As the pristine waters of the North Cornwall coast lap up against the side of Johnny Murt’s fishing boat, he is meticulously sorting through today’s catch, putting back the smaller shellfish for another day.
Johnny’s family have been fishing these waters for four generations – over 50 years. They know these shores like the back of their hands. Their low-impact, inshore vessels are a familiar sight in Padstow Harbour.
Padstow is at the heart of the Cornish fishing industry and is known and loved throughout the UK for its seafood. But it’s not just family heritage and expertise that Johnny offers to local food businesses and restaurateurs.
A former student of Fisheries Conservation, with a master’s degree in the same subject, Johnny brings his knowledge and experience back to Cornwall to teach others about sustainable fishing practices and the impact on our seas.
As Johnny says: “… because we’re based in Padstow… that comes with a responsibility to make sure that we look after the resources that we’ve got out here.. The way I look at sustainability, we work this ground so it’s in my interests to look after any shellfish….I’m not catching species I’ve got no quota for…”
The way Johnny fishes ensures that the seabed ecosystem is preserved and maintained. The seven mile range in which he fishes and the fact that his catch stays in Padstow keeps his carbon footprint and food miles very low. Most of Johnny’s customers are just a few yards from where his boat docks!
Johnny’s passion for sustainable fishing is palpable; he has a drive to put what he’s learned into practice and promote a greater appreciation and understanding of where our fish and seafood comes from.
“if you were to take the fishing industry out of Padstow, Padstow would lose a bit of its soul”
Just like Johnny; our family heritage, passion, and know-how enables us to provide high-quality, natural Cornish produce and is at the heart of everything we do here at Trewithen Dairy. And in a similar way, we embrace innovative techniques to ensure that our lands and seas can provide for many generations to come.
Watch our film as James Strawbridge meets Johnny.
