Welcome to Cornwall!
- David Pascoe
- Ring nets
- Partner since 2016
- Newlyn, UK
In Newlyn, a small harbor town on the coast of Cornwall, the adventure doesn’t begin until night falls. Around 50 boats are ready to head out in search of the region’s pride: the most delicious Pilchard sardines. One of them is David and his crew. As the sun sets, they prep their boat and head into Mount’s Bay — chasing the silver treasure of Cornwall.
Using special lamps, the fishermen lure the sardines to the surface. As soon as a school appears, they quickly release the purse seine net. Like a basket, it surrounds the sardines — then gets pulled tight from below.
This purse seine fishery is a sustainable method for several reasons: The net stays high in the water, minimizing its impact on the ecosystem. And because sardines swim in tight schools, there’s very little bycatch — the fishermen catch sardines, and nothing else.
The Pascoe family has been fishing for true pilchard sardines for generations — beautiful little fish with a naturally high fat content. Just like many other fishermen in Cornwall. “My dad was a fisherman, my uncle too. I loved playing around the boats and learning the ropes. And the rest is history!” During the season, David eats sardines almost every day.
Our sardines are real all-rounders! You can eat them straight from the can—perfect for a quick, tasty snack. Whether you go for sardines in olive oil, with chili, lemon, or spicy tomato sauce, they’re all delicious on a cracker or just as they are. Want to use them in a dish? No problem! Canned sardines are perfect for salads, pasta dishes, sandwiches, or even stews. Looking for more inspiration? Check out our recipes on the recipe page!
Sardines are little powerhouses from the sea! As an oily fish, they are packed with healthy omega-3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA, which your body cannot produce on its own. These essential fatty acids support brain function and keep your heart and blood vessels in top condition. Maar er is meer: sardines bevatten ook meer calcium, ijzer en vitamine B12 dan veel andere vissoorten. Perfect dus voor pescetariërs of iedereen die een gezonde boost wil. En wist je dat de olijfolie waarin onze sardines zitten, rijk is aan onverzadigde vetten en vitamine E? Samen maken ze van onze sardines niet alleen een smaakvolle, maar ook een supergezonde toevoeging aan elke maaltijd!
After opening the can, store the sardines in a non-metal, airtight container in the fridge. They will stay fresh for up to 2 days!
Sardines are typically eaten with the skin and bones, and that’s perfectly fine! They are carefully cleaned and filleted, and through the canning process, the skin and bones become wonderfully soft over time. You can eat them safely, often without even noticing the bones. In fact, the bones are what make sardines so healthy, as they are packed with vitamins and minerals, such as calcium.
No worries, none of Fish Tales' products use BPA in the cans. BPA (Bisphenol A) is a chemical commonly used as a plastic coating in packaging, like in metal cans. This coating is necessary to prevent food from reacting with the metal, which can be toxic. However, research shows that BPA can interfere with hormone balance. That's why we've made a conscious decision to use BPA-free cans. Additionally, our cans are regularly tested to ensure they fully comply with strict European regulations.
If you're pregnant, it's best to avoid sardines for precautionary reasons. Having a small amount, like on a cracker, probably won't be harmful, but it's safer to skip them. This is due to the small amounts of harmful substances that sardines may contain.
