This time last year we never even thought we’d have a shop,’ says Claire Quirk-Kermeen.

The direction of many lives has changed since then including those of Claire and her husband, Danny Kermeen.

Like other local fishermen, Danny lost the lucrative export market that had made up the bulk of his trade, as the pandemic closed restaurants and shops the island had previously supplied in the UK, France and Spain.

Danny was among a number of local fishermen who started selling his catch straight off the boat and it proved to be an instant success.

At the end of the king scallop season in May, when they would normally start catching whelks for export, they bought a fish and prawn net instead and were catching fresh fish, along with queenies when the season began for them in July.

Danny also goes out fishing for langoustines but this involves an overnight trip, as Claire explains: ’The langoustines are caught at night. During the day they bury themselves in the seabed and then pop up at night.

’Danny will go out early morning, stay out all night and come back the next morning.’

While they might have lost their export market, it all made for some very happy local customers.

The queues - socially distanced during lockdown - stretched right along Ramsey quayside as people waited to see what Danny’s boat, the Ramsey Jak, would bring in.

And, with the help of Danny’s mum, Linda, and other friends and family, they started an island-wide service delivering king scallops landed that day.

They also sold them at the Isle of Man farmers’ market which is held every Saturday in Ramsey.

Then another idea arose. It had been a good number of years since Ramsey had had its own fresh fish shop so why not open one?

’I think people in Ramsey had missed having a fish shop,’ says Claire.

And so Kermelly’s, named after Danny’s much-loved late uncle and mentor, opened its doors last August and business has been good.

Claire says: ’It’s gone down well: it’s been busy and this lockdown we’ve started doing deliveries and takeaways again.

’It’s been a lot of hard work but we’ve got family helping.’

Claire herself is fully occupied with their two young children, Issy and Robby, and her job in a local bank so Danny’s mum, Linda, is managing the shop and two of his cousins, Amy and Reece, also work there.

As well as their own catch, Kermelly’s also stocks fish from other local fishermen and a good range of other Manx products, including Close Leece Farm meat and charcuterie, Ross Bakery bread and Faragher’s eggs.

The Ramsey Supper Club also makes soups and pates for them to sell.

Claire says: ’I think it’s been really good that we’ve been able to support other fishermen, it’s helping them as well, and other suppliers.’

And, looking back on their change of business direction, she adds: ’Danny’s still landing a bit to the factories [for export] but the shop has been a good business decision.

’We’re not making more money but it’s kept us in a similar to the position to where we were this time last year, before the lockdown.’

And that, as we all now appreciate, is a mark of success in these uncertain times.

l Look out for Kermelly’s £20 fish pack.

Each pack incudes 250g scallops, 300g cod, 300g salmon, 300g smoked haddock. All can be swapped for haddock or hake.

Call 457617 or order online: https://kermelly.touchtakeaway.net/menu to collect or have it delivered (north of the island only).

If you’re looking for a fabulous, warming bowl of fish chowder, look no further than this beauty, posted on #manxmarch by Abbie Sutton.

All the main ingredients, including the onion, potato and cream she used, were from local growers and producers.

The fish pie mix, shellfish mix and fish stock were from Kermelly’s and she served it with crusty bread.

If you would like to try it, it’s the Simple Seafood Chowder on the BBC Good Food website.

Abbie said: ’It was really tasty. I added some garlic and seasoning but pretty much kept to the recipe. I’m definitely going to make it again.

’The quality of the fish etc from Kermelly’s is fabulous.’