Fishing in Cornwall
Fishing has long been a key part of Cornwall’s economy. For centuries the coast fed a busy pilchard industry, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, when ships from Cornwall exported large amounts of pilchards to markets in Italy. The industry declined in the late 1800s, but the sea around Cornwall has always yielded a wide range of fish and shellfish.
In the 20th century fishermen began catching more kinds of fish, crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters being especially important. Much of the catch is exported to France because prices there are higher. Overfishing damaged stocks, but community groups like the Southwest Handline Fishermen’s Association have worked to revive the industry. By the mid-2000s some stocks were improving again.
Cornwall’s fishing is managed by local authorities. The Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committee oversees the main fishing district, while the Isles of Scilly has its own committee.
The history of Cornish fishing goes back to medieval times. By the Tudor era it was an important industry, and regulation increased under Elizabeth I. In the 1500s and 1600s Cornwall’s fishermen also fished abroad, including Newfoundland. The industry relied on local ports and methods such as seining and drifting. Huers on the headlands would spot shoals of pilchards and shout “Hevva!” to alert the boats. The tradition gave rise to Hevva cake, baked by the huers on their return home.
Important ports along the north coast included St Ives and Padstow. St Ives was busy with seining until the 1920s, and much of the pilchard catch was sent to Italy. In the 1800s huge hauls were recorded, and St Ives once traded very large numbers of fish. Newlyn became a major modern fishing port and is the largest deep‑sea port in England by value of fish landed. It has long been a center for pilchard fishing, though it now catches a variety of species, including hake, crabs and lobsters. Newlyn’s market and harbour have supported a sizable, mostly small-boat fleet.
Mevagissey, Polperro, Looe and Cadgwith are other well‑known Cornwall fishing towns. Mevagissey’s harbour was built in the 18th century, and the town has long supported fishing as well as ship travel and tourism. Polperro was famous for pilchards and for its small “Polperro Gaffers” boats; pilchard fishing declined in the 20th century, but today the harbour supports other vessels and seafood activity. Looe remains a working fishing town with a reputation for fresh fish, shark fishing, and small boat fleets. Cadgwith grew from a medieval fishing settlement to a village dominated by pilchard boats; since pilchards disappeared as a major catch, crab and lobster fishing has become more common. The Helford River hosts oyster fishing, and Port Navas runs an oyster farm.
Mevagissey, Fowey and Falmouth also have long fishing histories. Fowey has shifted from china clay exports to a busy port of trawlers and yachts, while Falmouth hosts festivals celebrating oysters and seafood. The National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow works to conserve and study lobsters, and Cornwall now hosts fish festivals such as the Falmouth Oyster Festival and the Newlyn Fish Festival.
Cornish fishermen have a rich culture and traditional stories. All along the coast there have been dances and songs tied to the pilchard season, and old superstitions about animals on board and church towers. A famous Cornish dish is stargazy pie, a pie made with fish heads poking through the crust, which reflects the region’s long love of the sea.
In modern times, fishing remains important for jobs and for local pride, even as the industry faces challenges from changing fish stocks. Communities continue to work together to manage resources, promote sustainable fishing, and keep the coastal way of life alive. The story of Cornwall’s sea is one of resilience, tradition, and a continuing connection between people and the ocean.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 14:08 (CET).