Challenges have been nothing new for fisherman Danny Kermeen and his family as they prepare to diversify and open a new shop in Ramsey called Kermelly’s.

Danny and his wife Claire Quirk-Kermeen, of Kermelly Seafoods Ltd, have been together since they left school in 2006 and were married four years ago this month.

They have two children Issy and Robby.

The couple told Business News that the struggles of the Manx fishing industry have been well known over the last few years.

And most days appear to have thrown up hurdles of one kind or another to face up to.

Their story appears to typify the sort of ups and downs faced by many in the island’s fishing industry. In October 2018 they took over ownership of Manx registered vessel Ramsey Jak and told Business News: ’What a rollercoaster it has been.’

Mrs Quirk-Kermeen told Business News: ’Each day people in the fishing industry are faced with many challenges such as quotas, how much they can land, where they are allowed to fish and time restrictions with tides and weather.

’The last scallop season’s weather was one of the worst with constant storms and many being unable to get to sea due to weather for weeks at a time.

’Once the weather started improving this year, we were faced with another challenge, namely Covid 19.’

She said that usually the business’s catch ’would be landed to Isle of Man Seafoods to be processed and then exported off island to wholesale and retail outlets in Europe and the UK’.

But because of the collapse of the export markets factories were unable to take their catch from many of the Manx fishing vessels which left them ’completely stranded with no market’.

She admitted: ’Due to us being a relatively new business financially it wasn’t an option to tie the boat up for months and ride out the pandemic.’

With a boat to be paid for and a young family to provide for Danny got his thinking cap on.

His only option was to diversify to sell his catch locally.

It started by messaging around friends, family and his colleagues from the RNLI where Danny is also a volunteer crew member, to see if anyone would like to buy some freshly caught king scallops direct from his boat on Ramsey quayside.

His wife said: ’Due to the high demand we were also able to offer a delivery service for those isolating due to the virus. This wouldn’t have been able to be done without the help of Danny’s mum Linda and her partner Ricky, sister Natalie and our friend Sarah delivering island wide when the catch was landed that day to ensure everyone received the freshest king scallops possible.’

As the demand grew they started selling king scallops at the Isle of Man farmers’ market in Ramsey on a Saturday mornings and this has gone down well.

The king scallop season runs from November 1 until May 31 each year or until the yearly quota has been caught.

She added: ’Once the scallop season is over we would then put out the whelk pots and start fishing for whelks which are also usually exported.

’This year we have had to diversify again and invested in a fish and prawn net.

’Since the start of May we have been fishing for langoustines which there has also been a great demand for as you can tell by the number of customers waiting on Ramsey Quayside on the first landed fish and prawns.’

And from the start of June they have been fishing for fresh fish and also Manx queenies from July.

’The response we have had from customers buying directly from the boat has been amazing and we are honestly so appreciative for the support we have received.

’And the atmosphere on Ramsey quayside has been great.

’Customers love seeing Ramsey Jak coming in the harbour and then collecting seafood direct from the boat. Many of our customers have said what we are doing reminds them of how it used to be many years ago which is great.

’Looking forward, listening to all the requests and advice on how to be able to carry on supplying people with fresh fish and more during those rainy days we are now taking that plunge.

’We are excited to announce that with the help of all our family, we are opening a shop called Kermelly’s at Bourne Place, opposite the old court house in Ramsey.

They hope to supply ’as much local produce and seafood as possible’.

The plan is to sell seafood, cheese, cooked meats,smoked produce and some local produce from producers across the island as well as offering teas, coffee and take away food.

Claire and Danny stress they would like to support other local suppliers in the island, whether it be other local fishing vessels, farm shops or processors.

They say they are keen to increase the footfall in Ramsey.

The shop is named after Danny’s late uncle David who died in 2007 and whose nickname was Kermelly.

From a young age Danny had an interest in fishing and boats with the encourage ment of his uncle who worked for Mezeron. As soon as Danny left school at the age of 16 he started working on different fishing boats. And Kermelly Seafoods Ltd was first registered in 2013 when he bought his first boat which he named Kermelly. It was a small potting boat which he fished for crabs and lobsters.

He was later offered a job as a deckhand on the Ramsey Jak which was then owned and built by Derek Moore at Ramsey shipyard. Danny was later asked to skipper the vessel before he was offered the chance to buy it from Mr Moore.

One of Uncle David’s sons, Kieran, works on the Ramsey Jak as crewman, while another son, Rhys, works on another fishing boat.