Manx teenager a 'twinkle of hope in struggling fishing industry'

Isla Gale, 17, shortlisted for national fishing award

A Manx teenager nominated for a national fishing award says she hopes her story will inspire other girls to get involved in the industry.

Seventeen-year-old Isla Gale from Sulby started fishing with her father, who runs Mackeral Mann, when she was just twelve years old and has her sights set on becoming the first female Manx skipper of a queenie boat.

"All my spare moments - weekends, holidays, any time I could get were spent on the boat and I just fell in love with it."

Since leaving school Isla has split her time between fishing Manx and Scottish waters for scallops.

She's been shortlisted in the ‘Trainee of the year’ category at the Fishing News Awards 2022, but says winning isn't the main thing:

"I know first hand how difficult the fishing industry is. As a mother to think of your little girl out there can be really quite difficult sometimes. She's incredible, she's absolutely smashing life."

Listen below to the full interview with Isla and her mum Lindsey:

You can find Isla among the list of nominees here.