2021 was port's biggest year, and it's hoped 2022 can be even better
The reputation of Brixham fishing port keeps growing
Last updated 11th Jan 2022
The agents behind Brixham fishing port says it's hard to say how much of last year's record sales can be put down to Brexit - but they hope to keep building on the success in 2022.
2021 has been the most successful ever for Brixham fishing port, which was already England's most valuable my catch.
The port landed a record £43-million worth of seafood last year, up from the previous high of £40 million in 2017 before the pandemic.
It landed £35-million in 2020 and Greatest Hits Radio understands additional Brexit paperwork has added an extra quarter of a million pounds in costs.
The port supports an estimated 2,000 jobs in the area and is overseen by Brixham Trawler Agents - which is made up of 130 shareholders to sell fish on behalf of the trawler owners.
MD Barry Young said: "It's been a magnificent year for us
"Why has it been so successful? Some put it down to Brexit.
"Some put it down to the amount of buyers we've got buying fish right now from the Brixham fish auction and it's also down to investing heavily into an online system where anybody around the world could buy our fish.
"It's partly to do with that so it's a combination of all things being put into one.
"We're bringing fish up now from other ports in the South West. We're bringing fish up from Newlyn to sell at Brixham for the better price.
"We're bringing fish down from the South Coast, we go up as far as Hastings so it's a combination of people wanting to land their fish to Brixham, combination possibly of Brexit, but possibly a combination that fish prices have just gone up generally across the board and just everything is going right for us.
"It's a great success story."
Anthony Mangnall, the MP for Brixham, said: "Brixham is an important indicator into the health of the fishing industry.
"Brixham Fish Market’s 2021 record beating sales numbers paint a positive picture about the health of the industry and its potential to thrive over the coming years. The fishing community in Brixham and the Brixham Trawler Agents have worked incredibly hard to create new opportunities and ensure that this coastal community would continue to thrive throughout the pandemic.
"Despite the doom mongering about life outside of the European Union, we have a clear example that shows the opportunities and the benefits that can be found through the UK as an independent trading nation.
"I am proud to represent the hard-working fishers of Brixham and I am doing all I can to help secure further investment into this port and the industry through the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme and the Levelling Up Fund.
"Both funds will help us to increase the size and capacity of the fish market helping us to achieve record sales year-on-year."
Torbay MP Kevin Foster, who covers Paignton and Torquay, said: "It’s best-ever year for sales, underlines Brixham’s position as the most valuable fishing port in England and Wales. I comparison back in 2019, the value of fish landed at Brixham was £39.2m, then in 2020 the first year of the Covid pandemic saw the figure drop to £35.8m. Now new figures have revealed that (precisely) £43,631,862 worth of fish was landed on the quayside in 2021.
"It is great to read this news, which is a stark contrast to some of the predictions being made this time last year as a new trading relationship with the EU came into force. Sales to domestic markets and exports to the EU from Brixham Fish Market have both increased.
"Anthony Mangnall and myself are continuing to work on securing the funding needed for further expansion, work which has been boosted by these latest figures."