North Sea Adventure

All the photos in this set were taken on one day aboard the Aspire fishing trawler in the North Sea. All of the images were taken using the available light conditions and have not been cropped or adjusted (outside of dark room techniques).

I had wanted for some time to see what it was like to be on one of the handful of trawlers that remain active on the North Sea. I was lucky enough to be given the chance to join Philip and his crew on the Aspire. Philip is one of my 100 Strangers Project people. I did not know what to expect on my day at sea other than cold weather and the possibility of being embarrassingly sick. I was aware as soon as I came aboard the Aspire that it was going to be a challenging photo shoot. I had made the decision to shoot only with natural light as I did not want flash photography putting people off their daily work. The natural dangers of being at sea were obvious from falling overboard to slipping down ladders and ledges as well as all the moving machinery. Philip was very careful not to put me in any danger and made sure that I was only ever in a situation I could handle and he could observe.

What I knew I wanted more than anything was to get a sense of the people involved more than anything else. What became apparent very quickly was that the hardships caused by the weather are insignificant to those imposed by ridiculous rules and quotas imposed on them. Quotas imposed on fishermen mean that when they cast their nets –if they catch more than they are allowed they have to ditch mainly dead fish back into the sea. Not only does this prohibit the wages they can earn but is also a waste of perfectly good fresh caught fish that would improve the regional economy. It is clear that this industry is on its knees and that people like Philip need a sensible approach to be taken with regard to government red tape.

I would like to thank everyone on board the Aspire for all of the hospitality offered to me and for the chance to in some way tell their story

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