Roll up for Hastings Herring Fair!

Hastings Herring Fair takes to the Stade this weekend, when the local fishing fleet will be celebrating 10 years since they were awarded MSC – Marine Stewardship Council – status for their sustainable methods of herring fishing. Councillor Dawn Poole, Hastings Borough Council’s lead member for regeneration, explains what’s on offer.

The Herring Fair was set up four years ago to promote the herring which is in our seas at this time of year. The Hastings fishing fleet use traditional, sustainable fishing methods which ensure that the fish are always plentiful. The drift nets used for mackerel and herring have a weighted bottom line that only occasionally brushes the seabed, so inflicts little damage there too.

This year, the Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) will have an interesting display at the fair. It will show how all the FLAG-funded projects have benefited the local fishing industry, including the boat-building project, the Classroom on the Coast and fishing pathways. Our thanks must go to FLAG for funding the Herring Fair once again this year.

There will be lots of FREE demonstrations on offer, including the Essential Wine School, Paul Webbe and food forager, Sarah Watson, flag-making with Radiator Arts for the younger audience and of course, as it’s a festival in Hastings, musical entertainment from local favourites such as the Hastings Shanty Singers, RX Shantymen, The Salts and a traditional ceilidh dance to end the festival on Sunday.

It’s all undercover, so no need to worry about the weather, and it’s all free – come along this Saturday and Sunday to eat, drink and be merry!

Hastings Herring Fair The Stade Open Space, Rock-a-Nore, Hastings TN34 3DW. Saturday 31 October and Sunday 01 November, 11am-4pm. Full details here.

Photos: HBC.

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