The Waterhaul team

A company that recovers discarded fishing gear from the ocean and recycles it into new products has been named overall winner at the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Sustainability Awards (CSA).

Waterhaul also won the circular economy category in the awards ceremony held at the National Maritime Museum on Friday.

The Newquay-based firm was praised for tackling the problem of ghost gear - lost, abandoned or discarded fishing gear - by recovering it from the coastline and turning it into durable and sustainable products such as sunglasses.

Now in its 22nd year, the awards hosted by Cornwall Council celebrate organisations and individuals across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for their contribution towards sustainability, environmental growth, circular economy and carbon neutrality.

Cllr Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council cabinet member for environment and climate change and one of the awards judges, said:

“The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Sustainability Awards showcases our region’s wealth of innovative organisations which are helping nature recover, lessening our impact on the planet and fuelling our green economy and skills.

Harry Dennis, founder of Waterhaul, said:

“We’re over the moon to be recognised with a Cornwall Sustainability Award. There is such a high bar in the county with Cornish organisations really leading the way nationally with sustainability, so we’re really honoured to have our work highlighted amongst this incredible group of organisations and businesses – many of which we’re collaborating with.

"It’s really a testament to the incredible hard work and dedication from all of the Waterhaul team who’ve pushed hard this year to really progress our mission and scale up our recovery and recycling of fishing gear whilst integrating our values of circularity and positive impact into all of our activities."