Meet Tomás from Claregalway. 

Local Barna Fisherman Tomás has been helping us out with our Source to Plate project (see here)  and we had to share his happy portrait on such a dull grey day. Tomás spends the summer months fishing for Lobster and Pollock which he supplies to local restaurants. Then when the rest of us hibernate from the wild weather Tomás heads to the North Sea where he fishes for Mackeral for the winter months. 

Tomás comes from a family of fishermen and always knew it was the career he wanted, even despite having a conger eel clamp hold of his leg at the age of 14. Tomás obtained a Bachelors Degree in Marine Engineering from the National Martime College of Ireland, he also spent more time in college to graduate from a Cadet to an Officer. Happy to explore the world Tomás worked on Tankers from Singapore to Texas and Cape Town to Saudi Arabia and he then moved to Florida to work on a Disney Line Cruise Ship. 

 He loved the experience but always wanted to move back to Galway to start his fishing career and he did this in 2010. Tomás focuses on sustainably fishing and would like to see more people include more fish into their diet. 

So out you go and buy some fish for dinner tonight!