Pittenweem
June 21, 2021
21 Jun '21. HM 127. Pittenweem is a strange name and a slightly strange place..... and as I found out, not somewhere that one asks too many questions!
It is home to Scotland's largest inshore fishing fleet of 30 boats and business is clearly booming. Crab & lobster creel boats are plentiful with one fisherman reportedly owning 10,000 lobster pots! Langoustine and squid trawlers work the local waters and also razor clam boats are based here, selling their catch "live" to China. Razor clams are caught by electrocuting the seabed (photo 7). The electricity changes the consistency of the sand so they pop out of their holes for divers to hand pick them.
Much of the success of the Pittenweem fleet is that all the fish are sold via The Fishermen's Mutual Association - owned by the fishermen. When I asked one of their staff if they thought the lobsters were being overfished I received a very firm "no comment". A big subject for a separate post!
Before being hounded out of town by angry fishermen, I did get a chance to meet the very friendly and interesting HM, Allan Anderson. An ex soldier who served with Prince William in The Blues and Royals, Allan is the lead HM for 11 harbours and piers along the coast of Fife. He is clearly bringing some military order to this difficult task and holds much respect from people I spoke to along the coast.
On the old quay some cobbles were numbered (photo 9). Now randomly positioned, 100 years ago boats placed their catch next to a number as they arrived back in harbour, indicating the order the catches were auctioned off. Photo 10 was a very evocative statue remembering local lives lost at sea. I won't forget my visit to Pittenweem.
It is home to Scotland's largest inshore fishing fleet of 30 boats and business is clearly booming. Crab & lobster creel boats are plentiful with one fisherman reportedly owning 10,000 lobster pots! Langoustine and squid trawlers work the local waters and also razor clam boats are based here, selling their catch "live" to China. Razor clams are caught by electrocuting the seabed (photo 7). The electricity changes the consistency of the sand so they pop out of their holes for divers to hand pick them.
Much of the success of the Pittenweem fleet is that all the fish are sold via The Fishermen's Mutual Association - owned by the fishermen. When I asked one of their staff if they thought the lobsters were being overfished I received a very firm "no comment". A big subject for a separate post!
Before being hounded out of town by angry fishermen, I did get a chance to meet the very friendly and interesting HM, Allan Anderson. An ex soldier who served with Prince William in The Blues and Royals, Allan is the lead HM for 11 harbours and piers along the coast of Fife. He is clearly bringing some military order to this difficult task and holds much respect from people I spoke to along the coast.
On the old quay some cobbles were numbered (photo 9). Now randomly positioned, 100 years ago boats placed their catch next to a number as they arrived back in harbour, indicating the order the catches were auctioned off. Photo 10 was a very evocative statue remembering local lives lost at sea. I won't forget my visit to Pittenweem.