This year's MSC and ASC UK Awards 202 at Fishmonger's Hall, London
Two UK fisheries 1,000 miles apart but with an outstanding shared commitment to protect and promote sustainable practices, were the focus of the two main fishing categories at the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s (ASC) UK Awards 2026 last night.
Tom Lambourn, a Newlyn-based skipper, who has made it his mission to put sustainable Cornish sardines on the map, was named MSC UK Fishing Hero of the Year.
After collecting his award, Tom said: “I’m really proud to accept this award and represent the fantastic Cornish sardine fishery. It is brilliant to be part of a sustainable fishery. Sustainable fishing means that the future generations of my family will also be able to fish.”
The judges recognised Tom, who said he hopes to be back at sea tomorrow, for his tireless dedication to promoting the small-scale Cornish Sardine Fishery.
The 30-year-old skipper, who left the coastal town to study for a chemistry degree, was drawn back by the pull of the ocean and now captains his own sardine boat, the Lyonesse throughout the sardine season from July to April.
Since taking charge of his own boat, Tom has been keen to share its sustainability story working closely with MSC to maximise every opportunity to promote it, including through his role as a member of the Cornish Sardine Management Association and the Young Fishermen’s Network. The past two years have seen him play a pivotal role in launching the first Cornish Sardine Festival, celebrating both the 500-year history of the fishery as well as the fabulous quality of the product itself.
It’s also thanks to Tom that the penguins at local attraction Paradise Park are now fed Cornish sardines. He couldn’t help but correct the penguin keeper who, on a recent family trip to the park, was mistakenly telling visitors that the birds were fed sprats from Holland because local sardines were overfished. A formal meeting later, and the 26 Humboldt penguins now enjoy 2 to 3 tonnes a year of fresh fish caught sustainably less than 10 miles away.
Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the country, SSMO’s proactive measures to rebuild and maintain healthy brown crab stocks as well as implementing measures to protect seabed habitats saw it to success. Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation (SSMO) Brown Crab and Scallop fishery received the MSC UK Ocean Leadership Award at a gala dinner at Fishmongers’ Hall in London
The 100-strong day boat fishery that lands 230 tonnes of crab and 1,000 tonnes of scallops annually, impressed the judging panel with its proactive approach to ensuring a healthy long-term future for both species and the marine environments in which they inhabit. The SSMO introduced voluntary closures in 2004 to protect juvenile scallops and sensitive seabed habitats. These measures were later expanded into seasonal closures and gear restrictions to reduce fishing pressure during spawning periods.
Judges praised their ability to respond to changes in stock, as well as established harvest control measures, which were introduced to help crab stocks recover to sustainable levels.
The fishery works closely with the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) Shetland who review catch data among other assurance and research functions. The SSMO has also produced a cetacean entanglement prevention guide with the aim of helping to prevent whales getting caught in fishing gear.
SSMO Inshore Coordinator John Robertson said: “This is a fabulous achievement. I’m impressed that our small island fishery can make big waves in the MSC world. We know that our scallops and crab can’t be beaten on quality and taste, but we hadn’t expected people to be so impressed by how we go about managing the fishery.
“The award is a tribute to the solid, pioneering science support the SSMO gets from the shellfish scientists at UHI Shetland and which I depend on to get us through the rigorous assessments and audits required for MSC certification. So, take a bow Dr Beth Mouat and Leander Harlow!”
Dr Beth Mouat said it was “an honour” as she collected the award on behalf of SSMO.
Lewis Tattersall, Senior Fisheries Outreach Manager, MSC UK and Ireland, said: "In Tom Lambourn and the SSMO Brown Crab and Scallop fishery we have an individual and a fishery, at opposite ends of the British Isles, demonstrating unwavering commitment to sustainable fishing practices and a passion for promoting their quality products. It's fantastic to see these small-scale fisheries achieve such success with the MSC programme, and as a consumer to be able to buy their catch at retailers right across the country."
A highlight of the evening was the Meet the Fisher and Fish Farmer interview conducted with Sarah Holmyard from the ASC certified mussel business Offshore Shellfish, and Hannah Fennell, of Scottish Pelagic Fisherman’s Association by Dr Eleanor Adamson, Head of Fisheries at The Fishmongers’ Company.
More than 150 leaders of the UK sustainable seafood industry and aquaculture sector, were served a meal of MSC certified tuna and hake and ASC certified mussels and sea bream, curated by chef Mitch Tonks and his son Ben Tonks, Chef Patron of The Seahorse in Dartmouth. Mitch, founder of the Rockfish group of restaurants, collected the MSC UK Foodservice Champion of the Year Award for the business.
MSC welcomed Seafish CEO Colin Faulkner to its judging panel this year, with the industry authority becoming the new lead supporting partner for the awards.
For a full list go to MSC UK Awards
