Ashley Mullenger gave up her office job three years ago to become a commercial fisher and now spends her days off the coast of Norfolk catching whelk. She runs her Instagram page TheFemaleFisherman where she is trying to get more women into the industry and educate people on where their food comes from.
Being a woman in the male-dominated fishing industry has presented some challenges for Ashley, for example, she struggles to find boots with enough ankle support, as fishing boots are typically designed for men with wider ankles. However, despite the obstacles she has faced, she is the first woman to win the UK’s Fisherman of the Year award, which is awarded to someone “who has demonstrated skill, determination, leadership ability and adaptability to change”.
Mullenger says, “It was a huge achievement just to be nominated, which means you’ve been recognised by someone else in the industry as being a credible fisherman.”
