Fisherman, Le Guilvinec, France.

Fisherman, aboard the trawler 'Avel-An-Heol', whose home port is Le Guilvinec, France.

Le Guilvinec in Brittany is currently home to around 98 fishing boats, which makes the fishing industry and its shore-based support the economic pillar of the area. However, in the last 15 years the fleet has decreased by approximately 30%, partly due to shrinking fish stocks, the low price of fish and the steep increase in fuel prices.

Another main problem faced by the ports in this area is the shortage of trained crew. This has major consequences on existing vessels and is a serious issue that is echoed throughout many fishing sectors in the E.U.

Nowadays, “les Guilvinistes”, as the fishermen are called in the area, are recognised for their courage and intrepid nature.