Buckie fisherman nets prestigious national honour
A BUCKIE fisherman has been honoured with a major industry award.
Scallop fisherman James Spencer, who skippers the Sylvia Bowers DS 8, netted the Over 10m Fisherman of the Year at the annual Fishing News Awards at the Chester Hotel in Aberdeen.
The skipper, who originally hails from Holyhead in Wales, fended off stiff competition from three other finalists to claim the title. Mr Spencer previously won the Shellfish Fisherman of the Year honour in 2018.
The Fishing News stated that he had triumphed at the awards due to having a “passion for the job like no other and a wealth of experience”.
Speaking after his award triumph, Mr Spencer said: “It was a great honour to get nominated because it’s by fellow fishermen which then goes to a public vote.
“When people send in their nominations they have to include a small write-up of why they think their nominee should get the award. The Fishing News then pick the final four and then it goes to the public vote.
“It’s good that you get people voting for you, it shows I must be doing the right things on board.”
Turning to what he thinks swung the award his way in the public eye, he commented: “Well, I’ve always been hard-working - I try hard and do my best.
“I’ve a very good boat and we’ve got a steady crew who’ve been with me for a lot of years. Next year will be my 25th year skippering that boat.”
Currently fishing out of Grimsby, Mr Spencer and his crew ply their trade across the North Sea, the English Channel, Cornish waters and the Channel Islands.
Mr Spencer’s fishing career spans more than 40 years, although there is no family tradition in the industry.
He continued: “I’ve been fishing for 41 years and a skipper for 37 years.
“I was always interested in fishing - shore fishing - and when I left school the son of a friend of my parents had a couple of boats and he was looking for crew so I got an apprentice’s job when I was 17 and I just worked my way up.
“I got to mate at 19 and was a full-time skipper at 21. I’ve always been on beam trawlers; I was at the fish for a while but predominantly it’s scallops for the last 30 years or so.”
Mr Spencer first came to Buckie when he was around 17 years of age. He went on to meet his wife in the area and has lived in the town ever since.
The glittering awards evening at the Chester Hotel was compered by Scots comedian Fred MacAulay. The Over 10m Fisherman of the Year was sponsored by Peterhead Port Authority.
Other award categories up for grabs were: Under 10m Fisherman of the Year - Ian Wightman; Young Fisherman of the year - Lee Gallagher; Trainee Fisherman of the Year - Joe Osborn; Service Provider of the Year - Fishing Animateur; Initiative of the Year -Skippinish; Technical Innovation of the Year - Seafield Navigation; Port of the Year - Fraserburgh; Over 15m Boat of the Year - Daystar FR 86, owner Stephen West, builder Parkol Marine Engineering; Under 15m Boat of the Year - Inter Nos PZ46, owners Will Treneer, Elizabeth Lambourn and Sam Lambourn, builder G Smyth Boats; The Sustainability Award - Hans Unkles; Lifetime Achievement Award - Jim Cowie.
