New fixed-rig series meets the new generation of trawlermen

14 November 2014

Channel 4 has commissioned Blast films to make a major new fixed-rig series about Trawlermen, following some of the biggest trawler operators on the South Coast.  

In this new series Channel 4 are taking the fixed-rig camera to one of the most extreme destinations yet. Deep-sea fishing is the most dangerous job in Britain by some margin. After years of bad news stories and EU quota battles, the word is there is still money to be made at sea.

With a shortage of young men who have grown up in traditional fishing communities wanting to follow in their fathers' footsteps – recruiters are having to find new fishermen from further and further afield. This combined with rumours of big pay cheques has resulted in an increase in landlubbers turning up at the docks looking for work at sea.

A typical job advert on the industry website Findafishingboat.com reads: “Wanted – crew for 21-meter twin rigger … Must be drink and drug free. No references required.”

We follow the rookie trawlermen as they come through the training schools and embark on their first jobs as deckhands. They will experience danger like nothing else and embark on epic journeys in hazardous seas.

Though there's plenty of risk, the rewards can be high. Peak season for high-value fish is October to April – which unfortunately coincides with the worst weather of the year. To succeed they have to pitt themselves against dangerous weather conditions such as gale-force winds, 40-foot swells, and endless, driving rain.

Emma Cooper, Channel 4 Commissioning Editor, said, ‘ I am excited to be working with Blast on this series which both takes the rig to a new, fast-paced, dangerous world, and also reflects the changing makeup of the crew who now come from a vast array of backgrounds all going to further and further lengths to get their catch.’

The 6 x 60' series has been commissioned by Channel 4 Commissioning Editor Emma Cooper and will be supported by Madonna Benjamin. The executive producer for Blast is new Head of Programmes Nick Hornby. The New Trawlermen (w/t) is due to TX 2015.