In March I spent a day scallop fishing outside Balbriggan harbour and wrote an article originally posted in my previous website.
“Drink and grub, drink and grub” was ringing in my ears after spending a day at sea with Colin Costello. Colin fishes for shellfish out of Balbriggan harbour. I joined Colin and his son on what they considered to be a light day that wouldn’t be too much of a challenge on a photographer with a weak stomach . I observed as they worked at fulfilling and order for Razorfish.
Recent years have seen the number of boats fishing out Balbriggan fluctuate as many can no longer earn a living with high costs and low market prices opting to get out of the game. While many families long involved in the tradition of this form of fishing were pushed to the margins and forced to retire there has been periods that have seen large numbers of newcomers ,albeit for short spells ,as people involved in other disciplines of fishing speculate on perceptions of a growing demand for shell fish in Ireland and abroad. This has caused increased competition affecting the prices offered by markets and distributors. Like most forms of farming, high costs, labour intensive work and falling prices are painting a bleak picture for the future of this traditional way of life.
It is hard to resist making comparisons with scenes from the tv show ‘Deadliest Catch’. I jokingly made references to life on the Baring Sea. As the day passed I realised that my initial ironic comparisons were not so funny after all. The amount of physical exertion required was constant with precious few opportunities to rest. Once the first cage got pulled on board it was a constant process of emptying, sorting, washing, stacking and storing. By the time the first load was sorted from a giant clump of muddy sea bed littered with shells , rocks and even a lost ships anchor, it was time to unload the next cage. The larger the haul the greater the demand for speed and effort. In most jobs six hours represents almost a full days work. In fishing this is seen as a light days work. It is not uncommon to have to work for anything between 20 and 48 hours with no sleep, meals or rest. It was hugely impressive to watch a ton of mud be reduced to neatly sorted and stacked bundles of Razorfish.
By 4pm we returned to the harbour where a van from a fish market was waiting to weigh and collect the days bounty.
I was curious as to how you could maintain such a constant pace and maintain focus and motivation. Apparently the dawn is the toughest time when at sea as the body sees the dawn sky it craves rest and sleep. The key to breaking through that particular wall is constant reminding of your purpose at sea, it isn’t for fun, fame or fortune. Without being aware of it I had been listening to the answer to this question since the first cage was emptied onto the boat ,and with every haul after that. On this occasion it was a mantra used in a form of blagarding adding friendly competition to a days work with father and son. That ‘raison d’etre’ was simply “Drink and Grub”.
© 2010, Cowley Photography. All rights reserved.