Luke Pollard MP visited Greenhook Fishing in Devonport yesterday with Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary, John Healey MP. 

The project was set up to get unemployed ex-military servicemen back into work through fishing and boat-building. Their aim is to create two co-operatives: firstly to build fishing boats, and then to launch them so they can fish for mackerel and other pelagic species such as pilchards, as well as some longlining for hake and cod.

The fish will then be marketed through Greenhook’s own co-operative venture in fishmongering and sold to maximise the income for the group’s participants. 

Luke Pollard MP said:

“This is a really brilliant project that’s been put together by local people to try and help people who’ve fallen on tough times to get into fishing and boat building.

Keep an eye out for Greenhook Fishing, they’re going to be doing some amazing things in our city, and keep an eye out for their amazing yellow boats when they go in the water later this year.”

John Healey MP was also very impressed by the work Greenhook Fishing are doing to reintegrate military veterans into society, and get them back into work. Mr Healey said:

“What a special project this is. 

Here we’ve got a very practical project that is giving people who’ve been in the services, but lost their way, back in civilian life, a second chance.

Not just to get skills, and eventually a chance to work again, but to be a part of something, in which the camaraderie and the shared sense of purpose of building what will be a sail-powered fishing boat.”

You can learn more about Greenhook Fishing on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GreenhookFish/) or on their website (http://greenhook.org/)

Click above to watch John Healey MP’s full thoughts after his and Luke’s visit to Greenhook.