Falmouth Marine School and Harbour Lights Fish and Chip Shop

Partnership Project

Report Sheet 1: Nick Archer; FDSC Marine Science

Date: 20
th
November 2012

Project Objectives:
To work with Harbour Lights Fish and Chip Shop to determine whether the
public have a preference between their current supply of Cod; which comes
from the Barents Sea and is MSC Certified Sustainable, or Cod caught and
landed in Cornish waters (Western Channel) by Cornish fishermen.
The Barents Sea Cod is frozen at source; the Western Channel Cod is
stored on ice. Harbour Lights are keen to know if these storage methods
impact on appearance, texture, taste and odour.
To collect and analyse large scale sensory evaluation data using the
Hedonic 9 point scale.
Provide Harbour Lights with valuable data and feedback concerning their
supply of Cod and open potential new local supply routes.
Raise awareness of overfishing in general but more specifically the fact
that Cod is being landed every week in Newlyn and being shipped to
Brittany, while British Fish and Chip Shops are sourcing their Cod from
Russia (Barents Sea). Do people care?
Submit my final journal article to the Journal of Food Science. Sensory
evaluation has been constructed and implemented in such a way that deems
this viable.


Work/research planned for next quarter (this should be reported about in your next report)
Sensory evaluation to take place at Harbour Lights on Tuesday 11
th
December (possibly
Wed 12
th
if target numbers of 200 not reached)
Health and safety work needs to be completed ASAP.
Collate and analyse the data using scientific testing.
Begin work on a journal article to be submitted to the Journal of Food Science and which
can be introduced to the fish and chip shop industry by Pete Fraser at HL.
Produce posters, leaflets and a video relating to my project for Research Day but also
material which can remain in Harbour Lights forever.
















Work achieved since last report (for if this is
the first report of the year please write down
work since project commencement)
After many emails and meetings with
Harbour Lights we finally agreed on a
project which we both see great benefit
but also a project which may be of
interest to the fish and chip shop industry
as a whole.
Research in to sustainability, seafood
sourcing, storage and supply chains.
Introduction and methodology.
Produced sensory evaluation and
questionnaire sheets.
Regularly updated my blog and online
portfolio.
Established good contacts at Newlyn Fish
Market, especially Andy Wheeler whose
help throughout has been fantastic.
Produced, followed and updated a Gannt
Chart.
Produced and updated a physical folder
full of all project related work and ideas.








Achievements/skills developed and benefits
to you as a result of your work
The project I am now doing is
similar to the one I proposed in
June but HL were not interested in
it at that point. It has been
frustrating that since then I have
suggested many new ideas only to
come back to something close to
my original idea but with HL full
support. However, this has taught
me to be patient and persistent and
to think about presenting my ideas
in new ways and with different
objectives to try and gain different
responses.
My research skills have improved a
lot largely due to the vast amount
of journals I have searched and
read so far during this project.
I have learned about the
importance of accurate sensory
science and will hopefully produce
a scientifically viable sensory
evaluation as a result of my
learning.







Details of
budget/expenditure since last
report (keep records and
receipts)
At this stage there has been
no expenditure.
Industry contacts are
paying for the purchase of
all Cod and will contribute
towards printing and other
associated costs.




Benefits to the company
(FHC/HL) as a result of your
work
Insight into consumer
preferences/approval of their
current supply of Cod.
Firm data which shows exactly
why the customers prefer the
fish they do.
A potential to develop local
supply chains if deemed viable.
This could benefit not only HL
but also Cornish fishermen.
This project could be of great
interest to the fish and chip shop
industry as a whole, particularly
as it contains data regarding how
the storage methods for Cod
impact on taste, appearance,
texture and odour.
Benefits to Falmouth
Marine School as a result
of your work
Valuable new links with a
local business owner (Pete
Fraser) who is extremely
passionate about
sustainability and related
research.
Attempts by FMS student to
forge new links between
local businesses and local
fishermen. This is something
with future development
potential.
Lots of room for further
research by future students.


Progress Against Plan:
Currently on schedule


Assistance required or issues to be addressed including Health & Safety
Need advice/guidance to ensure my health and safety is up to standard.