The air is thick and drunk with mizzle. Down by the quay, all is quiet except for the fizz of LEDs lining the work sheds, a faint protest against the morning grey. No one is out today, they tell me—it’s too rough for the little guys.

Newquay habour shot on b&w film – William Wakefield.

The little guys—the under 10-meter fleet—are the backbone of small-scale fishing in Britain. These small, often single-handed commercial boats make up more than 75% of the UK’s fishing fleet. While their numbers are declining, these fishermen embody a way of life that has endured for centuries. For them, the window to fish is narrow. Too much swell or too strong wind and the risk outweighs the reward. In tidal harbors, such as those along the UK’s rugged coastline, even time itself is dictated by nature—journeys out to sea and back are governed by the ebb and flow of the tide, allowing only brief windows of opportunity to work.

Perhaps this is one of the last professions still entirely at the mercy of Mother Nature. But to the fishermen of Kernow, this is not just a job. It is a way of life. For generations, families have worked these waters, passing down knowledge that can only be learned on the deck of a boat. While too quickly misjudged as harvesters of the ocean’s bounty, fishermen have an intricate and deep knowledge of the migrations, movements, and patterns of marine life. The balancing act of maintaining a traditional livelihood while securing the health of fisheries for generations to come is a task a small-scale fisherman knows all too well. These fishers are not just workers of the sea—they are its stewards. Their survival depends on the health of the marine environment, and for generations, many of them have fished with an understanding of this balance.

Yet, small-scale fishing in the UK faces an uncertain future. Rising operational costs, quotas skewed in favor of the industrial fleet and increasing environmental regulations threaten the survival of these independent fishers. While policymakers debate the correct course of action for sustainable fisheries, those who have spent their lives at sea fear they are being pushed out—that the delicate balance between conservation and tradition is being lost. Instead of being seen as partners in sustainability, small-scale fishers are frequently treated as obstacles to environmental progress. Yet, they all want the same thing —a thriving, abundant sea for future generations.

Despite the challenges, small-scale fishers continue to fight for their place on the water. They persist, not just for themselves, but for the generations to come—for a future where fishing remains not just a livelihood, but a way of life.