Episode 22: MIKE WARNER, 'A Passion for Sea Food' - connecting us to the Suffolk fishing communities and championing 'net to plate'

The Suffolk Pod Show

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Mike grew up by the sea through the late 60s and 70s, and as he puts it, has salt water in his blood. He talks about life in Felixstowe Ferry, a fishing village just north of Felixstowe, as boy and present day.

Mike spent his earlier career in farm management and eventually stepped back with enthusiasm to his roots and is now a fisherman, consultant, supplier, seafood chef and runs a blog ‘A Passion for Seafood’.

Mike tells us about inshore fishing around Suffolk and the coast of Britain. He talks about the abundance of fish in our local shorelines, as well as sustainability and security. He also talks about which fish we should be eating, and when, and best of all how to make some simple, but delicious fish dishes. Mike also talks about Keith Floyd and Rick Stein and the importance of their roles as high-profile seafood chefs – and how their cooking brought fish back into fashion, and onto the restaurant menus.

It’s important to Mike and our Suffolk fishing community that we support each other and as consumers, how we can help them by buying local fish. Mike talks about Herring, a super-food, and the extraordinary health benefits from this bountiful fish. As a nation we export most of our Herring, but as Mike explains, this fish is a delicious, versatile and super-health giving – and highly recommends us to get back into eating more of it.

Mike talks to us about how important it is to sustain the heritage of fishing, how new generations are not following in their forefathers’ footsteps and the very real risk of losing our fishing communities in Suffolk and around the UK. It’s clear that if we eat and promote more local fish that the industry would offer more opportunity to the future of fishing. Mike also talks about the effects of Brexit on the fishing industry.

Mike travels the British coastlines and delivers fresh fish straight into Suffolk to our fishmongers, restaurants, as well as to many London wholesalers. You can buy directly from Mike at his Grange Farm Shop just outside Woodbridge.

Fish is seasonal he tells us, and in January we have come to an end of the Wild Bass season however spring brings us the infamous Cromer Crabs and a host of other delights.

Mike imparts a couple of his favourite ways to cook Herring and another local favourite - Skate Wing.

Mike welcomes you to get in touch with him – visit www.apassionforseafood.com

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