Supporting Small-Scale Fisheries: LEAP’s Partnership with Sole of Discretion

Supporting Small-Scale Fishers with Sole of Discretion

Over the past four years, LEAP has been proud to support Caroline Bennett and her Plymouth-based fisheries business, Sole of Discretion in its work to provide a vital route to market for small-scale, sustainable fishers operating along the coast of Devon and Cornwall.

Founded to ensure fishers receive a fair price while safeguarding marine biodiversity, Sole of Discretion prioritises ethical sourcing and traceability, working directly with responsible, low impact fishers to offer under-utilised species such as dab, flounder and lemon sole, while promoting sustainable industry standards. As an active member of the Plymouth Fishing and Seafood Association, Sole of Discretion has been a partner in a recent project developing the Plymouth Fish Finger, taking one of the most popular fish products in the UK and making a truly sustainable version.

LEAP’s Tailored Financial Support

LEAP’s blended investment combines loan, grant and mentoring, with ongoing support and a commitment to providing patient capital and flexible repayment terms, has been essential in helping Sole of Discretion navigate economic challenges stemming from rising energy costs, Brexit, and inflation – issues which hit across the food sector, but hit the fishing and seafood industry particularly hard. This flexibility, made possible by our social investors, has enabled Caroline to maintain fair wages for her team while continuing to grow the business and advocate for industry-wide change.

Success of the LIFE Label Initiative

Caroline’s vision extends beyond business, as she collaborates with partners to advocate for policy changes that benefit small-scale fisheries at both national and European levels. A key contributor to this is Caroline’s work with the LIFE (Low Impact Fishers of Europe) label. The LIFE label distinguishes fishers using sustainable, low-impact methods from industrial operators, and Caroline’s efforts show how local initiatives can inspire broader systemic changes across the sector, benefitting small-scale fishers across Europe.

You can watch a video featuring Caroline and the LIFE label here. If your sustainable community food business is looking for patient, flexible finance, learn more about LEAP and how we can support you here.