Fishing Gear Transformed: Waterhaul Scoops Top Prize at Cornwall Sustainability Awards

Newquay-based company Waterhaul was crowned overall winner at the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Sustainability Awards (CSA) on Friday. The event, held at the National Maritime Museum, also saw the company win the Circular Economy category for its work in recovering discarded fishing gear from the ocean and recycling it into sustainable products, such as sunglasses.

The awards, now in their 22nd year and hosted by Cornwall Council, celebrate organisations and individuals across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly who contribute to sustainability, environmental growth, and carbon neutrality. Waterhaul was praised for addressing the problem of ghost gear—lost, abandoned, or discarded fishing equipment—and turning it into durable, innovative products.

Cllr Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council cabinet member for environment and climate change and one of the awards judges, said:

“The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Sustainability Awards showcases our region’s wealth of innovative organisations which are helping nature recover, lessening our impact on the planet and fuelling our green economy and skills. A big congratulations to all our incredible entrants and winners and thank you to everyone who attended our awards evening.”

Full List of Winners and Commendations

The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Sustainability Awards recognised achievements across several categories:

Trees for Nature and Growth – Farmers and Landowners

• Winner: Philliegh Way Wood
• Runner-up: Rosuick Farm

Trees for Nature and Growth – Communities and Groups

• Winner: Plant One
• Runner-up: WI Climate Ambassadors

Most Sustainable Organisation – Small

• Winner: St Martin’s Vineyard (sponsored by Foot Anstey)

Most Sustainable Organisation – Medium

• Winner: Falmouth Harbour Commissioners (sponsored by The Future is Green Project, Cornwall College Group)
• Judges’ Commendation: St Austell Printing Company

Most Sustainable Organisation – Large

• Winner: Watson-Marlow Ltd (sponsored by Truro & Penwith College)
• Judges’ Commendation: Falmouth Town Council

Environmental Growth

• Winner: South West Peatland Partnership (sponsored by Local Investment in Nature Cornwall (LINC))
• Runner-up: Wildflower Collective
• Highly Commended: Mylor Mooring Services Ltd

Carbon Positive

• Winner: Volunteer Cornwall: Health & Climate Resilience Network (sponsored by University of Exeter)
• Runner-up: Trewithen Dairy (sponsored by Carbon Sense)
• Highly Commended: Bull & Wolf

Circular Economy

• Winner: Waterhaul (sponsored by Local Investment in Nature Cornwall (LINC))
• Runner-up: The Wave Project
• Highly Commended: Chocolarder

Mark Duddridge Award

• Winner: Cornwall Climate Care

Overall Winner

• Winner: Waterhaul (sponsored by Business Cornwall)

Celebrating Cornwall’s Green Leaders

The awards ceremony was judged by a panel of regional experts, including Kim Conchie, Chief Executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, and Lord Robin Teverson, Chair of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership, among others. Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall Catherine Mead OBE opened the event.