Plymouth Fisheries ice plant open

The facility is part of an ongoing £1.2million investment in supporting the region’s fishing industry. The new ice plant will guarantee the provision of ice on site 24 hours a day.

Now England’s second largest fresh fish market, Plymouth Fisheries has seen turnover increase by £17.95million since the fish market relocated to custom-built new premises in Sutton Harbour in 1995.

The ice plant is part of an ongoing investment in the market by owners Sutton Harbour Holdings plc, and the project has been part funded by a £300,000 grant from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF), administered by the Marine Management Organisation MMO, and supported by Plymouth Trawler Agents, which operate the market’s auction.

“A constant supply of ice is absolutely essential, the whole fishing industry depends on it,” said Pete Bromley, Harbour Master and Manager of Plymouth Fisheries. “Fish have to be iced at sea as soon as they are caught and gutted to maintain the quality and freshness so that they reach the market in prime condition.

“All our customers need access to a reliable supply of ice from the fishermen who catch the fish, the Trawler Agents who use it in the sorting and grading process prior to sale, and the wholesale buyers who need ice to maintain the quality as they add value and sell on to the consumer. It was vital for Plymouth Fisheries to replace the old plant which has been in use since 1995 to make sure the market continues to meet the needs of our fishermen for the next 20 years to come.”

The ice plant features four ice machines and separate storage units so Plymouth Fisheries will be able to offer a continuous supply of ice to fishermen, even if one machine is undergoing maintenance.

Plymouth Fisheries has become a key fisheries hub for the South West, sustaining over 600 direct and indirect jobs, and fish landed at other ports across Devon and Cornwall is often transported to be sold in Plymouth.