Trawlermen's Lives

Action man Ben Fogle is back, taking on what he’s dubbed his toughest challenge yet.
For new series Trawlermen’s Lives, Ben sailed the North Sea, working without rest for up to 24 hours at a time, hauling thousands of fish from the sea.
Ben embarks on the life of a North Sea fisherman and chats to the men about what draws to put their lives at risk in one of the UK’s most dangerous professions.
Ben said: “Nothing could prepare me for how tough this is going to be.”
He starts his journey in Peterhead, where over a million boxes of fish have passed through in the last 12 months, spending the next seven days sleeping, fishing and working on a 24-metre trawler on the hunt for North Sea haddock and cod.
Ben said: “I’ve taken on some real challenges in the past, rowing the Atlantic, crossing the Arabian Desert, but this is going to be a completely different task. Over the last 15 years, over 250 British fishermen have lost their lives at sea, making it one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.”
12 hours into the North Sea, viewers will see skipper Sandy McCleman explain just how dangerous life at sea is. He knows only too well - in 1994, Sandy’s own father lost his life at sea.
Sandy said: “There were six of us on the boat and five of us were saved. My father was sadly lost. It was all over so fast, before we’d even realised anything was wrong. It really rocked our whole world; that was our family unit destroyed. It was just devastating really for us. That’s how cruel the ocean is.”
And once the fish are caught, there’s a stomach churning job at hand, as Ben and the trawler-men gut the fish.
Ben said: “The smell and movement down here are overpowering.”
Tune in on Wednesday August 20 to find out how Ben gets on in the physically and mentally exhausting challenge.

[@stuartwilliams7912]

My Uncle was a North sea fishermen so I know how hard these guys work I have got nothing but respect for any man that goes to sea to earn a living and we get the benefits for the harvest.

[@servicarrider]

Beautiful brightwork for a working boat. Every time I eat seafood I say a little prayer for the fishermen. What they do is not to be taken lightly or for granted.

[@potatopeeler1862]

Huge amount of respect for our UK and Irish fishing fleet. Sad to see it's down fall with boats packing it in after generations. Respect to you fellas! Cheers.

[@Vu.c]

Love it . That’s what make fishermen special. Be safe ! Life is important

[@fins59]

Great docco, awesome camera work, sound, talent & presentation. Proper job, Matthew & Ben.

[@mattcullen6109]

Much respect for these brave fishermen. I get seasick on my kayak. They are the salt of the earth working men

[@ramblinstevegiovanny1397]

Definitely.

[@geoffcarter6924]

My heritage. Scottish Fishermen from Peterhead....very proud of it.

[@harryharr74]

Scotch cunts

[@Clan501-Scotland]

@@harryharr74 Scot*

[@matthewcullen1298]

You should be proud mate.

[@panagiotisballas354]

As i have some experience for the life at sea, ill give my respect to this guys and to the all men or women that live at sea. Just a big respect from a former merchant sailor.

[@westcoaster01]

Spent 30 years of my life being a commercial fishermen. Wish I could go back and do it all over. It’s a whole different life that’s for sure......

[@helltobreakfast2977]

Ive commercial fished my whole adult life and a few a kid and everyday i wish i could do it still.

[@arkansaswookie]

Where on the west coast were you fishing out of? I live in Newport Oregon. Had to quit after I was awarded sole custody of my then young son. Surfing kept me connected to the ocean.

[@kathypigott354]

@@arkansaswookie ‘’8’

[@MrAli171]

I spent 15 years as a trawlerman sometimes dangerous and lost 2 mates over the side, but many good times

[@Gwdufsm]

MrAli171 n how much do u make is it worth it?

[@PeshCS]

@@Gwdufsm depends, here in norway the salary is about 70-80k pounds a year. Really depends on which type of boat and what role u have. Hope this answered your question.

[@pakhtoonvines5669]

How is life of sea marshal in somalia?pls reply me

[@lucyterrier7905]

@@PeshCS That's not much of an income. One would think it would be at least 100,000 pounds a year.

[@ramblinstevegiovanny1397]

This is awesome!! Currently looking for jobs out in the sea! My adrenaline is out the roof! Respect to these brave men.

[@matthewsobolski4152]

Same mate, making the career change at 43. Yep, you betcha l'm crazy, it's in the blood unfortunately 😭🤣👍

[@SpLiC3]

When other fisherman say they would not do your job, then sir, you must have balls of steel.

[@Jimmyh111]

Well done to Ben for having a go at this...I did this from fraserburgh on some of these boats and I've known most of these guys i was at sea doing this job for a good few years on and off and I think ben has done a great job at showing just how hard and dangerous this job is...well narrated and very true likeness of someone away for the 1st time....I know exactly how he was feeling and it is not nice...it's horrendous but like he said he turned a corner and started to like it....love the way they where sort of buzzing off him about the mince and tatties LMAO.....you could see they where saying to themselves...aye Ben.....you sailed across Atlantic by yourself but this is harder by far.....it separated the boys from the men or the crazy from the sane lol.... I look back and I really miss my days at sea and the banter... When he said Ben could hear his bed in palace hotel calling his name it took me back to my 1st night with love of my life in the palace hotel peterhead.....God rest her soul may she RIP.... Yes best days of my life and the highs and lows of fishing are like no other.... When them nets tear in a force 9 and you steam to Shetland to mend nets at 3 in morning on harbour in freezing winter winds you will maybe understand what I am trying to put across.....but when you get a haul like that 1st one Ben cod got......then that's a high cause it's payday 😁😁....you did a good job Ben....also you did a great job of showing how quick things can go wrong out there... Shame you was called a Jona on 2nd boat lol....Jona and the whale.....he was swallowed lol...bad luck.... I've also been out on a small yali a crab boat dropping creels.....very different job but easier but more dangerous as on your own.... But a great show and likeness of how it really is....

[@tyroniousyrownshoolacez2347]

Imagine that, Ben Fogel chooses the Rosenbloom of all boats! Good on ya.

[@Peter-nv3wu]

Thank you Ben for a great documentary.

[@Morbius1963]

Real men. Good humoured and tough. Met the same down a coalmine.

[@endicotttrucktractorrwolfe5568]

YUP...... BEEN THERE, HOPE to return 🙏🙂

[@GiladGur]

Everything is shown via his seasick eyes. I'm a skipper with several Atlantic crossings under my belt. If you are comfortable at sea, the only serious problem as a trawler man (apart from the continuous danger) is the smell of the fish guts. I prefer to work with those man, than with my office workers. When time comes, you can trust them and count on them.

[@lindadonaldson3625]

16:25 16:26 16:26 16: 16:27 16:28 16:31 16:34 16:34 16:34 16: 16:36 16:37 16:41 16:45

[@robertkwiatkoski1292]

i don't know if it still there , but in the poast office in Salvo N.c there was a pencil/ charcoal ?? drawing. As i recal it was a saling ship with dark stormy shies. There was a cloud frawn as a face blowing wind. The caption said: Trawlboaters tread where angles and fools fear to go. It is/was a keeper so to speak.

[@jackduffy2852]

Been there, Done that, On the way to Iceland, MARCH 1965 at the Helm of 750 ton Trawler out of Akereary Iceland. Skip- Ardbaker, - Sister ship- Sletbaker. Paid off- Lead-Hand, Second Mate.

[@calummacdonald6139]

,

[@toms7947]

The Rosebloom is a beautiful trawler! I am surprised how nice it is on the interior.

[@gh7319]

You think there well done up inside, you should see some of the pelagic trawlers. Not sure of the exact video name but search "scanmar antares"

[@grindcoreninja6527]

I don't know if its the reach around I'm currently receiving or this video I just watched, but I'm busting buckets of nuts over here. TRAWL LIFE!

[@ianclark6485]

I went to boys brigade with alan hepburn when we were kids. This is the first time i have seen him since. Amazing

[@keith800]

After watching this video one can never begrudges paying for a piece of cod down the local fish and chip shop.

[@mr.m8464]

Those old traps are heavy and hardcore but boy do they fish good. :)

[@tomgreene6579]

And people complain about the price of fish ...what a job of work..cold / wet / hard....no one worrying about gender balance here.....great men ..... a good feed of skink...great accents here

[@matthewcullen1298]

My GFS niece worked on a prawn (shrimp) trawler and she worked labouring for me on my building jobs. Both the skipper of that boat and I would invite her back to work for us. Some women work as hard as the guys or even harder with less bullshit to worry about. She never complained and would shovel concrete non stop without any questions and without the bitching some of the gym junkies I've employed would carry on about. She just wanted to EARN her wage

[@nickdawn3985]

Mad respect for fisherman that do it this way and not on massive floating factories but I really hate to still see bottom trolling.

[@revbobmartin]

I used to work on a commercial fishing vessel fishing for salmon in Alaska waters of the Cook Inlet waters. I do miss the solitude and rocking of the sea, especially when their are whitecaps breaking over the boat.

[@Newtons_Ghost]

The Legendary "Ben Cod"

[@tonyn9858]

brilliant video thanks so much for up loading

[@zerofox7347]

John seems the best guy to work with.

[@jeffhines73]

Skipper Gary is just such a nice guy I really hope the sea treats him well

[@frankietaravana4085]

Great documentary... I loved it...!!!

[@DeTrOiTXX12]

I did this job and they captured everything perfect!

[@ramblinstevegiovanny1397]

How did ya apply? Ive been lookin and no cigar. Ive heard i have to head on out there & reach out to the captains.

[@Clan501-Scotland]

@@ramblinstevegiovanny1397 The best way to get started is by doing a course at the Scottish Marine Academy in Peterhead. They will get you through all the tickets you need to go to sea and can help with funding 👍

[@mrcmaths4613]

Sympathies Ben, once went on a 40 foot sail boat for a week and you are absolutely right, nowhere to get relief on a boat!

[@paulsummers-mq4hl]

I miss going to sea as it’s an great job

[@peterwoods5310]

As a mere Sassenach Ben did us proud.......seriously I admire you fishermen so much.... this is a fascinating doku.......thank you good luck! ex.merch

[@olddirtybastet6844]

16:59 "I'm 45" "Oh, is that all you are? I thought you were older" LOL!

[@sizzlyboi4681]

I'm headed out on a fishing trawler next week, and looked to real life experiences to ease the intense anxiety I'm feeling. I'm feeling a well bit more settled now that I've seen what life aboard can be like, and I can't profusely thank Ben enough for showing me what it's like. Fucken bless that lads who go out there for a livelihood, I'm praying I don't end up a hundred fathoms under.

[@mikemckenna6662]

How did it go?

[@ramblinstevegiovanny1397]

How did it go??

[@murda_spree6696]

I think he ended up hundred fathoms under!?

[@southjerseysound7340]

@@murda_spree6696 with a name like sizzly boi he surely became fishfood

[@nickl1852]

He's working for Davy Jones now

[@kyanstewart9976]

I am a 3rd generation fishermen in Australia

[@paxwallacejazz]

You know they are treating you like a princess don't you? Well you bring back memories and make me feel like a hardened tough guy. You're really slow in the factory geeez. You have to try harder dude. Boy they are on their best behaviour.

[@oma15]

john is fucking hardcore. much respect for the last guy

[@josephpimer1303]

need to try long lining tuna and sword that can be fun 2

[@gh7319]

38:02 - the red and white boat dead centre, I work on her. At the time this was filmed her name was Still Game, reg. FR29. She is now Shaunette K157, based in Westray, Orkney. She'd have been less than a year old when this was filmed.

[@rohitbhintade3689]

Graeme Heddle how can I join fishing vessel

[@gh7319]

If you want to join a fishing boat, or indeed almost any boat (though fishing is the easiest requiring the least certification), you will need 4 basic certificates; Personal Survival Techniques, Personal Safety & Social Responsibility (PSSR), Elementary First Aid, and Basic Fire Fighting & Prevention. These certificates should all be STCW, internationally recognised maritime standard, or in the UK you can also have SeaFish standard certificates, I'm not sure on individual standards of other countries. These certificates are mandatory before working on any boat. If in the UK, if you don't have any contacts in the industry (many of these jobs go by word of mouth), the next best place to find work on fishing boats would be www.findafishingboat.com in the Crew/Jobs section either by looking at advertised jobs or by advertising yourself as looking for work. Don't worry about being to formal or having well prepared CV, formality isn't something commonly found amongst fishermen, as you may have guessed, it all boils down to work ethic and common sense.

[@Karenanne247]

I love the Scottish fisherman ❤️

[@Aussiematee]

Gday gorgeous

[@pnartg]

Who did the camera work? The camera was moving around as Ben was talking into it, so it had to be held by a person, but weren't the crew all busy working? And then there were the overhead shots when the net got stuck. They make it seem like they were out in a remote corner of nowhere but it looks like they had a whole BBC crew with them in another boat.

[@Boon-dang]

I thought long line fishing for Grouper and Snappers was hard in Florida until ,I seen this video ...

[@highseadrifter9777]

One of the jobs that gets nowhere near enough credit

[@crusaderofthelowlands3750]

+highseadrifter But for the few doing it, it's amazing. I love the ocean and my dream in to be working on a ship.

[@highseadrifter9777]

+Cold Nights good luck is an adventure of a lifetime

[@debrad68]

my dream as well :)

[@ramblinstevegiovanny1397]

True true true

[@Dave-id6sj]

@@crusaderofthelowlands3750 I'd rather work on an ERRV than a trawler.

[@DA7545]

I heard those nets that scrape the bottom destroy the habit or something. That's what I heard.

[@sbkenn1]

The last of the hunter-gatherers, in an environment which can make you feel very small indeed.

[@mexicoldermike3156]

7.35....." That's how criminal the Ocean is" Sorry you lost your Dad...but you are dealing with a force of nature and nature is not criminal.

[@jonahkidd2685]

He's saying cruel not criminal

[@mexicoldermike3156]

Yup, Jonah you are correct....that Scottish accent got me!

[@DifficultFlannel]

Someone should've filmed Fogle when he got spiked with drugs and thought he was an owl.

[@Banginyermamsince93]

What?

[@karlstokes874]

Fair play to Ben. Yes he does have a very British accent and sounds as though he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. But he pulled the stops out and mucked in.

[@paulsummers-mq4hl]

Was brigs on the boy John

[@austingode]

What about the bicatch on the shrimper ?

[@carlkamuti]

Who can argue with Ludovico Eianudi - Devinere at 20:00 -. 22:00

[@astrazenica7783]

I feel sorry for the cameraman

[@vlogskumedia2428]

what is the model of this boat?, can anyone tell me.

[@zerofox7347]

Why all the restrictions on the prawn fisheries if there are only 6 boats?!?

[@kriffen1793]

6 from that area

[@itwai8244]

I once saw the budding rose in my home harbour

[@paxwallacejazz]

You've strangely made me remember a distinct observation I made while fishing. Big guys rarely try hard enough. I guess big tall guys get a certain amount of lifelong slack just for their size. Like a pretty girl is totally unaware of that slack they've been afforded . They just aren't normally good fast fishermen in my observation.

[@Ava_Orchid]

I can see why dredging isnt a favorable method for sustainability. 99% of the catch was non target. Not blaming the guys doing it really. You have to make a living and so long as there are demand there will be supply. Just wishing there were affordable and effective alternatives

[@MatthewMckenzie7]

And just imagine, if one of these small boats can haul tons of fish, think how much one of these super-trawlers can net. No wonder fish stocks are under so much pressure.

[@gh7319]

Hauls of fish aren't always that great, plus countries like the UK (with no thanks what-so-ever to the EU) and Norway actually operate their fisheries in a surprsingly sustainable way. Fish stocks in certain areas have seen a increases in recent years. Many fishermen in these countries even voluntarily take part in the use of experimental gear help reduce unwanted by-catch. Also you may, or even may not, be surprised as to how many smaller "inshore" fishermen, such as those featured here are opposed to the use of so-called "supertrawlers" and acknowledge the detrimental effect such vessels have of fish stocks.

[@seekingthemiddleway4048]

@@gh7319 I thought EU fishing quotas were all about sustainability.

[@gh7319]

@@seekingthemiddleway4048 it's more political than anything else with the EU's CFP (Common Fisheries Policy). In 2003 they ordered the UK government to order the scrappage of 80 of it's fleet, mostly Scottish boats, supposedly in the name of conservation, meanwhile they also issued massive grants to other EU countries, primarily France and Spain to increase their fleet sizes, how's that sustainable management.

[@seekingthemiddleway4048]

@@gh7319 The only decisions taken in the EU are those taken by the member state governments themselves and the MEPs. The Commission has no vote, so they can't order anything. The UK had the biggest vote in the Council of Ministers along with the Germans and the French, so they were a part of the decision you talked about.

[@shez1640]

My hubby was a skipper for 35yrs Ive seen guys slip off and get dragged in with the nets

[@scotexscarrier8461]

its now part of ben,s TV contracts ....FISHING BOATS NOT INCLUDED

[@VultureSunset]

Try tree planting stumbling through old logs soaking wit sweat falling over 10p a tree

[@DevInvest]

Would love to have the music used in this .. anyone know the playlist? The show is beautiful

[@calebhays8581]

Mate fishing is an awesome job I love my job godd wee bouns too

[@mateustwinkinham7684]

Muito bom

[@austingode]

A million pounds for the boat ? Seems like a big mortgage

[@bazra19]

Stearn trawlers, have it cushy, they should have tried it on an old sidewinder, sailing with a heap of coal on the foredeck as a decky-trimmer, in the early 1950's, where you gutted the fish on the open deck with seas breaking over you all the time.

[@craigrowan6622]

Take it yer old school by the sounds of it big respect tae ya pal

[@Dave-id6sj]

Now you wear an eye patch, have a wooden leg and tell sea tales down the local for shots of whiskey lol....good onya mate, I regret never going to sea, my old man did 21 years in the Royal Navy, I wish I was young and fit again, I'd train in the navy then get tickets for pointy end command jobs or similar on an ERRV or ocean going tug, salvage vessel etc...

steam trawlers? you mean a boat that used coal as fuel to produce the steam? fuck off and don't be ignorant you twat.

[@bazra19]

No spelling or typo mistake, I meant STERN - - - read it again it will make sence to the ignorant.

[@gregghill4075]

Last wild hunters?? What about deer stalkers and wildfowlers??

[@jeffsmith6459]

Bloody Hell

[@astrazenica7783]

Walnut panelled walls lol

[@byronandrews29]

Random question but anyone watching know a barry from peters head that worked in nz deepsea trawler

[@bazra19]

and his GREEN shirt.

[@bazra19]

The first word STEAM should have been STERN,

[@pc4720]

I am nearly sick just watching them gutting those fish! Yuk!!! Ummm, I think I"d take the email and phone calls!

[@Mainedigger]

Beautiful boats make ours look ugly here in the USA our cousins in Europe know how to build them.

[@craigrowan6622]

Not all your boats look bad buddy lol

[@crusaderofthelowlands3750]

How could he say "set sail" if the ship doesn't have any sails? Is this normal in England to say that?

[@Asylum81]

its a figure of speech...jeez....like on a plane you're going to "take off". Does that mean fly or literally take things off something?....grow up

[@capoople]

Some dodgy editing going on there.They could've at least tried to get the timing right.

[@madpenguin9402]

Collect prawns, export them to Europe? wtf. Let's hope that stops when Brexit happens - and the British people can buy our own fish CHEAP.

[@CursedClaws]

That's what it's like bro Fishing working in plants on the mainland driving semi It's all hell But there's a lot of fun to be had doing it Vicks vapour rub Under your nostrils it will make about any smell go away

[@jonh9561]

Did they need to find a translator for the Mercedes driving English bloke

[@Yan-T2757]

@19:21 Open ears and hear what the lad is saying, for any of you young lads thinking of doing this, try it first. And ben fogle, stop talking pish, pair trawlers won't go out for 3 days ya bawbag, its a day steaming, then one day to fill 2 boats and a day to head back. report the facts on this rather than talk cod ya flugalbinder (real word)

[@tedthesailor172]

Welcome to one of the industries sacrificed for Euro-Federalism...Fogel's a " snacker" or "deckie learner" in the fishing world...

[@rodgeorge7244]

How can the smell of fish guts make you sick harden up Ben Fogle

[@naturalmystics-kd9vt]

Now uk leaving eu those fish will not be across Europe not in 24 hours

[@kriiigern777]

Ben Fogle, what a girly man! Can't stand the smell of fish? Go back to London will you! ;)

[@havtorn8690]

This boat is not ideal if this was norway wich has the most tralwers but these boats would not pass even pass 2 of the tests that the norwegian goverment takes ( I have a lot of experience for my age)

[@havtorn8690]

You cold see were i live on the cost of norway

[@Thomas-cp6qe]

I love the idea of doing this but to actually do it? Sorts out the men from the whatever. I think Ben Fogle did very well for a novice but he looked like a fish out of water.

[@michealgarand3905]

you start as a swab not a mate a mate

[@bazra19]

The first thing they should have done is slung him and his GREEN hat over the side.

[@michealgarand3905]

who is paying ur free ride a

[@davidbomar1091]

All In vain, all these fish would be eventually spread with some Chinese chemicals.

[@Yan-T2757]

"Action man" Ben fogle??????

[@steviedee8921]

more like a real southern shandy supping softie

[@stephenlees1691]

ben fogai ?// he would go to the opening of a fridge piss off

[@Liberty-wo2iy]

Is it just me, or is Ben Fogle just a whiner...?

[@maineoutdoorsman677]

Were born into it salt water runs in our veins .the sea calls to us when we were not out we’re thinking about it .thinking what we can do to better our rig thinking about the next trip ⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 what a Pusey that narrator is come on u never ate a fish before .sad he’s wishing he never stepped on deck what a plug disgrace an he calls him self a man .theres kids that got more guts then him just look at his hat come on that thing will hold 5 gallons of water .

[@tjhughes9099]

This guy seems to be complain a lot

[@jonathanrowley9234]

fucking easy job.try fishing on my boat sheeeeeeeeessssss massive.48hr none stop work

[@drpeterthompson5894]

+Jonathan Rowley haha love it :)

[@kr9735]

+Jonathan Rowley Always somebody wanting a pissing competition...

[@useyonina_]

I want to work for you i live in long beach california im serious!