Cornish fishermen have got a lot on their plates – from worries about weather and Brexit to stocks, quota and overfishing.

A new documentary released on July 1 lifts the lid on the many ways in which another problem – climate change – is already affecting local fishermen, and is likely to do so much more in future.

Narrated by fisherman Ben Church, the 30-minute film Plenty More Fish? interviews a range of fishermen and experts, talking about a variety of issues from the changing fish species entering our waters to the challenges of stormier weather – and even the possibility of crab and lobster shells dissolving as our waters become more acidic.

But it also looks at more positive aspects, such as inventive solutions to fight climate change while tackling Cornwall’s invasive oyster problem, and the possibilities for zero carbon fishing boats.

The documentary is made by charity Cornwall Climate Care, which is making a series of films about different aspects of climate change across a whole range of topics from housing and food to transport and health.

Producer Claire Wallerstein said: “Climate change is often presented as something happening far away in the Arctic or Pacific islands. We believe that people are more likely to care, and to act, if they can see what is happening here where they live.

“We hope they’ll also be inspired and motivated to get involved when they see the positive and creative ways in which local communities and businesses are responding to the challenges that climate change will bring”.

The first film, Under the Surface, looking at how climate change is already affecting the Cornish marine environment, was launched in February and has been viewed almost 6,000 times.

The third film, looking at Cornwall’s coastal communities, storms, sea level rise and erosion, will be released in the autumn.

As well as taking their films out to local communities, a big part of the charity’s focus is on education.

Yet surveys by the campaign group Teach the Future show that only 4% of young people feel they know a lot about climate change and 75% of teachers feel they have not received adequate training to be able to confidently teach about itv.

Cornwall Climate Care is working with a team of local teachers to create tailored educational materials so that the entire series of films can be used in schools across Cornwall and beyond in GCSE and A-level lessons in subjects from Science to English, Art, Geography and Business Studies.

• To attend the (free) live film launch, followed by a Q&A with some of the participants, please register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/online-premiere-of-plenty-more-fish-tickets-160939182427?aff=ebdssbeac

• See the trailer for Plenty More Fish? here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbXq8tfBav0&t=5s

• For more information contact Claire Wallerstein on [email protected] or 07815 567234.

• The film will be freely available to watch online from 2 July on the charity’s website www.cornwallclimate.org

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