Seafood Cornwall’s #FishToYourDoor campaign - launched within hours of the first Covid-19 impacts on South-West fish markets - sees overwhelming response within first week.
A new campaign that facilitates quick match-making between Cornish fish merchants and fishmongers and would-be buyers across the country has been inundated with orders since launching last week.
Cornwall-wide seafood promotion initiative Seafood Cornwall launched the #FishToYourDoor campaign alongside the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation on Tuesday 17th March. Responding to the closing-down of restaurant trade and export markets, and aiming to keep sales routes open for domestic catch, the scheme was designed to connect individuals and households with fresh Cornish fish - via fish merchants with capacity to deliver.
One such merchant registered to receive customers through the #FishToYourDoor campaign is family-run business Celtic Fish and Game. Speaking of the impact of the initiative, Director Naomi Bullus commented: “Thanks to the #FishToYourDoor initiative, plus our own efforts, we have kept the doors open. We are delivering fish individually portioned, prepped and packed, and calling our customers to notify them that their contact-free delivery is on their doorstep".
Local MP Derek Thomas added: “I’m delighted to see a scheme like this come together so quickly in the face of all the troubling impacts of this Covid-19 pandemic. Fishing communities and seafood businesses deserve our support more than ever at this time - and it’s reassuring to see a system delivering healthy, local fish directly to households when many are struggling with supermarket shops. I hope this demand continues to grow over the coming months, and beyond the current circumstances”.
More than three requests per minute have been flooding in via the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation Facebook page, and Seafood Cornwall social media. Thus far, well over 400 new customers have been connected to merchants, many offering messages of support for Cornwall’s fishermen and reporting back, with comments including: “Thank you so much for going the extra mile to connect fishing families with the locals”, "I had some delicious fish delivered the next day and would like to place another order" and “this service will be a lifeline for me!”.
The #FishToYourDoor campaign is continuing to register interested merchants and buyers via:
● Facebook - www.facebook.com/Cornishfpo
● Twitter - @CornwallSeafood
● Email - info@cornwallseafood.org.uk
A phone number, web form and leaflet will be available shortly.
Many merchants can deliver beyond Cornwall - please spread the word to family and friends across the county to support our Cornish fishermen, and protect coastal communities from the worst of the economic onslaught from the coronavirus.
Newlyn suppliers of fresh fish by mail/courier:
Fresh Cornish Fish
Trelawney Fish
Harveys Crab
Stevensons Fish Shop