Exeter Cathedral to Host First National Harvest of the Sea Service

Exeter Cathedral is set to host Britain’s first National Harvest of the Sea service, bringing together fishermen and women, fishing families, seafood businesses, coastal communities and members of the public. The inaugural service will take place at 6 p.m. on Sunday, October 11. Organisers hope the event will become an annual tradition similar to Britain’s long-established harvest celebrations for farming. The service will recognise not only those who work at sea catching fish and shellfish but also the thousands of people involved in the wider seafood industry. These include fish market workers, processors, merchants, transport operators, engineers, boatyards, wholesalers, fishmongers and restaurants. The event is being organised in partnership with Love British Food and supported by Seafish, the UK public body that supports the seafood industry. The Dean of Exeter will lead the service, while the Bishop of Exeter will preach. Helen Lovell-Smith, Devon Area Manager for The Fishermen’s Mission, will also participate and offer blessings for the fishing industry, fishing families and coastal communities. Colin Faulkner, Chief Executive of Seafish, will give a reading. The organisers have also received a letter of support from Queen Camilla, although she will not attend the service. The National Harvest of the Sea aims to recognise the contribution of fishing to Britain’s food supply, culture and coastal communities. Organisers also hope the service will provide an opportunity to remember generations of fishing families and acknowledge the challenges faced by those working in the industry. The event will take place on the final day of British Food Fortnight, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. It will also feature the “Pride in the Seas England” exhibition, highlighting fishermen, scientists and the relationships between fishing communities, science and the sea. Traditional fishing skills will also be showcased through a demonstration of heritage withy pot making, a craft passed down through generations of fishing communities. Admission to the service is free and open to everyone. Donations collected during the service will support The Fishermen’s Mission and Exeter Cathedral.