The South West Handline Fishermen's Association (SWHFA) have been awarded an Objective One Fisheries Grant of £44,700 towards the purchase of insulated bins.

This is the second time the SWHFA has received grant aid for the purchase of insulated bins. In April 2006 the association received a grant of £31,800, and the bins proved so successful that a second grant was awarded in December to cater for the demand. Also benefiting from the purchase of insulated bins with the help of Objective One funding are the CFPO (Cornish Fish Producers Organisation).

The CFPO were provided with a grant of £26,000. The grants to both of these organisations will enable their members to preserve the quality of their catch, reduce wastage and costs.

With an ever increasing focus on providing the highest possible quality fish products to their customers, Cornish fishermen are finding insulated bins are vital in ensuring their catch is kept in optimum condition. Insulated bins provide a practical method of ensuring that fish are rapidly chilled at the time of capture, enabling fishermen to take ice to sea so that their catch can be properly iced and kept chilled during storage. The ice bins can also be used for transporting fish from the quay to the market, thus reducing fish handling to a minimum between catching and point of sale, therefore enabling the best quality and price to be achieved. Without the bins, ice taken to sea is likely to melt costing the fishermen more money and forcing them to take more ice than they actually need, therefore the bins reduce ice wastage and running costs.

The funding provided through Objective One has provided the best opportunity for the small scale and sustainable fishermen such as those involved in the SWHFA and CFPO to significantly improve quality and therefore income. Nathan de Rozarieux, the project director for Cornwall Fisheries Resource Centre, is extremely supportive of the benefits of ice bins; The use of insulated fish bins to keep the catches in slush ice has become one of the most important advances to have ever occurred and already has significantly increased the returns from inshore fishing'.

Paul Trebilcock, Chief Executive at CFPO said; "For us the quality of the fish landed by our vessels is of primary importance. The carriage and use of insulated fish bins is yet another step forward for ensuring that the premium quality for which Cornish fish is renowned for is maintained throughout the supply chain"

Andrew Pascoe, Vice-Chairman of SWHFA added: "Once again the SWHFA and their members are setting the bench mark for fish handling techniques aimed at ensuring top quality fish are reaching the consumer in the very best condition possible."