East Lothian Courier | News | Fisherman forced to sell up

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 29th May, 2008 08:05

Fisherman forced to sell up

A fishing boat that is the main focus of a photography exhibition at the Port Seton Centre is being sold due to the escalating cost of fuel.

Photographs of the Beulah, owned by well-known local fisherman ‘Bobo’ Johnston, whose descendants have fished for 300 years, are currently showing at the 60-4-60 exhibition by Shona McMillan that runs until June 14. His son Robert is skipper of the boat.

Shona is from a traditional East Lothian fishing family, the Thorburns, who for centuries fished from Fisherrow. She has been photographing fishing communities from Edinburgh to Eyemouth and has been campaigning for a fishing heritage trail along the east coast.

Speaking after the launch of the exhibition last Thursday evening, she said she was “saddened” by the news that the boat would no longer fish for prawns out of Port Seton.

She said: “I got to know Bobo in May 2006 when I used to take my mum down to Port Seton Harbour before she died. We have been friends since then and it was fitting that the Beulah should be the main part of the exhibition.

“It was therefore sad to hear the news that the boat was going to be sold in the next few weeks and will leave Port Seton.”

She added: “Bobo’s son Robert’s wife is due to have a baby later this year and Robert feels that, with another mouth to feed, he needs to look elsewhere for work as the fishing is no longer economical because of rising fuel costs.”

Last Wednesday was an eventful day for the Johnston family as Bobo’s daughter Annabell went into labour late at night and gave birth to a baby girl called Summer.

The Beulah is a regular feature at Cockenzie and Port Seton Gala Day and this year will carry the ‘sailors’ in the battle re-enactment between the two harbours. The 60-4-60 exhibition has been a huge success, already attracting well over 200 viewers.

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