A Micro Fishing business on Anglesey

Kristina Banholzer

Wedi i mi wario cwpwl o fisoedd yn edrych mewn i fy mhwnc o fewn y brosiect yma, dwi wedi darganfod bod hi’n mynd i fod yn dasg eitha mawr i ddogfennu’r holl cymmunedau a’r prosiectau o fewn Cymru. Do’n i’m wedi sylweddoli cyn gymaint o bres odd yn cael ei bwmpio mewn i’r ardaloedd lleol, a llawer iawn o’r prosiectau wedi digwydd reit odan fy nhrwyn i.

Having spent a few months researching and making contacts into my chosen subject within this project, I have found it’s going to be a mamouth task to shoot various communities and the projects within them in Wales. I had no idea how much money is put into communities and was suprised to hear that certain projects had happened here right under my nose. 

Hefo rheolau Covid-19 yn llacio dwi’n gobeithio cael mynediad i rhai o’r prosiectau sydd wedi cael ei ariannu gan yr EU yn y misoedd nesa, ond mae’r blog a llunia yma yn dod o waith masnachol geshi’r cyfle I saethu rhai misoedd yn ol. Fel ffotograffwraig dogfennol dwi wastad yn trio cyfarfod pobl newydd a dod i’w hadnabod I weld pan bo’ nhw’ gwneud be manw’n gwneud, ac er bod yr adroddiad yma ddim byd i’w neud hefo’r prosiectau cymmunedol mi oni’n chwylfrydig i gael gwbod syt effaith odd Brexit yn mynd i gael ar y teulu yma. 

With Covid regulations loosening I will hope to gain access to some of the projects that have been funded by the Eu over the coming months, but this certain blog posts came from a commercial shoot I was sent out to do. As documentary photographers we are always striving to meet people and get to know why they do what they do, and although this report had nothing to do with EU funded projects I was curious to know what effect Brexit might have on this story. 

Neshi wario’r bore yn tynnu llunia pysgotwyr ar arfordir Ynys Môn, yn gweithio ar brosiect i’r llywodraeth sy’n hybu bwyd môr Cymru a bywydau y pysgotwyr. Dyma teulu o dri, Jo sydd wedi bod yn pysgota ers naw mlynedd, ei bartner Jess sydd hefyd yn ran o’r busnes a Nellie bach sy’n caru rhoi ei dillad pysgota ‘mlaen a mynd i weld Dad ar ei gwch.

This particular morning was spent photographing fishermen off the coast of Anglesey, working for a government based project promoting the lives of fishermen here in North Wales. Here is a family of three, Joe who has been fishing for 9 years, his partner Jess who is also a part of the business and little Nellie who loves to put her ‘fishing gear’ on and go to sit on her fathers’ boat.

Mae’r busnes pysgota bach yma yn gweithio yn bennaf hefo Cimwch a Cranc oddi ar y llan yn Ynys Môn, a bach yn wahanol i bysgotwyr lleol eraill ma’ nhw yn ddigon lwcus i gael cefnogaeth gan bwytai lleol yn ogystal a cyfanwerthwyr i werthu be manw’n ei ddal. Dywedodd Jess bod ansicrwydd Brexit a’r pandemic wedi gwneud iddyn nhw feddwl am ei busnes mewn ffordd gwahanol i sicrhau bod y cynnyrch manw’n dal yn cael ei werthu ‘mlaen am brîs teg. Tydio ddim yn anghyffredin i weld pysgotwyr yn gwerthu’r cynnyrch i gyfanwerthwyr sy’n allforio i Sbaen a gwledydd Ewropeaidd eraill, ond hefo Brexit yn digwydd tydy’r pysgotwyr ddim yn gwbod lle manw’n sefyll hefo allforio’r cynnyrch manw’n ei ddal.

This micro business works predominantly catching lobster and crab off the Anglesey coastline, and slightly differently to other local fishermen they are lucky enough to have support from local restaurants as well as wholesalers to sell catch. Jess mentioned that the uncertainty of Brexit along with the pandemic had made them think about the business model and how best to ensure that their catch will always be sold for a fair price. It isn’t un common to find fishermen selling their catch to wholesale to be exported over to Spain and other European countries, but with Brexit cutting through they have been left uncertain as to where they stand with exporting their goods. 

Be oni’n gweld yn ddiddorol am y busnes teuluol bychan yma oedd y defosiwn tuag at cadw’r cynnyrch yn lleol, mi odda’nhw yn gweld o’n bwysig. Dywedodd Jess “Ma Brexit wedi gwneud i ni feddwl am y pwysicrwydd o werthu i fusnesau lleol eraill, pobl lleol a twristiaid. Mae’r elfen yma wedi fy ngwthio i ymuno hefo Jo a cefnogi fo hefo’i fusnes

What I found most interesting about this small family business was their devotion towards keeping their business local, they felt it was important. Jess said “Brexit made us think of the importance of selling direct to locals, tourists, and restaurants in keeping the produce as local as possible, which has been the push for me to join forces with Joe in supporting this venture.” 

Wedi i mi siarad hefo Jess tra odd Jo yn llwytho’r cwch i fynd allan i ‘sgota am y diwrnod, geshi’r cyfle i feddwl am yr effaith posib hir dymor bysa’ Brexit yn medru cael ar model busnes y teulu yma. Sgwni os fysa’r pysgotwyr sydd fel arfer yn gwerthu i gyfanwerthwyr yn cychwyn gwerthu i’r bwytai am brisiau îs oherwydd y diffyg allforio?

After having spoken to Jess as Joe was loading the boat with lobster cages ready for the day, it got me thinking whether or not there would be any long term effect on their intention to sell locally or would the larger companies who usually export their catch to wholesale decide to sell to local restaurants for better prices. 

“Dyma pennod newydd i’n busnes a teulu, dwi wedi ymuno hefo Jo i fedru ymestyn y gwasanaeth fedra’ni gynnig yn syth i’r prynnwyr fel bod Jo yn medru canolbwyntio ar y ‘sgota.”

Mae’r Stori yma yn un diddorol ofnadwy a dwi yn mynd i gadw mewn cysylltiad hefo Jo a Jess i weld syt mae’r teulu sbeshial yma’n dod yn ei blaenau, ac i weld os mae’r cysegriad tuag at cadw cynnyrch yn lleol yn talu ffwrdd drost y tair blynedd nesa. 

“Our new chapter is me joining the business to extend the produce and services direct to the consumer leaving Joe to focus on his love of fishing.”

This is a story I can’t lay to rest and I’m going to pursue to keep in touch with this special family in the hope that their dedication is successful throughout the next three years.