James took delivery of Golden Sceptre in 2010…
The winners of 12 categories, for which nominations are selected and subsequently voted on by their colleagues in the fishing industry, will be presented with their awards during the course of the evening.
The celebratory evening will include a drinks reception followed by a superb locally-sourced three-course meal with wine, and will be rounded off by exclusive live entertainment.
The timing of the 2016 Fishing News Awards was chosen to coincide with the opening of the Skipper Expo International Aberdeen the following morning (Friday 27 May), for which many fishermen and suppliers will already be in Aberdeen.
Steve Wright, chief executive of Fishing News publisher Kelsey Media, said: “From my initial contact with the fishing industry in May, it was immediately apparent that a lot of extremely dedicated and highly-skilled people were working very hard to deliver success across a wide range of areas. The Fishing News Awards evening will enable these achievements to be widely acknowledged and celebrated in a relaxed manner, during a convivial evening which I am delighted Simon Rimmer has agreed to host.
… while Sandy has now fished for 12 months with the new Boy John.
“As the new family-based owner of Fishing News, Kelsey Media is bringing the awards back to help give the industry the recognition it deserves.
“I am also very pleased that the Fishermen’s Mission has agreed to play a key role at the 2016 Fishing News Awards, when guests will have the opportunity to support the invaluable, but often unseen, work this charity does across the fishing industry.”
Four prominent companies, Peterhead Port Authority, Box Pool Solutions, Seafish and Sunderland Marine, have already stepped forward to sponsor four of the 12 award categories. A number of other well-known companies are expected to be announced as sponsors of the 2016 Fishing News Awards later this month.
A limited offer of Earlybird tickets at the special prices of £75 per person and £650 for a table of 10 are available until December 31, 2015.
Further details, including nomination forms, sponsorship opportunities and table reservations, are available at: fishingnewsawards.co.uk
Award host – Simon Rimmer
Simon Rimmer to host the 2016 Fishing News Awards
Simon is the chef and co-presenter of Sunday Brunch, the morning show which wakes the nation up on a Sunday with a mix of chat, current affairs, guests and food. Simon has recently presented a new cookery/quiz show for Channel 4 as well as cooked across many shows and his numerous credits include Great British Waste Menu, Meals in Moments, The One Show, Breaking into Tesco, Recipe for Success and This Little Farmer went to Market.
To add to his talents, Simon has written and published 7 successful books which continue to sell well.
Procedure for nominations
- Nominations can be made online at fishingnewsawards.co.uk using the secure entry forms.
- All nominations need to be received by Friday 4 March, 2016.
- Shortlists of five nominees with the most nominations in each of the first eight categories summarised above will be available by Friday 18 March 2016, after which secure online voting will commence to determine the winner for these selections.
- Names for the Boats of the Year, together with the Young Fisherman of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Awards, will also be shortlisted down to a top five.
- A panel of judges drawn from the fishing industry, using all supporting evidence provided in support of the nominees, will then meet to decide the winner of these four categories.
Young Fishermen of the Year build on success
James Locker celebrates with his family after winning the prestigious Young Fisherman of the Year Award in 2006…
That previous winners of the Young Fisherman of the Year Award have well-proven track records of furthering their fishing careers, is testimony to the standing and status that the award gained within the industry when it was previously presented annually.
Since 26-year-old Whitby skipper James Locker won the resurrected Young Fisherman of the Year Award in London 2006, he has launched two new trend-setting whitefish vessels – the 21.5m Our Lass II WY 261 (2007) and the 26m Our Lass III WY 261 (2013).
On the last occasion when the Fishing News Awards were held, in Edinburgh in 2008, the very similar backgrounds of two young fishermen presented the judges with what proved to be a ‘mission impossible’ in trying to decide on an overall winner.
As a result, the Young Fisherman of the Year was awarded jointly to James West from Peterhead and Sandy McLeman of Avoch.
Two years later, James West took delivery of the 21.2m twin-rig trawler Golden Sceptre PD 50 from Macduff Shipyards.
Twelve months ago Sandy McLeman took delivery of the 28m pair-seiner Boy John INS 110 from Vestvaerftet ApS in Hvide Sande, where a second sistership, Rosebloom INS 353, is now being fitted-out for delivery in the spring of 2016.
… since when he has gone on to build Our Lass II…
… and Our Lass III.
Award categories
Technical Innovation of the Year – Award sponsor: Box Pool Solutions Ltd
This award is open to any company that produces equipment for any aspect of commercial fishing. With regulatory updates, legislation, diminishing quotas and taxation continually applying pressure on the fisherman’s profit margins, any technical innovation that delivers a saving is a must for the industry.
Safety Award of the Year – Award sponsor: Sunderland Marine
This award sets out to recognise: A skipper/owner who has a vessel/s that is compliant with all regulatory and HSE recommendations and requirements OR A product, idea or ‘issue-specific’ campaign launched within the previous 24 months that has significantly improved the safety of fishermen in their day-to-day business.
Coastal Fish Restaurant of the Year – Award sponsor: Coast magazine
This award seeks to recognise and applaud the efforts of any company, association or individual that has invested time, energy and money into boosting the consumption of fish and seafood caught by the UK fleet.
Pelagic Fisherman of the Year
To be awarded to a fisherman who has made a clear commitment to the pelagic fishing industry. Examples of the nominee’s determination to succeed, leadership and ability to adapt to the ever-changing demands of today’s industry will be advantageous.
Demersal Fisherman of the Year – Award sponsor: Peterhead Port Authority
To be awarded to a fisherman who has made a clear commitment to the demersal fishing industry. Examples of the nominee’s determination to succeed, leadership and ability to adapt to the ever-changing demands of today’s industry will be advantageous.
Shellfish Fisherman of the Year – Gael Force
To be awarded to a fisherman who has made a clear commitment to the shellfish fishing industry. Examples of the nominee’s determination to succeed, leadership and ability to adapt to the ever-changing demands of today’s industry will be advantageous.
Fish Processor of the Year – Seafish
This award recognises fish processors who have shown continued support of the commercial fishing industry. This award will benchmark good practice, recognising innovation in technology and excellence in service.
Fishing Port of the Year
It is vital the fishing ports and harbours, the interfaces between sea and consumer, are run to ensure that the labours of the UK and Ireland fishermen are utilised as efficiently as possible. 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.
Best New Boat Under 10m
This award celebrates innovation in the build and facilities of a commercial vessel with a registered length of under 10m.
Best New Boat Over 10m
This award celebrates innovation in the build and facilities of a commercial vessel.
Young Fisherman of the Year
To be awarded to a fisherman who has made a clear commitment to the fishing industry. Examples of the nominee’s determination to succeed, leadership and ability to adapt to the ever-changing demands of today’s industry will be advantageous. This person must be a seagoing fisherman, under 25 years and based in the UK or Ireland.
Lifetime Achievement Award
To be awarded to an individual who has clearly demonstrated their commitment to the industry. This person should be a true champion of UK and Ireland commercial fishing, whether it is locally, regionally or nationally.
Read more from Fishing News here…
The newly reinstated Fishing News Awards presentation evening will take place in the Hilton Treetops Hotel, Aberdeen on Thursday 26 May 2016, reports David Linkie.
Above: James West and Sandy McLeman receive their joint Young Skipper of the Year Award in 2008…
The high-profile function is the only awards event dedicated to celebrating achievement, innovation and success in the fishing industry.
Culminating in the announcement of the recipients of the prestigious Young Fisherman of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement presentations, the awards evening will be hosted by the chef and co-presenter of Sunday Brunch, Simon Rimmer.
The Fishing News Awards evening was previously one of the highlights of the year, before Fishing News came under new ownership in 2008.
… since when James took delivery of Golden Sceptre in 2010…
The winners of 12 categories, for which nominations are selected and subsequently voted on by their colleagues in the fishing industry, will be presented with their awards during the course of the evening.
The celebratory evening will include a drinks reception followed by a superb locally-sourced three-course meal with wine, and will be rounded off by exclusive live entertainment.
The timing of the 2016 Fishing News Awards was chosen to coincide with the opening of the Skipper Expo International Aberdeen the following morning (Friday 27 May), for which many fishermen and suppliers will already be in Aberdeen.
Steve Wright, chief executive of Fishing News publisher Kelsey Media, said: “From my initial contact with the fishing industry in May, it was immediately apparent that a lot of extremely dedicated and highly-skilled people were working very hard to deliver success across a wide range of areas. The Fishing News Awards evening will enable these achievements to be widely acknowledged and celebrated in a relaxed manner, during a convivial evening which I am delighted Simon Rimmer has agreed to host.
… while Sandy has now fished for 12 months with the new Boy John.
“As the new family-based owner of Fishing News, Kelsey Media is bringing the awards back to help give the industry the recognition it deserves.
“I am also very pleased that the Fishermen’s Mission has agreed to play a key role at the 2016 Fishing News Awards, when guests will have the opportunity to support the invaluable, but often unseen, work this charity does across the fishing industry.”
Four prominent companies, Peterhead Port Authority, Box Pool Solutions, Seafish and Sunderland Marine, have already stepped forward to sponsor four of the 12 award categories. A number of other well-known companies are expected to be announced as sponsors of the 2016 Fishing News Awards later this month.
A limited offer of Earlybird tickets at the special prices of £75 per person and £650 for a table of 10 are available until December 31, 2015.
Further details, including nomination forms, sponsorship opportunities and table reservations, are available at: fishingnewsawards.co.uk
Award host – Simon Rimmer
Simon Rimmer to host the 2016 Fishing News Awards
Simon is the chef and co-presenter of Sunday Brunch, the morning show which wakes the nation up on a Sunday with a mix of chat, current affairs, guests and food. Simon has recently presented a new cookery/quiz show for Channel 4 as well as cooked across many shows and his numerous credits include Great British Waste Menu, Meals in Moments, The One Show, Breaking into Tesco, Recipe for Success and This Little Farmer went to Market.
To add to his talents, Simon has written and published 7 successful books which continue to sell well.
Procedure for nominations
- Nominations can be made online at fishingnewsawards.co.uk using the secure entry forms.
- All nominations need to be received by Friday 4 March, 2016.
- Shortlists of five nominees with the most nominations in each of the first eight categories summarised above will be available by Friday 18 March 2016, after which secure online voting will commence to determine the winner for these selections.
- Names for the Boats of the Year, together with the Young Fisherman of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Awards, will also be shortlisted down to a top five.
- A panel of judges drawn from the fishing industry, using all supporting evidence provided in support of the nominees, will then meet to decide the winner of these four categories.
Young Fishermen of the Year build on success
James Locker celebrates with his family after winning the prestigious Young Fisherman of the Year Award in 2006…
That previous winners of the Young Fisherman of the Year Award have well-proven track records of furthering their fishing careers, is testimony to the standing and status that the award gained within the industry when it was previously presented annually.
Since 26-year-old Whitby skipper James Locker won the resurrected Young Fisherman of the Year Award in London 2006, he has launched two new trend-setting whitefish vessels – the 21.5m Our Lass II WY 261 (2007) and the 26m Our Lass III WY 261 (2013).
On the last occasion when the Fishing News Awards were held, in Edinburgh in 2008, the very similar backgrounds of two young fishermen presented the judges with what proved to be a ‘mission impossible’ in trying to decide on an overall winner.
As a result, the Young Fisherman of the Year was awarded jointly to James West from Peterhead and Sandy McLeman of Avoch.
Two years later, James West took delivery of the 21.2m twin-rig trawler Golden Sceptre PD 50 from Macduff Shipyards.
Twelve months ago Sandy McLeman took delivery of the 28m pair-seiner Boy John INS 110 from Vestvaerftet ApS in Hvide Sande, where a second sistership, Rosebloom INS 353, is now being fitted-out for delivery in the spring of 2016.
… since when he has gone on to build Our Lass II…
… and Our Lass III.
Award categories
Technical Innovation of the Year – Award sponsor: Box Pool Solutions Ltd
This award is open to any company that produces equipment for any aspect of commercial fishing. With regulatory updates, legislation, diminishing quotas and taxation continually applying pressure on the fisherman’s profit margins, any technical innovation that delivers a saving is a must for the industry.
Safety Award of the Year – Award sponsor: Sunderland Marine
This award sets out to recognise: A skipper/owner who has a vessel/s that is compliant with all regulatory and HSE recommendations and requirements OR A product, idea or ‘issue-specific’ campaign launched within the previous 24 months that has significantly improved the safety of fishermen in their day-to-day business.
Coastal Fish Restaurant of the Year – Award sponsor: Coast magazine
This award seeks to recognise and applaud the efforts of any company, association or individual that has invested time, energy and money into boosting the consumption of fish and seafood caught by the UK fleet.
Pelagic Fisherman of the Year
To be awarded to a fisherman who has made a clear commitment to the pelagic fishing industry. Examples of the nominee’s determination to succeed, leadership and ability to adapt to the ever-changing demands of today’s industry will be advantageous.
Demersal Fisherman of the Year – Award sponsor: Peterhead Port Authority
To be awarded to a fisherman who has made a clear commitment to the demersal fishing industry. Examples of the nominee’s determination to succeed, leadership and ability to adapt to the ever-changing demands of today’s industry will be advantageous.
Shellfish Fisherman of the Year – Gael Force
To be awarded to a fisherman who has made a clear commitment to the shellfish fishing industry. Examples of the nominee’s determination to succeed, leadership and ability to adapt to the ever-changing demands of today’s industry will be advantageous.
Fish Processor of the Year – Seafish
This award recognises fish processors who have shown continued support of the commercial fishing industry. This award will benchmark good practice, recognising innovation in technology and excellence in service.
Fishing Port of the Year
It is vital the fishing ports and harbours, the interfaces between sea and consumer, are run to ensure that the labours of the UK and Ireland fishermen are utilised as efficiently as possible. 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.
Best New Boat Under 10m
This award celebrates innovation in the build and facilities of a commercial vessel with a registered length of under 10m.
Best New Boat Over 10m
This award celebrates innovation in the build and facilities of a commercial vessel.
Young Fisherman of the Year
To be awarded to a fisherman who has made a clear commitment to the fishing industry. Examples of the nominee’s determination to succeed, leadership and ability to adapt to the ever-changing demands of today’s industry will be advantageous. This person must be a seagoing fisherman, under 25 years and based in the UK or Ireland.
Lifetime Achievement Award
To be awarded to an individual who has clearly demonstrated their commitment to the industry. This person should be a true champion of UK and Ireland commercial fishing, whether it is locally, regionally or nationally.
Read more from Fishing News here…
