FISHERMEN Peter Newton and Gary Copp will be talking about their catches off West Bay at a seafood festival on Sunday, June 10.

The event, hosted by the Riverside Restaurant, is part of the Bridport Food Festival in mid-June.

The festival will celebrate the best about locally caught fish and all that West Bay has to offer. There will be a chance to chat to the fishermen and suppliers who bring fish to the table.

Peter Newton has been catching crabs and lobsters for over 30 years using pods which settle on the sea bed with bait inside.

Gary Copp has two boats, a scalloper, which sails close to the shore using metal rakes to pluck up the scallops, and a netter, which uses nets like a trawler to catch monkfish and ray among other fish.

Varying sizes of nets influence the fish caught and the different seasons yield different species.

The emphasis on the day is on fish and shellfish caught in local waters – exactly what will be dependent on the weather on the day.

Riverside chefs, fishermen and representatives from Samways will be on hand to offer advice on how to prepare and serve fish.

Neil Chilcott, general manager at the Riverside Restaurant, said: “All our supplies are from reliable sources and are from within quotas set by the European Fish Commission.

“Our wild fish are locally caught from small boats and are well within the limits set for sustainability.”

The Hive Beach Cafe will be running the seafood tent with Davy’s Locker on Askers Meadow at the main Food Festival event on Saturday, June 16.

Friends group set up

A FRIENDS of Bridport Food group has been set up.

The aim is to build a community of individuals and businesses who are interested in local food – producing it and eating it.

It is free to join up and become a friend.

There are regular updates and promotions as well as early notification of activities and events and an annual dinner.

Join up as a Bridport Food friend at the website bridportfoodfestival.co.uk