THE WEATHER may not have been the kindest, but the atmosphere at the first oyster gathering and seafood harvest festival at Mylor could not have been beaten.
Organised by Christopher Ranger, known as Ranger to his friends, the event was held over three days to celebrate the end of the oyster fishing season.
During the festival at Mylor Yacht Harbour people were invited to see oyster fishermen in action with boat trips on the Fal.
There was also a local seafood market and a chance to sample culinary delights cooked up by local chefs Arty Williams, Sanjay Kumar and Dale McIntosh.
'Brilliant'
"I think, as a first trial for a small oyster festival, it was brilliant," said Ranger, whose girlfriend, Marion Monnier, coordinated the event.
"We did have a fairly good turnout and the feedback has been very good."
The festival also had a serious message.
"It was also about raising awareness of the fishery and trying to encourage younger people to get involved.
"The fishery on The Fal is between 400 and 500 years old. It would be a great shame if, in two years' time, that fishery was not there.
"There are a lot of old boys on the fleet, but not many younger boys."
Ranger is fairly new to the business himself after buying and restoring a boat two years ago.
After fishing for a season and passing his catch on to merchants, he has now cut out the middle man and set himself up as a merchant.
It was his love of his job that inspired Ranger to stage the festival, an idea he only came up with in January.
"I've had a lot of help from friends and some big sponsors," he said. "I've had massive support from lots of people who thought it was a good idea."
It has not been without its challenges, though. With days to go, Ranger was still without mussels, fish and crab.
"I didn't know if I was going to have it by the weekend and I thought I might have done an awful lot of hard work for nothing.
"Thankfully, it just fell into place and I have to say a big thanks to everyone who helped out."
Ranger already has plans to repeat the festival next year, and hopes it will be bigger and better.
"I don't want to turn it into an oyster festival like on the Events Square (Falmouth). It is kind of aimed at the fishermen themselves and celebrating the fishery."
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Work-oyster-fishery-celebrated-festival/story-11418187-detail/story.html