Supporting Suffolk’s Next Generation of Inshore Fishermen
At Suffolk Marine Safety Ltd, we are always pleased to support local fishermen, and recently we have had the opportunity to help equip an exciting new project that is aiming to support the future of Suffolk’s inshore fishing industry.
The project centres around Dawn Light, a 5.2-metre Plymouth Pilot based at Orford Harbour, which is being used to give a new entrant the opportunity to build a fishing business and develop his skills without the significant investment normally required to purchase and equip a commercial fishing boat.
Behind the project is Mike Warner of A Passion for Seafood, a well-known advocate for locally caught British seafood and the people who work within our coastal fishing communities
Mike is passionate about supporting Suffolk’s inshore fishing heritage and encouraging the next generation into the industry. Through the Dawn Light project, he is helping provide a practical route into commercial fishing, giving a new fisherman access to a properly equipped vessel and the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience while developing a sustainable business.
For Suffolk Marine Safety, it is particularly rewarding to be involved in a project that combines local enterprise, traditional inshore fishing and the development of the next generation of fishermen.
We are proud to support Mike, A Passion for Seafood, and the Dawn Light project by helping ensure the vessel is equipped with the appropriate marine safety equipment for working on the water.
We look forward to following Dawn Light’s journey and seeing the project develop over the months ahead.
A route back into fishing
At the helm of Dawn Light is 32-year-old Josh Bryenton, who grew up in Aldeburgh and has been involved in fishing from an early age.
Josh previously worked as crew for local fishermen but was forced to leave the industry in 2023 when the boat he was working on was sold. Since then, he has continued to work locally while looking for an opportunity to return to fishing.
The Dawn Light project provides that opportunity.
Over the next three years, Josh will use the vessel to develop his experience and establish a part-time fishing business, operating primarily inshore from Orford.
Getting Dawn Light ready for sea
As part of the preparations for the vessel’s MCA inspection and its return to commercial fishing, Suffolk Marine Safety Ltd has been pleased to supply a range of equipment for Dawn Light.
This has included a radar reflector, perry buoy, flare pack, cat C first aid kit, danbuoy and commercial fishermans jacket, as well as a range of additional safety equipment required as part of the vessel’s preparations for going to sea.
The equipment being supplied includes personal flotation equipment, flares and smoke signals, fire-fighting equipment, an EPIRB and compass.
For any commercial fishing vessel, having appropriate safety equipment on board is fundamental. For a small vessel operating close to shore, ensuring that the right equipment is available, maintained and ready for use is particularly important.
We were therefore delighted to help Josh and Mike get Dawn Light equipped and ready for her next chapter.
Bringing local fish back to local communities
Dawn Light will fish seasonally for a range of species including Dover sole, thornback ray, smoothhound, plaice, dabs, flounder, whiting, grey mullet, crab, lobster, whelks and brown shrimps.
The intention is to keep much of the catch within the local supply chain, with fish being supplied to local hospitality businesses and a local fishmonger wherever possible.
That approach reflects one of the wider aims of the project: reconnecting people with where their food comes from and demonstrating the value of a small, local fishing fleet.
More than just a fishing boat
The decline of the Suffolk inshore fishing fleet has implications that extend well beyond the fishermen themselves.
Fishing has helped shape the identity of communities including Aldeburgh, Orford and Southwold for generations. The boats, fishermen, working beaches and harbours form an important part of the character of the Suffolk Heritage Coast and contribute to the wider tourism and hospitality economy.
There is also a huge amount of practical knowledge held by the people who work on these waters. Understanding local conditions, marine life and changes in the coastal environment is an important part of the heritage of the industry.
Projects such as Dawn Light provide an opportunity to keep some of that knowledge and experience alive while giving a new generation the chance to become involved.
Suffolk Marine Safety Ltd – proud to support local fishermen
We are delighted to have played a small part in helping get Dawn Light ready for the water, and we will be following Josh’s progress with interest as the project develops.
Supporting fishermen isn’t just about supplying equipment. It’s about helping people get home safely, supporting local businesses and playing a small part in maintaining the working maritime heritage of our coast.
We wish Josh, Mike and everyone involved with the Dawn Light project every success for the future.
From Suffolk Marine Safety Ltd – supporting the people who work on our coast.
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