Company tackling ghost fishing gear scoops top prize at Cornwall Sustainability Awards

A company recovering discarded fishing gear from the ocean and recycling it into new products has been named overall winner at the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Sustainability Awards (CSA).

Waterhaul also won the circular economy category in the awards ceremony held at the National Maritime Museum on Friday. 

The Newquay-based firm was praised for tackling the problem of ghost gear - lost, abandoned or discarded fishing gear - by recovering it from the coastline and turning it into durable and sustainable products such as sunglasses.

Now in its 22nd year, the awards hosted by Cornwall Council celebrate organisations and individuals across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for their contribution towards sustainability, environmental growth, circular economy and carbon neutrality. 

Cllr Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council cabinet member for environment and climate change and one of the awards judges, said: “The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Sustainability Awards showcases our region’s wealth of innovative organisations which are helping nature recover, lessening our impact on the planet and fuelling our green economy and skills.

“A big congratulations to all our incredible entrants and winners and thank you to everyone who attended our awards evening.”

The full results for each category are: 

Trees for Nature and Growth - Farmers and Landowners (sponsored by Forest for Cornwall through Defra's Nature for Climate Fund):  

Winner – Philliegh Way Wood
Runner-up - Rosuick Farm

Trees for Nature and Growth - Communities and Groups (sponsored by Forest for Cornwall through Defra's Nature for Climate Fund):  

Winner – Plant One
Runner-up - WI Climate Ambassadors

Most Sustainable Organisation – small (sponsored by Foot Anstey):

Winner - St Martin's Vineyard

Most Sustainable Organisation – medium (sponsored by The Future is Green Project, Cornwall College Group):

Winner – Falmouth Harbour Commissioners

Most Sustainable Organisation – medium - judges’ commendation (sponsored by The Future is Green Project, Cornwall College Group):

Judge’s Commendation - St Austell Printing Company

Most Sustainable Organisation – large (sponsored by Truro & Penwith College):

Winner - Watson-Marlow Ltd

Most Sustainable Organisation – large - judges’ commendation (sponsored by Truro & Penwith College):

       Judge’s commendation - Falmouth Town Council

Environmental Growth: 

      Winner - South West Peatland Partnership (sponsored by Local Investment in Nature Cornwall (LINC))
       Runner-up - Wildflower Collective (sponsored by CIoS Local Nature Partnership (LNP)
       Highly commended – Mylor Mooring Services Ltd (sponsored by Cornwall National Landscape Trust) 

Carbon Positive:

Winner - Volunteer Cornwall: Health & Climate Resilience Network (sponsored by University of Exeter)
Runner-up - Trewithen Dairy (sponsored by Carbon Sense)
Highly Commended - Bull & Wolf (sponsored by Carbon Sense)

Circular Economy: 

      Winner – Waterhaul (sponsored by Local Investment in Nature Cornwall (LINC))
Runner-up - The Wave Project (sponsored by Local Investment in Nature Cornwall (LINC))
Highly commended – Chocolarder (sponsored CIoS Growth Hub & Good Growth Programme)

Mark Duddridge Award:

      Winner – Cornwall Climate Care
Overall Winner (sponsored by Business Cornwall):

       Winner – Waterhaul
 

Harry Dennis, founder of Waterhaul, said:“We’re over the moon to be recognised with a Cornwall Sustainability Award. There is such a high bar in the county with Cornish organisations really leading the way nationally with sustainability, so we’re really honoured to have our work highlighted amongst this incredible group of organisations and businesses – many of which we’re collaborating with. 

"It’s really a testament to the incredible hard work and dedication from all of the Waterhaul team who’ve pushed hard this year to really progress our mission and scale up our recovery and recycling of fishing gear whilst integrating our values of circularity and positive impact into all of our activities."

This year’s judges were Kim Conchie, Chief Executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, Lord Robin Teverson, Chair of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership, Cllr Martyn Alvey, Clare Parnell of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, Gitty Ankers MBE of Cornwall Community Flood Forum, Justin Olosunde, Chair of Cornwall & IoS  Climate Commission and Simon Thomason, Leap, Design for Change. 

The Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall Catherine Mead OBE opened the event.