Three Newlyn based fishermen have taken to Twitter to get the best possible price for their catch and to make sure customers can get the best fish 'dreckly'
To add value and get maximum return to and to maintain a career in the local fishing industry, : Andrew Stevens, Francis Harris, then Kevin Penney decided to explore new digital ideas.
The group started to sell their hake, herring, browncrab and lobster on-line, increasing their customerbase and helping speak directly with consumers.
The fishermen developed a simple website linking to facebook and twitter. The big change came when they started using twitter @Drecklyfish, when they started reporting live what was being caught, allowing following customers to track and bid immediately.
Demand grew and they soon reached the limit of their supply capacity, having to turn down customers. To face this and carry on with their innovative way of fishing and selling, @Drecklyfish decided to scale up operations and introduce a project to the local Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG).
Watch a video about @Dreckly below.
Chris Ranford, from Cornwall Rural Community Council (CRCC) worked with @Drecklyfish to help get financial support from Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Fisheries Local Action Group.
This enabled the fishermen to acquire the necessary shore based equipment, such as scales, ice making facilities, packing and banding machinery along with equipping the team with tablets and undergo specific IT training to master new communication tools.
Chris is based at the Seafood Cornwall Training Centre in Newlyn and also visits different ports and harbours each week. He is available to all interested businesses, community groups and individuals looking to initiate a project.
He works alongside applicants throughout the entire funding process and ensures they have all of the information and guidance to get their idea turned in to reality. Other projects Chris has helped secure funding for are £100,000 for a new Quayside Community Centre in Looe and £75,000 for Coverack Harbour to enhance its harbour facilities for the wider fishing community.
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