Bridlington’s fishing port is the vision of a traditional British harbour. It’s an attractive stretch of calm water separating the pretty brick buildings of the town from the stone harbour wall and volatile sea beyond. Shellfishing boats up anchor in the dark before dawn to land the produce that puts the town on the map when most of us are still in bed! Hours later, pleasure cruisers start to set off on their tours of the town and coast.
Brid’s beautiful beach and busy promenade stretch off to the south, while most of the town’s urban centre looks down from the hills to the north. You may be surprised to learn that this picturesque harbour is the heart of the largest shellfishing port in Europe.
That’s because it’s skilled workers, rather than clunky machinery that puts our little seaside town on the map in an industry where learned skill and deftness still beat technology. You’re far more likely to find a family of day-trippers grabbing crabs on the harbour wall than any mega cranes here. Yet from this stretch of serene seawater, 3500 tonnes of shellfish worth more than £10 million is shipped. Whelks, crabs and lobster make up the majority of this catch, which is sought after all over the world.
Needless to say, all of this produce keeps plenty of people employed in the town. More than 40 registered shellfishing boats operate out of Bridlington, including 20 large boats of over 10 metres.
Europe’s lobster capital
Start thinking of luxurious cuisine and the lobster is rarely far from your mind. With more than 300 tonnes of this sumptuous shellfish being landed every year, Bridlington is the lobster capital of Europe. It’s not just quantity that makes us the continent’s number one, either. Brid is full of skilled individuals who ensure that every catch is of the utmost quality, too. From making the lobster pot to hauling in and checking the catch, there’s expertise in every step. This is important, as the town supplies restaurants and fine food sellers across Europe.
The discerning people who import and consume our lobsters have come to expect the best and that is exactly what we give them. This is why originating in Bridlington has come to be seen as a sign of quality across much of the world.
The people behind the catch
The Independent Shellfisherman’s Co-operative (ISC) is the largest shellfish wholesaler in Bridlington. As a big contributor to the local fishing industry, we ensure that we speak for the people and the issues that matter in Bridlington and on the Yorkshire coast. That’s why we support sustainable shellfishing done by people with passion. It’s why our fishermen and women can advance and gain ownership of their boats and catches.
Other types of shellfishing
While lobsters are our most costly crustaceans, several kinds of shellfish are landed in Bridlington. These consist of whelks, brown crabs (or edible crabs) and velvet crabs. The delicate, sweet flavour of velvet crabs has seen their popularity increase in recent decades. Meanwhile, whelks are incredibly versatile, and you have not lived until you’ve tried a Yorkshire brown crab in one form or another. Take a look at our Shellfish page for some delicious recipes to inspire you, and come back next month for more on Independent Shellfish, Bridlington, whelks, crabs and lobsters.