Jack Grieve
“I’m intent on helping more young people get into the industry and giving them the same advantage I had.”
Location: Eyemouth
Job: Skipper, Janreen
At just 22 years old, Jack Grieve is already carving out his place in Scotland’s fishing story. Based in Eyemouth, he runs the Janreen with a two-person crew, a vessel he restored himself from the hull up.
“I got her for a pound,” he says. “She was just a shell, no gear, no electrics, just an engine and a radio. I spent two and a half years fixing her up, learning everything as I went.”
Jack’s path into fishing was untraditional. No family ties to the industry, just the influence of his grandfather, who worked for a local fish merchant. “He’d take me along when I was about 11 or 12, picking up prawns from the boats at night. That’s when the interest started.”
By 2018, after finishing school and fast-tracking through several Seafish safety courses, Jack joined the fleet. A few years later, he was a Skipper. Today, the Janreen lands into Eyemouth, with catch sold and processed locally before being exported across Europe.
“I’m intent on getting more young people into fishing and helping them, and the next generation, to have the opportunities that I had at 15. As an example, we’ve previously had two young lads (16) who helped out on the Janreen part time - they’re now both full-time fishermen on local boats, having self-funded their required certifications. It’s really encouraging to see their passion for the industry.
“To further help the cause, I’ve bought another fixer-upper for £1 with the aim of converting it into a creel boat and passing on the opportunity for other youngsters to make a start in the industry.”
Jack’s journey has been anything but easy. “The biggest challenge has been the breakdowns,” he says. “When a boat’s sat idle for years, everything starts failing once you get moving. Gearboxes, winches, you name it, I’ve replaced it.”
But it’s not just mechanics that concern him. Like many skippers, Jack sees the cumulative effect of crowded seas looming large. “There’s just less and less space,” he says. “You work all day to land a decent haul, and now you’re dodging zones you used to fish freely.”
He also sees generational gaps growing. “There’s no one coming through. Nobody my age wants the graft, and if they do, it’s hard for them to get a foot in. That’s why it’s so important to get more young people involved.”
Still, he’s proud of what he’s built. “Every bolt and bracket on that boat, I’ve touched. I’ve rebuilt it with my own hands. That’s something nobody can take away from you.”
His future plans? Maybe a bigger vessel, one day. “But I’m in no rush,” he says. “Right now, I just want to make a living , and hold onto the space we’ve still got left.”
